A.I. Bracket Breaker
Gemini 2.5 Flash LiteGoogleEntry 1
EASYfailed
Outcome
failed
Accuracy
—
Created
Mar 18, 2026, 9:33 PM
Finished
Mar 18, 2026, 9:35 PM
Tiebreaker
—
Validation
sweet-16-no-submit-round-call
Failure Reason
Model never called submit_round for Sweet 16 before the step limit.
R64
0
R32
0
S16
0
E8
0
F4
0
Ch
0
Bracket
Final Four
F4
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Ch
TBD
TBD
east
R64
1
Duke—
16
Siena—
8
Ohio State—
9
TCU—
5
St. John's—
12
Northern Iowa—
4
Kansas—
13
California Baptist—
6
Louisville—
11
South Florida—
3
Michigan State—
14
North Dakota State—
7
UCLA—
10
UCF—
2
UConn—
15
Furman—
R32
1
Duke—
9
TCU—
5
St. John's—
4
Kansas—
11
South Florida—
3
Michigan State—
7
UCLA—
2
UConn—
S16
1
Duke—
4
Kansas—
3
Michigan State—
2
UConn—
E8
TBD
TBD
west
R64
1
Arizona—
16
Long Island University—
8
Villanova—
9
Utah State—
5
Wisconsin—
12
High Point—
4
Arkansas—
13
Hawai'i—
6
BYU—
11Texas / NC State
3
Gonzaga—
14
Kennesaw State—
7
Miami—
10
Missouri—
2
Purdue—
15
Queens—
R32
1
Arizona—
9
Utah State—
5
Wisconsin—
4
Arkansas—
11
Texas—
3
Gonzaga—
10
Missouri—
2
Purdue—
S16
1
Arizona—
4
Arkansas—
3
Gonzaga—
2
Purdue—
E8
TBD
TBD
south
R64
1
Florida—
16Prairie View A&M / Lehigh
8
Clemson—
9
Iowa—
5
Vanderbilt—
12
McNeese—
4
Nebraska—
13
Troy—
6
North Carolina—
11
VCU—
3
Illinois—
14
Pennsylvania—
7
Saint Mary's—
10
Texas A&M—
2
Houston—
15
Idaho—
R32
16
Lehigh—
8
Clemson—
5
Vanderbilt—
4
Nebraska—
6
North Carolina—
3
Illinois—
10
Texas A&M—
2
Houston—
S16
8
Clemson—
4
Nebraska—
6
North Carolina—
2
Houston—
E8
TBD
TBD
midwest
R64
1
Michigan—
16UMBC / Howard
8
Georgia—
9
Saint Louis—
5
Texas Tech—
12
Akron—
4
Alabama—
13
Hofstra—
6
Tennessee—
11SMU / Miami (OH)
3
Virginia—
14
Wright State—
7
Kentucky—
10
Santa Clara—
2
Iowa State—
15
Tennessee State—
R32
16
Howard—
8
Georgia—
5
Texas Tech—
4
Alabama—
11
Miami (OH)—
3
Virginia—
7
Kentucky—
2
Iowa State—
S16
8
Georgia—
4
Alabama—
3
Virginia—
7
Kentucky—
E8
TBD
TBD
Trace
Stored prompt, assistant, tool, and reasoning parts for this attempt.
userMessage 1
Mar 18, 2026, 9:33 PMYou are competing against 30+ other AI models to build the best March Madness bracket for the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Your bracket will be scored using standard ESPN scoring (10-20-40-80-160-320 points per round). The winning model gets featured on the public leaderboard.
To win, you need an EDGE. Chalk brackets (always picking the higher seed) lose every year. The models that win will be the ones that find real information — injuries, matchup advantages, hot streaks, coaching tendencies — and use it to make smart upset picks.
## Tournament Structure
- 64 teams, divided into 4 regions (East, West, South, Midwest)
- You will predict ONE ROUND AT A TIME. After each round, your winners advance to the next round's matchups.
- Some games have **First Four play-in matchups** shown as "teamA / teamB". For these, pick any of the three teams.
## Round of 64 Matchups
EAST:
game-1: [1] duke-blue-devils vs [16] siena-saints
game-2: [8] ohio-state-buckeyes vs [9] tcu-horned-frogs
game-3: [5] st-johns-red-storm vs [12] northern-iowa-panthers
game-4: [4] kansas-jayhawks vs [13] california-baptist-lancers
game-5: [6] louisville-cardinals vs [11] south-florida-bulls
game-6: [3] michigan-state-spartans vs [14] north-dakota-state-bison
game-7: [7] ucla-bruins vs [10] ucf-knights
game-8: [2] uconn-huskies vs [15] furman-paladins
WEST:
game-9: [1] arizona-wildcats vs [16] long-island-university-sharks
game-10: [8] villanova-wildcats vs [9] utah-state-aggies
game-11: [5] wisconsin-badgers vs [12] high-point-panthers
game-12: [4] arkansas-razorbacks vs [13] hawaii-rainbow-warriors
game-13: [6] byu-cougars vs [11] texas-longhorns / nc-state-wolfpack
game-14: [3] gonzaga-bulldogs vs [14] kennesaw-state-owls
game-15: [7] miami-hurricanes vs [10] missouri-tigers
game-16: [2] purdue-boilermakers vs [15] queens-nc-royals
SOUTH:
game-17: [1] florida-gators vs [16] prairie-view-am-panthers / lehigh-mountain-hawks
game-18: [8] clemson-tigers vs [9] iowa-hawkeyes
game-19: [5] vanderbilt-commodores vs [12] mcneese-cowboys
game-20: [4] nebraska-cornhuskers vs [13] troy-trojans
game-21: [6] north-carolina-tar-heels vs [11] vcu-rams
game-22: [3] illinois-fighting-illini vs [14] pennsylvania-quakers
game-23: [7] saint-marys-gaels vs [10] texas-am-aggies
game-24: [2] houston-cougars vs [15] idaho-vandals
MIDWEST:
game-25: [1] michigan-wolverines vs [16] umbc-retrievers / howard-bison
game-26: [8] georgia-bulldogs vs [9] saint-louis-billikens
game-27: [5] texas-tech-red-raiders vs [12] akron-zips
game-28: [4] alabama-crimson-tide vs [13] hofstra-pride
game-29: [6] tennessee-volunteers vs [11] smu-mustangs / miami-oh-redhawks
game-30: [3] virginia-cavaliers vs [14] wright-state-raiders
game-31: [7] kentucky-wildcats vs [10] santa-clara-broncos
game-32: [2] iowa-state-cyclones vs [15] tennessee-state-tigers
## Current Task: Round of 64 (Round 1 of 6)
Pick the winner of each game below. Use the team ID slugs shown above.
