March — days are longer, the weather is getting nicer, and most importantly, the NCAA Tournament. Commonly known as March Madness for good reason, it is undeniable that it is one of the best times of the year for sports fans across the country. The field of 68 teams is now set and people are scrambling to take their shot at a perfect bracket. Here, we will be guiding you through potential upsets, players to watch for, and our Elite 8 through the Championship.

Potential Upsets

(11) Xavier over (6) Maryland

• Xavier comes into the tournament following a regular season full of surprise, most importantly the loss of their best player, guard Edmond Sumner, to an ACL tear. The Musketeers having been playing well as of late though, with a win over Butler in the Big East Tournament, before their loss to Creighton in the semifinal. If Maryland wants to win this game, they will need their star guard Melo Trimble to step up.

(12) Middle Tennessee State over (5) Minnesota

• Since 1985, only four times has a number 12 seeded team failed to defeat a 5 seed. Look for that trend to continue, as MTSU returns a lot of the same talent that defeated Michigan State in the first round of last year’s tournament. Led by the duo of senior forwards Reggie Upshaw and JaCorey Williams, this team will create quite a challenge for a Minnesota team who lacks a true big man.

(12) UNC-Wilmington over (5) Virginia

• Another #12 vs #5 matchup, UNC Wilmington will pose a challenge for a Virginia team that has had trouble scoring the basketball throughout the season. UNC Wilmington puts up nearly 86 points per game, which could be an issue for a Virginia team who struggles on the offensive end. Also, these are two teams trending in opposite directions of late as Wilmington has won nine of their last ten, while Virginia has won just five in that same span.

(13) ETSU over (4) Florida

• This is one of the trendier picks of the bracket, but for good reason. ETSU is one of the hottest teams of the country, winning 13 or their last 15. This team also is one of the most experienced in the country, so they shouldn’t crack under the pressure of the big dance. They also have a senior guard who can really light up the scoreboard in T.J. Cromer, who scores 19 points per game. This team also forces a lot of turnovers. Florida is a strong team, but haven’t quite been the same after the loss of their starting center John Egbunu.

(14) Florida Gulf Coast over (3) Florida State

• Florida Gulf Coast, or better known as “Dunk City” because their barrage of dunks in their upsets over Georgetown and San Diego State in the 2013 NCAA Tournament, will look for their first tournament win since then. FGCU junior guard, Brandon Goodwin, who leads the team in points (18.6 PPG) and assists (4 APG), could cause trouble for FSU. This game will be played not too far from FGCU’s campus, so we believe if they hit some early shots and their crowd gets into it, FSU may be the next victim of Dunk City.

Players to Watch For

Angel Delgado, forward (Seton Hall)

• A unanimous first-team All-Big East forward, Delgado dominated the glass during the season, averaging 13.1 rebounds per contest, the best mark in the nation. He also was tied with Caleb Swanigan for the national lead for double-doubles with 26. Delgado can take over a game with his tremendous rebounding ability and skills in the offensive post.

Marcus Foster, guard (Creighton)

• It’s hard to find another transfer who has made such an immediate impact for his team. Foster, who came from Kansas State after his sophomore campaign, has been the leading scorer for the Bluejays this season. After star point guard Maurice Watson Jr. tore his ACL in January, Foster was put into a leadership role which he has fully embraced. Foster can score in many ways, slashing to the hoop, in the post, and from outside the three point line.

Derrick Walton Jr., guard (Michigan)

• Walton has arguably been one of the top point guards over the last two months in the Big Ten, if not the best. Michigan has won 10 of their last 12 games, including a Big Ten championship, and he is undoubtedly a major reason why. Over the last five games, Walton has averaged 20 points and 8 assists per contest. If his current form holds, team’s down the road in the tournament may need to worry.

Keon Johnson, guard (Winthrop)

• Johnson may be small, 5’7”, but don’t underestimate his offensive abilities. The Big South Player of the Year, Johnson averaged 22.5 points per game throughout the season. He has been playing even better than his averages as of late, putting up nearly 29 points a game during the Big South Tournament.

Semi Ojeleye, forward (SMU)

• Ojeleye transferred from Duke in 2015, when they won their national title because he was not getting consistent minutes. Fast forward two years and he has quickly became one of the elite scorers in the country, posting almost 19 points a game. Ojeleye also has a very remarkable jump shot for a man of his size, including shooting over 40 percent from deep. If SMU has plans for any type of deep run (including a potential matchup versus his old school, Duke, in the Sweet 16), Ojeleye will certainly need to take control.

Our Picks for the Elite 8

East

#1 Villanova vs #6 SMU

West

#5 Notre Dame vs #2 Arizona

Midwest

#5 Iowa State vs #2 Louisville

South

#1 North Carolina vs #3 UCLA

Final Four

East vs West

#1 Villanova vs #2 Arizona

Midwest vs South

#5 Iowa State vs #3 UCLA

Championship

#1 Villanova vs #3 UCLA

Champion

Villanova

• Villanova, who won the 2016 National Championship could very possibly be the first team to repeat such a feat since the 2006-2007 Florida Gators. They have consistently been the top team in the nation throughout the season, led by Naismith Player of the Year candidate, guard Josh Hart. Although Villanova could be challenged by a very talented Arizona team in the Final Four, we think that their experience in big game situations will prevail, and the same goes for the potential championship matchup with UCLA.