game-1: duke-blue-devils vs siena-saints
game-2: ohio-state-buckeyes vs tcu-horned-frogs
game-3: st-johns-red-storm vs northern-iowa-panthers
game-4: kansas-jayhawks vs california-baptist-lancers
game-5: louisville-cardinals vs south-florida-bulls
game-6: michigan-state-spartans vs north-dakota-state-bison
game-7: ucla-bruins vs ucf-knights
game-8: uconn-huskies vs furman-paladins
game-9: arizona-wildcats vs long-island-university-sharks
game-10: villanova-wildcats vs utah-state-aggies
game-11: wisconsin-badgers vs high-point-panthers
game-12: arkansas-razorbacks vs hawaii-rainbow-warriors
game-13: byu-cougars vs texas-longhorns
game-14: gonzaga-bulldogs vs kennesaw-state-owls
game-15: miami-hurricanes vs missouri-tigers
game-16: purdue-boilermakers vs queens-nc-royals
game-17: florida-gators vs prairie-view-am-panthers
game-18: clemson-tigers vs iowa-hawkeyes
game-19: vanderbilt-commodores vs mcneese-cowboys
game-20: nebraska-cornhuskers vs troy-trojans
game-21: north-carolina-tar-heels vs vcu-rams
game-22: illinois-fighting-illini vs pennsylvania-quakers
game-23: saint-marys-gaels vs texas-am-aggies
game-24: houston-cougars vs idaho-vandals
game-25: michigan-wolverines vs umbc-retrievers
game-26: georgia-bulldogs vs saint-louis-billikens
game-27: texas-tech-red-raiders vs akron-zips
game-28: alabama-crimson-tide vs hofstra-pride
game-29: tennessee-volunteers vs smu-mustangs
game-30: virginia-cavaliers vs wright-state-raiders
game-31: kentucky-wildcats vs santa-clara-broncos
game-32: iowa-state-cyclones vs tennessee-state-tigers
## Tools Available
- **web_search**: Search the web for team stats, rankings, or matchup analysis.
- **web_fetch**: Fetch a web page for detailed scouting reports or bracket previews.
- **use_browser**: Browse JS-heavy pages. Slower — use only when web_fetch fails.
- **lookup_team**: Find a team by name to get their slug, seed, and region.
- **calculator**: Evaluate math expressions.
- **submit_round**: Submit your picks for this round. Each pick is {"gameId": "...", "winnerId": "team-slug"}.
## Your Process
1. Research teams using web_search and web_fetch — look for rankings, injuries, upsets, matchup advantages.
2. Pick winners for all 32 games in this round.
3. Include upsets where your research supports them (this is March Madness!).
4. Call submit_round with your picks array.
Do not end with a prose bracket summary. Your final response must be a submit_round tool call.
Today's date: 2026-03-18
assistantMessage 2
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMI need to pick winners for all 32 games in the Round of 64. I will use web search to gather information on each matchup, looking for team performance, recent form, and any relevant statistics that might indicate an upset. After gathering the information, I will submit my picks.
Let's start by researching some of the more interesting matchups, particularly those with potential upsets.
I will start with game 13, where there is a First Four matchup.
I will also research games with large seed differentials or where the higher seed has known weaknesses.
Game 13: [6] byu-cougars vs [11] texas-longhorns / nc-state-wolfpack. I will need to find out who wins the play-in game.
Game 17: [1] florida-gators vs [16] prairie-view-am-panthers / lehigh-mountain-hawks. Researching these play-in games is important.
Game 25: [1] michigan-wolverines vs [16] umbc-retrievers / howard-bison. Another play-in game.
Game 29: [6] tennessee-volunteers vs [11] smu-mustangs / miami-oh-redhawks. Another play-in game.
First, I will try to find out more about the play-in games.
Since I need to pick a winner for each game, I'll start by looking up the teams that are in the play-in games.
I will start with game 13 to find out who wins between texas-longhorns and nc-state-wolfpack.
Then game 17: prairie-view-am-panthers or lehigh-mountain-hawks.
Then game 25: umbc-retrievers or howard-bison.
Finally, game 29: smu-mustangs or miami-oh-redhawks.
After that, I will research the other games.
Let's start with game 13.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament game 13 matchup texas longhorns vs nc state wolfpack"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401856434",
"title": "Texas 68-66 NC State (Mar 17, 2026) Game Recap - ESPN",
"snippet": "NC State Wolfpack vs Texas Longhorns · Tramon Mark's late jumper gives Texas a 68-66 win over NC State in the First Four."
},
{
"url": "https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-men/2026-03-18/nc-state-wolfpack-vs-texas-longhorns-condensed-game-202621580",
"title": "Texas vs. NC State - First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights",
"snippet": "Watch the highlights from No. 11 Texas and No. 11 NC State's matchup in the First Four of the 2026 men's NCAA tournament."
},
{
"url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=401856434",
"title": "Texas vs. NC State (Mar 17, 2026) Live Score - ESPN",
"snippet": "Live coverage of the Texas Longhorns vs. NC State Wolfpack NCAAM game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats."
},
{
"url": "https://gopack.com/news/2026/3/18/mens-basketball-pack-drops-heartbreaker-to-texas-68-66",
"title": "Pack Drops Heartbreaker to Texas, 68-66 - NC State Athletics",
"snippet": "Texas ended the game with a 45-33 advantage in rebounding and outscored the Pack, 21-14, at the free throw line, as the Longhorns attempted 11 ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/mens-college-basketball/live/first-four-texas-beats-nc-state-after-tramon-marks-game-winner-with-1-second-left-210000418.html",
"title": "First Four: Texas beats NC State after Tramon Mark's game-winner ...",
"snippet": "A year after Texas lost in the First Four, the Longhorns needed a game-winner from Tramon Mark to avoid back-to-back NCAA tournament losses."
}
]
}assistantMessage 3
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMThe Texas Longhorns won against the NC State Wolfpack in the First Four game. So, for game 13, the winner is texas-longhorns.
Now I will research the other play-in games.
Game 17: prairie-view-am-panthers or lehigh-mountain-hawks.
Game 25: umbc-retrievers or howard-bison.
Game 29: smu-mustangs or miami-oh-redhawks.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament prairie view am panthers vs lehigh mountain hawks"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://pvpanthers.com/news/2026/3/17/mens-basketball-panthers-set-for-first-four-showdown-with-lehigh-in-ncaa-tournament.aspx",
"title": "Panthers Set for First Four Showdown with Lehigh in NCAA ...",
"snippet": "DAYTON, OH - The Prairie View A&M Panthers men's basketball will take center stage on Wednesday evening as they face the Lehigh Mountain ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401856437/prairie-view-lehigh",
"title": "Prairie View A&M vs. Lehigh (Mar 18, 2026) Live Score - ESPN",
"snippet": "Live coverage of the Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks NCAAM game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/preview/NCAAB_20260318_PVAM@LEHIGH/",
"title": "Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks Live Score ...",
"snippet": "Get real-time Men's College Basketball coverage and scores as Prairie View A&M Panthers takes on Lehigh Mountain Hawks."
},
{
"url": "https://patriotleague.org/news/2026/3/16/patriot-league-champ-lehigh-to-meet-prairie-view-am-in-ncaa-mens-basketball-tournament-first-four-3-15-26.aspx",
"title": "Patriot League Champ Lehigh to Meet Prairie View A&M in NCAA ...",
"snippet": "The Mountain Hawks have won their last six games, coming off a 74-60 victory over No. 4 Boston University in the 2026 PenFed Credit Union ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament-first-4-prairie-view-am-panthers-vs-lehigh-mountain-hawks-mar-18-2026-game-boxscore-264059",
"title": "2025-26 NCAA Tournament - First Four: Mar 18, 2026 - FOX Sports",
"snippet": "View the Prairie View A&M Panthers vs. Lehigh Mountain Hawks basketball game played on March 18, 2026. View box score, stats, odds, ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 4
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMThe search results indicate that Lehigh Mountain Hawks are on a six-game winning streak and won their conference championship. Prairie View A&M's results are not as readily available, but Lehigh's momentum makes them a likely winner. I will pick lehigh-mountain-hawks for game 17.
Now for game 25: umbc-retrievers or howard-bison.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament umbc retrievers vs howard bison"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.ncaa.com/video/basketball-men/2026-03-17/howard-bison-vs-umbc-retrievers-condensed-game-202621578",
"title": "Howard vs. UMBC - First Four NCAA tournament extended highlights",
"snippet": "Watch the highlights from No. 16 Howard and No. 16 UMBC's matchup in the First Four of the 2026 men's NCAA tournament."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVOro4AQFFQ",
"title": "Howard-UMBC kicks off 2026 March Madness with intense finish",
"snippet": "between Howard and UMBC, to kick off the 2026 NCAA men's basketball tournament. The Bison survived, picking up their first ever March Madness ..."
},
{
"url": "https://meacsports.com/news/2026/3/18/mens-basketball-howard-secures-first-ever-ncaa-tournament-victory-with-86-83-win-over-umbc.aspx",
"title": "Howard Secures First-Ever NCAA Tournament Victory with 86–83 ...",
"snippet": "Howard Secures First-Ever NCAA Tournament Victory with 86–83 Win Over UMBC. Men's Basketball | 3/17/2026 9:33:41 PM. Story Links. History was ..."
},
{
"url": "https://hubison.com/news/2026/3/16/mens-basketball-mens-basketball-faces-umbc-in-the-ncaa-first-four.aspx",
"title": "Men's Basketball Faces UMBC in the NCAA First Four",
"snippet": "A year ago, UMBC defeated Howard, 95-77 (Nov. 25, 2024) for its first win of the series. The Bison prevailed 103-93 in a shootout at The Burr ( ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/recap/NCAAB_20260317_UMBC@HOW/",
"title": "UMBC Retrievers vs. Howard Bison Live Score and Stats - CBS Sports",
"snippet": "Howard gets its first March Madness win, holding off UMBC 86-83 in the First Four · Picks from Vegas experts and insiders · Optimal rankings, ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 5
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMHoward Bison won against UMBC Retrievers with a score of 86-83. This was their first NCAA tournament victory. I will pick howard-bison for game 25.
Now for game 29: smu-mustangs or miami-oh-redhawks.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament smu mustangs vs miami oh redhawks"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://smumustangs.com/news/2026/3/15/mens-basketball-the-mustangs-are-in.aspx",
"title": "THE MUSTANGS ARE IN!",
"snippet": "The Mustangs will play Miami (OH) (31-1) in the First Four on Wednesday at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. SMU (20-13) is making its 13th appearance ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401856436/miami-oh-smu",
"title": "Miami (OH) vs. SMU (Mar 18, 2026) Live Score",
"snippet": "Live coverage of the Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. SMU Mustangs NCAAM game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats."
},
{
"url": "https://miamiredhawks.com/news/2026/3/15/mens-basketball-miami-ncaa-tournament-selection-sunday",
"title": "RedHawks Are Dancing! 31-1 Miami Earns At-Large Bid to ...",
"snippet": "11 seed SMU at UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio. The game will tip off at approximately 9:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18 and be broadcast on truTV. The ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/live/NCAAB_20260318_MIAOH@SMU/",
"title": "Miami (Ohio) RedHawks vs. SMU Mustangs Live Score ...",
"snippet": "Get real-time Men's College Basketball coverage and scores as Miami (Ohio) RedHawks takes on SMU Mustangs. We bring you the latest game ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.foxsports.com/college-basketball/ncaa-tournament-first-4-miami-oh-redhawks-vs-smu-mustangs-mar-18-2026-game-boxscore-264060",
"title": "Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. SMU Mustangs - Live Score",
"snippet": "View the Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. SMU Mustangs basketball game played on March 18, 2026. View box score, stats, odds, highlights, ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 6
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMMiami (OH) RedHawks have a very strong record of 31-1, while SMU Mustangs have a record of 20-13. Miami (OH) is also on a long winning streak, based on their "RedHawks Are Dancing!" headline. I will pick miami-oh-redhawks for game 29.
Now that I have researched the play-in games, I will proceed to research the other matchups. I will prioritize games with notable seed differences or matchups that present interesting strategic considerations.
Game 1: [1] duke-blue-devils vs [16] siena-saints
Game 2: [8] ohio-state-buckeyes vs [9] tcu-horned-frogs
Game 3: [5] st-johns-red-storm vs [12] northern-iowa-panthers
Game 4: [4] kansas-jayhawks vs [13] california-baptist-lancers
Game 5: [6] louisville-cardinals vs [11] south-florida-bulls
Game 6: [3] michigan-state-spartans vs [14] north-dakota-state-bison
Game 7: [7] ucla-bruins vs [10] ucf-knights
Game 8: [2] uconn-huskies vs [15] furman-paladins
Game 9: [1] arizona-wildcats vs [16] long-island-university-sharks
Game 10: [8] villanova-wildcats vs [9] utah-state-aggies
Game 11: [5] wisconsin-badgers vs [12] high-point-panthers
Game 12: [4] arkansas-razorbacks vs [13] hawaii-rainbow-warriors
Game 14: [3] gonzaga-bulldogs vs [14] kennesaw-state-owls
Game 15: [7] miami-hurricanes vs [10] missouri-tigers
Game 16: [2] purdue-boilermakers vs [15] queens-nc-royals
Game 18: [8] clemson-tigers vs [9] iowa-hawkeyes
Game 19: [5] vanderbilt-commodores vs [12] mcneese-cowboys
Game 20: [4] nebraska-cornhuskers vs [13] troy-trojans
Game 21: [6] north-carolina-tar-heels vs [11] vcu-rams
Game 22: [3] illinois-fighting-illini vs [14] pennsylvania-quakers
Game 23: [7] saint-marys-gaels vs [10] texas-am-aggies
Game 24: [2] houston-cougars vs [15] idaho-vandals
Game 26: [8] georgia-bulldogs vs [9] saint-louis-billikens
Game 27: [5] texas-tech-red-raiders vs [12] akron-zips
Game 28: [4] alabama-crimson-tide vs [13] hofstra-pride
Game 30: [3] virginia-cavaliers vs [14] wright-state-raiders
Game 31: [7] kentucky-wildcats vs [10] santa-clara-broncos
Game 32: [2] iowa-state-cyclones vs [15] tennessee-state-tigers
I will start with some of the potential upsets, focusing on games where a lower seed has a good chance.
Game 3: [5] st-johns-red-storm vs [12] northern-iowa-panthers. 12 seeds can pull upsets.
Game 5: [6] louisville-cardinals vs [11] south-florida-bulls. 11 seeds can pull upsets.
Game 11: [5] wisconsin-badgers vs [12] high-point-panthers. Another 12 seed to watch.
Game 12: [4] arkansas-razorbacks vs [13] hawaii-rainbow-warriors. 13 seeds can sometimes win.
Game 15: [7] miami-hurricanes vs [10] missouri-tigers. 10 seeds can pull upsets.
Game 19: [5] vanderbilt-commodores vs [12] mcneese-cowboys. Yet another 12 seed.
Game 20: [4] nebraska-cornhuskers vs [13] troy-trojans. Another 13 seed.
Game 22: [3] illinois-fighting-illini vs [14] pennsylvania-quakers. 14 seeds can cause chaos.
Game 23: [7] saint-marys-gaels vs [10] texas-am-aggies. 10 seed.
Game 27: [5] texas-tech-red-raiders vs [12] akron-zips. 12 seed.
Game 28: [4] alabama-crimson-tide vs [13] hofstra-pride. 13 seed.
Game 30: [3] virginia-cavaliers vs [14] wright-state-raiders. 14 seed.
Game 31: [7] kentucky-wildcats vs [10] santa-clara-broncos. 10 seed.
Game 32: [2] iowa-state-cyclones vs [15] tennessee-state-tigers. 15 seeds almost never win, but it's worth checking for extreme circumstances.
I'll start by researching some of these potential upsets.
Game 3: [5] st-johns-red-storm vs [12] northern-iowa-panthers.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "St. John's vs Northern Iowa 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/no-5-st-johns-out-to-prove-seeding-too-low-vs-no-12-northern-iowa/",
"title": "No. 5 St. John's out to prove seeding too low vs. No. 12 Northern Iowa",
"snippet": "The Red Storm (28-6) won both the Big East regular-season title and the conference tournament, yet secured only a No. 5 seed for a first-round ..."
},
{
"url": "https://athlonsports.com/college-basketball/they-got-hosed-st-johns-red-storm-fans-furious-over-5-seed-ranking-in-ncaa-tournament",
"title": "'They Got Hosed': St. John's Red Storm Fans Furious Over 5 Seed ...",
"snippet": "John's will have a brutal bracket. If they were to take down Northern Iowa, the Red Storm could potentially be facing #4 Kansas Jayhawks in the ..."
},
{
"url": "https://nypost.com/2026/03/18/sports/northern-iowas-pace-a-march-madness-key-vs-st-johns/",
"title": "Northern Iowa's pace a March Madness key vs. St. John's - NY Post",
"snippet": "Tempo could go a long way in determining how St. John's opening-round NCAA Tournament game goes Friday against No. 12 seed Northern Iowa."
},
{
"url": "https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/st-johns-northern-iowa-march-madness-bracket-pick/e6626f3923f61b9d369cb08e",
"title": "St. John's or Northern Iowa? How to pick 5 vs 12 matchup in 2026 ...",
"snippet": "St. John's opens as a double-digit favorite against Northern Iowa, according to DraftKings odds. The Red Storm are coming off a Big East ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5hNL_C2Px8",
"title": "Northern Iowa vs St. John's 3/20/26 College Basketball Picks - Tony ...",
"snippet": "... matchup between Northern Iowa ... Expert Picks & Predictions for EVERY First Round game of the NCAA Tournament | 2026 March Madness."
}
]
}assistantMessage 7
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMSt. John's won their conference regular season and tournament, but are seeded lower than expected at 5. Northern Iowa is a 12 seed, and while St. John's is favored, 12 seeds often pull upsets. I will look at other matchups before deciding on this one.
Game 5: [6] louisville-cardinals vs [11] south-florida-bulls.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Louisville vs South Florida 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/south-florida-vs-louisville-prediction-154700035.html",
"title": "South Florida vs Louisville Prediction, Picks & Odds for Thursday's ...",
"snippet": "South Florida vs Louisville best bet: J'Vonne Hadley Over 14.5 points (-112). The 6-foot-7 senior is a tough matchup for USF's backcourt, which ..."
},
{
"url": "https://collegefootballnews.com/college-basketball/louisville-vs-usf-prediction-preview-ncaa-tournament-first-round",
"title": "Louisville vs USF Prediction and Preview: NCAA Tournament First ...",
"snippet": "Louisville vs USF Prediction, Betting Lines ; Prediction: Louisville 91, USF 82 ; Consensus Line: Louisville -5.5, o/u: 165.5 ; ATS Confidence out ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2026-march-madness-picks-predictions-first-round-games-bracket/",
"title": "2026 March Madness picks: Predictions for every first-round game in ...",
"snippet": "South Florida matches up really, really well with Louisville across the board. It can out-rebound the Cardinals. It can shoot with the Cardinals ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uth3zZlMJm0",
"title": "2026 March Madness Tournament Predictions! (Full Bracket Picks)",
"snippet": "Comments. 220. Louisville has a problem with TOs and South Florida are ... March Madness Mega Bracket Breakdown. Evan Miyakawa. New. 6.1K ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/sports/college/basketball/2026/03/15/south-florida-basketball-upset-prediction-louisville-march-madness/89172061007/",
"title": "South Florida basketball picked to upset Louisville in March Madness",
"snippet": "Not even half of the brackets were announced before South Florida became a chic pick to pull off an upset in the 2026 men's NCAA tournament."
}
]
}assistantMessage 8
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMSouth Florida is being talked about as a popular upset pick against Louisville. Some analysis suggests South Florida matches up well and can out-rebound and out-shoot Louisville. I will pick south-florida-bulls for game 5.
Game 11: [5] wisconsin-badgers vs [12] high-point-panthers.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Wisconsin vs High Point 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mVG_nMNraw",
"title": "Wisconsin vs. High Point NCAA Tournament Game Preview And ...",
"snippet": "The Sleepers preview the Wisconsin vs. High Point game! This ... High Point NCAA Tournament Game Preview And Predictions! 1.1K views ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/wisconsin/basketball/wisconsin-vs-high-point-breakdown-3-ways-the-badgers-can-beat-the-panthers",
"title": "Wisconsin vs. High Point Breakdown: 3 Ways the Badgers Can Beat ...",
"snippet": "March Madness Brackets: Expert Predictions for the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament. March Madness: Four Teams With the Clearest Path to the Men's ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/wisconsin-wary-of-high-scoring-high-point-in-classic-5-12-matchup/",
"title": "Wisconsin wary of high-scoring High Point in classic 5-12 matchup",
"snippet": "2026 Top Classes · CBS Sports Classic · College Shop · NCAA Tournament Coverage · Live Bracket · Printable Bracket ... matchup does upset people a ..."
},
{
"url": "https://collegefootballnews.com/college-basketball/wisconsin-vs-high-point-prediction-preview-ncaa-tournament-first-round",
"title": "Wisconsin vs High Point Prediction and Preview: NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "College Football News | College Football Predictions, Analysis and Updates home ... NCAA Tournament predictionsWisconsin Vs High Point ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/wisconsin-vs-high-point-prediction-064057030.html",
"title": "Wisconsin vs High Point Prediction and Preview: NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "March Madness 2026 bracket, predictions, picks: Best bets for every 2026 NCAA tournament game. Our college basketball handicappers give a ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 9
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMWisconsin is wary of High Point's scoring ability. This is a classic 5-12 matchup where upsets are common. However, Wisconsin is a strong defensive team. I will stick with the higher seed for now and pick wisconsin-badgers.
Game 12: [4] arkansas-razorbacks vs [13] hawaii-rainbow-warriors.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Arkansas vs Hawaii 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://collegefootballnews.com/college-basketball/arkansas-vs-hawaii-prediction-preview-ncaa-tournament-first-round",
"title": "Arkansas vs Hawaii Prediction and Preview: NCAA Tournament First ...",
"snippet": "Arkansas is fast, Hawaii is big, and the two should combine for an interesting matchup. Here's the CFN NCAA Tournament first round prediction ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNiw205eC8I",
"title": "Arkansas vs. Hawaii PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "Hawaii PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA Tournament Predictions. 4.6K views · 8 ... Gus Argenal Talks Arkansas vs Hawaii Matchup, Darius Acuff Jr."
},
{
"url": "https://www.fayvillains.com/2026/03/17/matchup-analysis-hawaiis-unusual-defense-will-challenge-arkansas-preparation/",
"title": "Hawaii's unusual defense will challenge Arkansas' preparation",
"snippet": "He put out a fantastic video on Hawaii's defense earlier this year, so I was excited as soon as I saw the bracket matchup. Here's the video, for ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/arkansas-hawaii-pick-4-vs-191200201.html",
"title": "Arkansas or Hawaii? How to pick 4 vs. 13 matchup in 2026 March ...",
"snippet": "Arkansas or Hawaii? How to pick 4 vs. 13 matchup in 2026 March Madness bracket originally appeared on The Sporting News."
},
{
"url": "https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/2026/03/16/arkansas-hawaii-picks-predictions-odds-march-madness-ncaa-tournament-game/88419899007/",
"title": "Arkansas vs Hawaii picks, predictions, odds for NCAA March Madness",
"snippet": "Check out these March Madness picks and March Madness predictions for the men's college basketball NCAA Tournament matchup. Arkansas is a 15.5- ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 10
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMHawaii has an unusual defense that will challenge Arkansas. Arkansas is fast, and Hawaii is big. This is a classic 4 vs 13 matchup, and while Arkansas is favored, upsets are possible. I will stick with the higher seed and pick arkansas-razorbacks.
Game 15: [7] miami-hurricanes vs [10] missouri-tigers.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Miami Hurricanes vs Missouri Tigers 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://caneswarning.com/missouri-got-the-ncaa-tournament-s-sweetest-deal-and-miami-will-have-to-overcome-it",
"title": "Missouri got the NCAA tournament's sweetest deal and Miami will ...",
"snippet": "Missouri landed a No. 10 seed and a first-round date with the No. 7 Miami Hurricanes in St. Louis. ByPatrick Previty| ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/missouri/basketball/instant-reaction-to-mizzou-seeding-matchup-in-2026-ncaa-tournament",
"title": "Instant Reaction to Mizzou's Seeding, Matchup in 2026 NCAA ...",
"snippet": "This should give Missouri a huge lift to potentially pull off an upset. Missouri has been a streaky and somewhat inconsistent team this season."
},
{
"url": "https://www.stateoftheu.com/basketball-news/85796/miami-hurricanes-open-as-favorites-over-missouri-tigers-in-2026-ncaa-tournament",
"title": "Miami Hurricanes open as favorites over Missouri Tigers in 2026 ...",
"snippet": "A 7 seed in the West Region, Miami has a favorable matchup in the 1st round, then a probable game against 2 seed Purdue, the Big 10 tournament ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OemI13_7UU",
"title": "Miami Hurricanes FACE True Road Test As NCAA Tournament 7 ...",
"snippet": "As a long time Cane fan I'm conditioned to expect a slight from the NCAA. I'm not a bit surprised they are playing Mizzou in their home ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/why-mizzou-vs-miami-emotional-023653637.html",
"title": "Why Mizzou vs. Miami will make for an emotional matchup in the ...",
"snippet": "Missouri was the 39th overall seed; Miami was 27th overall. The Tigers are one of 10 SEC teams to make the Big Dance, the most of any conference ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 11
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMMiami is a slight favorite against Missouri, and the game is being played in St. Louis, which could be a pro-Missouri crowd. Missouri has been inconsistent. Given the venue and the slight upset potential, I will pick missouri-tigers for game 15.
Game 19: [5] vanderbilt-commodores vs [12] mcneese-cowboys.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Vanderbilt vs McNeese State 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://collegefootballnews.com/college-basketball/vanderbilt-vs-mcneese-prediction-preview-ncaa-tournament-first-round",
"title": "Vanderbilt vs McNeese Prediction and Preview: NCAA ...",
"snippet": "Both Vanderbilt and McNeese like to run and get the offense moving. Here's the CFN prediction and preview of a sure-thing fun 5-12 matchup."
},
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/vanderbilt/basketball/breaking-down-mcneese-basketball-ahead-of-vanderbilt-s-first-round-matchup",
"title": "Breaking Down McNeese Basketball Ahead of Vanderbilt's ...",
"snippet": "When looking at this matchup, the two things Vanderbilt has to make sure to hone in on is taking care of the ball and making the open shots when ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/vanderbilt-faces-mcneese-opening-round-084304786.html",
"title": "Vanderbilt faces McNeese in opening round of NCAA ...",
"snippet": "The Commodores are 13-8 against SEC opponents and 13-0 in non-conference play. Vanderbilt is 2-2 in one-possession games."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVrs7ZOP4j0",
"title": "Vanderbilt vs. McNeese PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA ...",
"snippet": "Blake Lovell and Max Barr preview Vanderbilt vs. McNeese in the 2026 NCAA Tournament first round game in the South Region and share ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.bettingpros.com/articles/vanderbilt-vs-mcneese-ncaa-tournament-predictions-preview/",
"title": "Vanderbilt vs. McNeese: NCAA Tournament Predictions & ...",
"snippet": "We'll have picks and predictions for each first-round 2026 NCAA Tournament game. Here are our NCAA Tournament predictions and previews."
}
]
}assistantMessage 12
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMThis is a classic 5-12 matchup. Both teams like to run. Vanderbilt has a good record against non-conference opponents, but McNeese is coming into this tournament with confidence. I will stick with the higher seed and pick vanderbilt-commodores.
Game 20: [4] nebraska-cornhuskers vs [13] troy-trojans.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Nebraska vs Troy 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nebraska-troy-pick-4-vs-184800562.html",
"title": "Nebraska or Troy? How to pick 4 vs. 13 matchup in 2026 ...",
"snippet": "Here is a complete guide to picking No. 4 Nebraska and No. 13 Troy in your 2026 March Madness bracket, including updated odds and our expert ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.wowt.com/2026/03/17/nebraska-vs-troy-ncaa-tournament-preview-why-huskers-cant-overlook-no-13-trojans/",
"title": "Nebraska vs. Troy NCAA Tournament Preview",
"snippet": "4-Seed Nebraska drew 13-Seed Troy for its first-round matchup. The Huskers are significant favorites (-12.5), but cannot take the Trojans ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.teamrankings.com/ncaa-basketball/matchup/trojans-cornhuskers-2026-03-19/ats-analysis",
"title": "Trojans Cornhuskers Point Spread Analysis",
"snippet": "Betting analysis for the 2025-2026 NCAA Basketball season matchup between Troy and Nebraska. Includes ats, over/under and straight up odds ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8oDUzTpZ3o",
"title": "Nebraska vs. Troy NCAA Tournament Game Preview And ...",
"snippet": "The Sleepers preview the Nebraska vs. Troy NCAA Tournament game! This video is brought to you by Tinker Coffee, the Midwest's best brew!"
},
{
"url": "https://hurrdatsports.com/hailvarsity/mens-basketball/nebraska-mens-basketball-opponent-breakdown-troy-trojans/",
"title": "Nebraska Men's Basketball Opponent Breakdown: Troy ...",
"snippet": "At 22-11, 2026 is the fifth season in a row the Trojans have won 20 games or more and the second straight season they have won the Sun Belt ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 13
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMNebraska is a significant favorite against Troy, but cannot overlook them. Troy has had multiple 20+ win seasons and won their conference. I will stick with the higher seed and pick nebraska-cornhuskers.
Game 22: [3] illinois-fighting-illini vs [14] pennsylvania-quakers.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Illinois vs Pennsylvania 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/illinois/basketball/espn-analytics-predict-illinois-penn-ncaa-tournament-matchup",
"title": "ESPN Analytics Predict Illinois vs. Penn NCAA Tournament Matchup",
"snippet": "Per ESPN's matchup predictor, Illinois has a 97.3 percent chance of taking down Penn in the Round of 64. Is ESPN's prediction of Illinois-Penn ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/gametracker/preview/NCAAB_20260319_PENN@ILL/",
"title": "No. 3 seed Illinois opens title pursuit with familiar feel vs. Penn",
"snippet": "No picks available yet for this matchup. View 25 NCAAB expert picks at SportsLine."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EnXyS387yk",
"title": "Illinois vs Penn Preview | March Madness First Round ... - YouTube",
"snippet": "Illinois and Penn (Pennsylvania) meet in the NCAA Tournament in an intriguing March Madness first round matchup."
},
{
"url": "https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/illinois-fighting-illini-square-off-084532066.html",
"title": "Illinois Fighting Illini square off against Pennsylvania Quakers in ...",
"snippet": "March Madness 2026 bracket, predictions, picks: Best bets for every 2026 NCAA tournament game. Our college basketball handicappers give a ..."
},
{
"url": "https://fightingillini.com/news/2026/3/17/mens-basketball-ncaa-tournament-first-round-preview-3-illinois-vs-14-penn.aspx",
"title": "NCAA Tournament First Round Preview | 3 Illinois vs. 14 Penn",
"snippet": "Humrichous also played in both games, pulling down 4.5 rebounds per contest, while Davis logged two minutes in the team's Round 2 matchup vs."
}
]
}assistantMessage 14
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMIllinois is heavily favored against Penn, with a 97.3% chance of winning according to ESPN analytics. I will pick illinois-fighting-illini for game 22.
Game 27: [5] texas-tech-red-raiders vs [12] akron-zips.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Texas Tech vs Akron 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/texas-tech/texas-tech-s-biggest-concerns-against-akron-in-march-madness-01kkwy053kh5",
"title": "Texas Tech's Biggest Concerns Against Akron in March Madness",
"snippet": "Akron has strong ball security and defensive pressure, which will give Tech little room for error on the floor. The Red Raiders will have one ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLTFpfYKUyA",
"title": "Texas Tech vs Akron Preview | March Madness First ... - YouTube",
"snippet": "Texas Tech and Akron meet in the NCAA Tournament in an intriguing March Madness first round matchup. In this video, we break down Texas Tech ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/texas-tech-akron-march-madness-bracket-pick/5db552a7e8e3dfa71f9f1e47",
"title": "Texas Tech or Akron? How to pick 5 vs. 12 matchup in 2026 March ...",
"snippet": "Texas Tech opens as a moderate favorite over Akron, according to DraftKings odds. The Zips are the smallest underdog of the 5-seeds, with ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPUjpovsTQo",
"title": "March Madness is HERE! | Texas Tech vs Akron - YouTube",
"snippet": "March Madness is HERE! | Texas Tech vs Akron | Perfect Bracket Hopes, Red Raider Dreams! #162. 296 views · 6 hours ago ...more ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.sling.com/whatson/sports/college-basketball/how-to-watch-texas-tech-akron-march-madness",
"title": "#5 Texas Tech vs. #12 Akron Prediction, Odds, & How to Watch ...",
"snippet": "Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 82, Akron 75. Best Bet: Akron +7.5. Frequently Asked Questions. Who is the favorite in the game between Red ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 15
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMAkron has strong ball security and defense, which will make it a tough game for Texas Tech. Texas Tech is the favorite, but it's a close matchup. I will pick texas-tech-red-raiders.
Game 28: [4] alabama-crimson-tide vs [13] hofstra-pride.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Alabama vs Hofstra 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-bbiIeQ0v0",
"title": "Alabama vs. Hofstra PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "Hofstra PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA Tournament Predictions. 12 views · 17 ... March Madness First Round Friday Predictions - Utah St vs Villanova, ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/alabama/basketball/instant-reaction-alabama-seeding-matchup-in-2026-ncaa-tournament",
"title": "Instant Reaction to Alabama's Seeding, Matchup in 2026 NCAA ...",
"snippet": "BamaCentral reacts to the Crimson Tide's first round matchup against the Hofstra Pride."
},
{
"url": "https://rolltidewire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/crimson-tide/mens-basketball/2026/03/17/march-madness-alabama-basketball-hofstra-pride-preview/89183647007/",
"title": "What to know about Hofstra entering NCAA Tournament first round",
"snippet": "... NCAA Tournament matchup against the Hofstra Pride ... Way-too-early game predictions for Alabama's 2026 football schedule Former Alabama ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84g_3RHqeK0",
"title": "Alabama vs. Hofstra NCAA Tournament Game Preview ... - YouTube",
"snippet": "Hofstra NCAA Tournament Game Preview And Predictions! 649 views ... The OFFICIAL 2026 NCAA MARCH MADNESS BRACKET PICKS 2026. Stone Hard ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/behind-numbers-alabama-upset-hofstra-110041492.html",
"title": "Behind the Numbers: Can Alabama Get Upset By Hofstra in March ...",
"snippet": "March Madness 2026 bracket, predictions, picks: Best bets for every 2026 NCAA tournament game. Our college basketball handicappers give a ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 16
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMAlabama is heavily favored against Hofstra, but there are concerns about whether Alabama can avoid an upset. Hofstra is a conference champion. I will stick with the higher seed and pick alabama-crimson-tide.
Game 30: [3] virginia-cavaliers vs [14] wright-state-raiders.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Virginia vs Wright State 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/virginia/basketball/jay-bilas-predicts-a-surprising-early-exit-from-the-ncaa-tournament-for-virginia-01kkype9qrzw",
"title": "Jay Bilas Predicts a Surprising Early Exit From The NCAA ...",
"snippet": "Anything can happen in March, but I think that UVA is going to win easily against Wright State. Tennessee is not going to be an easy matchup, ..."
},
{
"url": "https://247sports.com/college/basketball/recruiting/article/httpswwwcbssportscomcollege-basketballnewsvirginia-opens-vs-wright-state-as-ryan-odoms-arc-comes-full-circle-278043224/",
"title": "Virginia opens vs. Wright State as Ryan Odom's arc comes ...",
"snippet": "PHILADELPHIA -- Eight years ago, Ryan Odom became the first coach to guide a No. 16 seed to upset a No. 1 in the NCAA Tournament."
},
{
"url": "https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/2026/03/16/virginia-wright-state-picks-predictions-odds-march-madness-ncaa-tournament/88420562007/",
"title": "Virginia vs Wright State picks, predictions, odds for March ...",
"snippet": "ESPN: Virginia has a 93% chance to beat Wright State. The site gives the Raiders a 7% shot at defeating the Cavaliers in the NCAA Tournament ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/virginia-basketballs-march-madness-opponent-223620011.html",
"title": "Virginia basketball's March Madness opponent is Wright ...",
"snippet": "Virginia will open the NCAA Tournament as the No. 3 seed, playing No. 14 Wright State in the Midwest Region, playing its first round game in ..."
},
{
"url": "https://vsin.com/college-basketball/virginia-vs-wright-state-prediction-ncaa-tournament-midwest-region-no-3-vs-no-14-march-madness-preview/",
"title": "March Madness Picks: Virginia vs. Wright State Prediction",
"snippet": "A preview and prediction for Virginia vs. Wright State in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. By. VSiN Staff. -. March 15, 2026."
}
]
}assistantMessage 17
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMVirginia is heavily favored against Wright State, with ESPN giving them a 93% chance of winning. I will pick virginia-cavaliers for game 30.
Game 32: [2] iowa-state-cyclones vs [15] tennessee-state-tigers. 15 seeds almost never win. I will pick iowa-state-cyclones.
Now I will go through the remaining games and make my picks. For most of these, I will pick the higher seed unless there's a strong indication otherwise.
Game 1: [1] duke-blue-devils vs [16] siena-saints. Pick duke-blue-devils.
Game 2: [8] ohio-state-buckeyes vs [9] tcu-horned-frogs. This is a close matchup. I will do a quick search for this one.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Ohio State vs TCU 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2026/03/ohio-state-got-the-opportunity-it-longed-for-are-the-buckeyes-now-built-for-march-madness-upsets.html",
"title": "Ohio State vs TCU NCAA Tournament: What to know about matchup",
"snippet": "The NCAA Tournament — which starts Thursday with No. 8 seed Ohio State facing No. 9 seed TCU — is prominent because of upsets few see coming, ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-state-basketball/2026/03/161907/five-things-to-know-takeaways-and-rebounds-fueled-late-season-hot-streak-for-tcu-buckeyes-first-ncaa-tournament-opponent",
"title": "Takeaways and Rebounds Fueled Late-Season Hot Streak for TCU ...",
"snippet": "8 seed Buckeyes are set to face No. 9 seed TCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, with a second-round appearance and likely matchup against No. 1 ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/game/_/gameId/401856479/tcu-ohio-state",
"title": "TCU vs. Ohio State (Mar 19, 2026) Live Score - ESPN",
"snippet": "Live coverage of the TCU Horned Frogs vs. Ohio State Buckeyes NCAAM game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxCNQrByOpE",
"title": "Previewing TCU matchup, potential Buckeyes run in Big Dance",
"snippet": "Ohio State in NCAA Tournament: Previewing TCU matchup, potential Buckeyes run in Big Dance #OhioStateBasketball #OhioState #CFBNews ..."
},
{
"url": "https://scarletandgame.com/ohio-state-basketball-team-gets-brutally-tough-draw-in-the-ncaa-tournament",
"title": "Ohio State basketball team gets brutally tough draw in the NCAA ...",
"snippet": "The Buckeyes will take on ninth-seeded TCU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The game will be played in Buffalo. That is a game that ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 18
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMThis is a very close matchup between two 8 and 9 seeds. Ohio State had a late-season hot streak, but TCU also has momentum. I will pick tcu-horned-frogs to pull off the slight upset.
Game 3: [5] st-johns-red-storm vs [12] northern-iowa-panthers. St. John's is favored, but Northern Iowa could pose a threat. Given the earlier analysis that St. John's is already considered underseeded, I will pick st-johns-red-storm.
Game 4: [4] kansas-jayhawks vs [13] california-baptist-lancers. Kansas is a strong favorite. Pick kansas-jayhawks.
Game 6: [3] michigan-state-spartans vs [14] north-dakota-state-bison. Michigan State is a strong favorite. Pick michigan-state-spartans.
Game 7: [7] ucla-bruins vs [10] ucf-knights. UCF is a dangerous 10 seed. I will research this one briefly.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "UCLA vs UCF 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_fWuECqP4M",
"title": "UCLA vs. UCF NCAA Tournament Game Preview And Predictions!",
"snippet": "The Sleepers preview the UCLA vs. UCF NCAA Tournament game! This video is brought to you by Tinker Coffee, the Midwest's best brew!"
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ucla-ucf-pick-7-vs-191500092.html",
"title": "UCLA or UCF? How to pick 7 vs. 10 matchup in 2026 March ...",
"snippet": "Here is a complete guide to picking No. 7 UCLA and No. 10 UCF in your 2026 March Madness bracket, including updated odds and our expert ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/sports/college/ucf/2026/03/15/ucf-ucla-march-madness-prediction-ncaa-bracket/89142675007/",
"title": "UCF vs UCLA prediction, pick, odds March Madness first round",
"snippet": "It's the UCF Knights vs. the UCLA Bruins in the March Madness bracket. Here's our prediction for the 2026 NCAA Tournament basketball game."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x4F6x5G2hA",
"title": "NCAA Tournament 2026 East Region | AI Bracket Analysis - YouTube",
"snippet": "... matchup between UCLA and UCF. UCLA: 23-11 | Adj Net: 20.5 ... UCLA vs UCF | NCAA Tournament 2026 East Region | AI Bracket Analysis."
},
{
"url": "https://nationaltoday.com/us/il/chicago/news/2026/03/16/ucla-basketball-and-ucf-face-off-in-ncaa-tournament-matchup/",
"title": "UCLA Basketball and UCF Face Off in NCAA Tournament Matchup",
"snippet": "Defensively, UCLA allows 71.0 points per game (80th) while UCF gives up 78.5 (278th). The Bruins have the edge in effective field goal ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 19
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMUCLA has a better defensive efficiency and a stronger adjusted net rating. While UCF is a dangerous 10 seed, UCLA is still favored. Pick ucla-bruins.
Game 8: [2] uconn-huskies vs [15] furman-paladins. UConn is heavily favored. Pick uconn-huskies.
Game 9: [1] arizona-wildcats vs [16] long-island-university-sharks. Arizona is heavily favored. Pick arizona-wildcats.
Game 10: [8] villanova-wildcats vs [9] utah-state-aggies. This is a close matchup. I will research this one briefly.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Villanova vs Utah State 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ncaa-tournament-west-region-no-150000824.html",
"title": "No. 8 Villanova Wildcats vs No. 9 Utah State Aggies. First ...",
"snippet": "Utah State is coming off of a conference championship ... predictions, picks: Best bets for every first-round 2026 NCAA tournament game."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtSG66ioHGs",
"title": "Villanova vs. Utah State: NCAA Tournament First Round ...",
"snippet": "Villanova vs. Utah State: NCAA Tournament First Round Preview & Predictions The ... Jon Rothstein provides detailed bracket breakdown. CBS ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/villanova-utah-state-march-madness-bracket-pick/4e082134bc80c23a7452a825",
"title": "Villanova or Utah State? How to pick 8 vs. 9 matchup in 2026 ...",
"snippet": "Utah State opens as a slight favorite over Villanova, according to DraftKings odds. The Aggies are the lower seed, but they are coming off a ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/utah-state-vs-villanova-odds-prediction-2026-ncaa-tournament-picks-from-proven-model/",
"title": "Utah State vs. Villanova odds, prediction: 2026 NCAA ...",
"snippet": "Utah State is a 1.5-point favorite in the latest Utah State vs. Villanova odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DVj5WHcvoM",
"title": "NCAA Tournament 2026 West Region | AI Bracket Analysis",
"snippet": "AI-powered head-to-head preview for the Round of 64 matchup between Villanova and Utah State. Villanova: 24-8 | Adj Net: 20.9 | Marvin's ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 20
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMUtah State is a slight favorite and is coming off a conference championship. I will pick utah-state-aggies.
Game 14: [3] gonzaga-bulldogs vs [14] kennesaw-state-owls. Gonzaga is heavily favored. Pick gonzaga-bulldogs.
Game 16: [2] purdue-boilermakers vs [15] queens-nc-royals. Purdue is heavily favored. Pick purdue-boilermakers.
Game 18: [8] clemson-tigers vs [9] iowa-hawkeyes. This is a close matchup. I will research this briefly.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Clemson vs Iowa 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.theclemsoninsider.com/2026/03/16/national-outlets-predict-clemson-vs-iowa-matchup/",
"title": "National Outlets Predict Clemson vs. Iowa Matchup",
"snippet": "Before the Big Dance begins, ESPN predicted every game in the March Madness bracket. ESPN's Jeff Borzello predicted Clemson to beat Iowa, 64-62, ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/sports/college/iowa/basketball-men/2026/03/17/iowa-mens-basketball-clemson-ncaa-tournament-hawkeyes/89180445007/",
"title": "In-depth scout of Clemson, Iowa basketball's NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "The matchup with Iowa has the potential to be a low-possession, grind-it-out type of game. The Tigers rank 333rd in adjusted tempo this season, ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GO9zvZfYbM",
"title": "Clemson vs. Iowa NCAA Tournament Game Preview And Predictions!",
"snippet": "Iowa NCAA Tournament Game Preview And Predictions! 261 views · 8 ... *PERFECT* FULL March Madness 2026 Tournament Bracket Predictions!"
},
{
"url": "https://hawkeyeswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/hawkeyes/mens-basketball/2026/03/17/iowa-basketball-ncaa-tournament-bracket-predictions-picks-clemson-cbs/89191244007/",
"title": "CBS split on Iowa basketball vs. Clemson NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "Clemson NCAA Tournament bracket picks. Portrait ... As we pass the time, the predictions, picks, and analysis for the brackets are endless."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/early-national-predictions-clemson-basketball-000735977.html",
"title": "Early national predictions for Clemson basketball's matchup vs. Iowa",
"snippet": "Here's what the experts are thinking for Clemson basketball's March Madness matchup against Iowa ... 2026 March Madness bracket: NCAA tournament ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 21
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMESPN predicts Clemson to win a close game. Iowa plays at a slower tempo. I will go with clemson-tigers.
Game 21: [6] north-carolina-tar-heels vs [11] vcu-rams. This is a competitive matchup. I will research this briefly.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "North Carolina vs VCU 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/unc/tar-heels-3-ways-can-beat-vcu-round-64",
"title": "3 Ways the Tar Heels Can Beat VCU in Round of 64 - Sports Illustrated",
"snippet": "Mar 7, 2026; Durham, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina ... All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvc9bvaEzT0",
"title": "North Carolina vs. VCU NCAA Tournament Game Preview And ...",
"snippet": "VCU NCAA Tournament Game Preview And Predictions! ... These Teams Could DESTROY Your March Madness Bracket | 2026 NCAA Tournament Upset Picks."
},
{
"url": "https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-basketball/news/north-carolina-vcu-march-madness-bracket-pick/9d36690beed5cb47fb1a29b7",
"title": "North Carolina or VCU? How to pick 6 vs. 11 matchup in 2026 ...",
"snippet": "North Carolina or VCU? How to pick 6 vs. 11 matchup in 2026 March Madness bracket ... While many teams are dealing with injuries entering March ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.tarheelblog.com/unc-basketball/53299/march-madness-2026-opening-odds-unc-basketball-vcu",
"title": "March Madness 2026: UNC slight favorites over VCU - Tar Heel Blog",
"snippet": "March Madness 2026: UNC slight favorites over VCU. Let's see what Vegas has to say about the Tar Heels' first game of the tournament."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/north-carolina-could-have-hands-full-against-scrappy-vcu/",
"title": "North Carolina could have hands full against scrappy VCU",
"snippet": "2026 Top Classes · CBS Sports Classic · College Shop · NCAA Tournament Coverage · Live Bracket · Printable Bracket ... matchups against VCU is ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 22
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMNorth Carolina is a slight favorite, but VCU is considered scrappy and could pose a challenge. I will pick north-carolina-tar-heels.
Game 23: [7] saint-marys-gaels vs [10] texas-am-aggies. This is a competitive matchup. I will research this briefly.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Saint Mary's vs Texas A&M 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://aggieswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/aggies/mens-basketball/2026/03/17/texas-aggies-basketball-saint-marys-jay-bilas-march-madness/89190225007/",
"title": "ESPN's Jay Bilas predicts Texas A&M vs. Saint Mary's in March ...",
"snippet": "ESPN's Jay Bilas predicts Texas A&M vs. Saint Mary's in March Madness ... Texas A&M (21-11) ended the regular season on a high note by defeating ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv5EOR5cdsY",
"title": "Saint Mary's vs. Texas A&M PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "Saint Mary's vs. Texas A&M PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA Tournament Predictions · Comments."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/texas-ms-march-madness-path-223027768.html",
"title": "Texas A&M's March Madness path begins with size mismatch vs St ...",
"snippet": "March Madness 2026 bracket, predictions, picks: Best bets for every 2026 NCAA tournament game. Our college basketball handicappers give a ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/no-7-saint-marys-strives-for-tournament-breakthrough-against-no-10-texas-a-m/",
"title": "No. 7 Saint Mary's strives for tournament breakthrough against No ...",
"snippet": "This is the third meeting between the Gaels and Aggies. They split two matchups in the mid-1990s. The winner draws a second-round matchup ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.statesman.com/sports/college/aggies/article/march-madness-prediction-tamu-st-marys-22079585.php",
"title": "Texas A&M vs Saint Mary's prediction: 3 things to know about Gaels",
"snippet": "The two opponents enter the matchup with completely different styles of play. The Aggies rank in the top 10 nationally in offense (87.7 points ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 23
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMTexas A&M has a size advantage and a strong offense. Saint Mary's is looking for a tournament breakthrough. I will pick texas-am-aggies.
Game 26: [8] georgia-bulldogs vs [9] saint-louis-billikens. This is a close matchup. I will research this briefly.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Georgia vs Saint Louis 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://ugawire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/bulldogs/mens-basketball/2026/03/17/jay-bilas-prediction-georgia-basketball-saint-louis-march-madness/89197251007/",
"title": "Jay Bilas predicts winner of Georgia vs. Saint Louis game - UGA Wire",
"snippet": "Bilas likes Georgia's athleticism and thinks the Bulldogs will win in what could be a high-scoring matchup. Georgia and Saint Louis are both ..."
},
{
"url": "https://collegefootballnews.com/college-basketball/georgia-vs-saint-louis-prediction-preview-ncaa-tournament-first-round",
"title": "Georgia vs Saint Louis Prediction and Preview: NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "Georgia and Saint Louis go fast. There won't be much of a breather in the speedy first round matchup. Here's CFN's NCAA Tournament prediction ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/georgia/basketball/georgia-vs-saint-louis-tactical-breakdown-3-ways-dawgs-can-beat-billikens-01kky1mtm60e",
"title": "Georgia vs Saint Louis Tactical Breakdown: 3 Ways Dawgs Can ...",
"snippet": "... matchup against Saint Louis. The game is set to top off at 9 ... March Madness: Five Bold Predictions for Men's NCAA Tournament Round of 64 ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.covers.com/ncaab/march-madness/saint-louis-vs-georgia-predictions-picks-odds-thursday-3-19-2026",
"title": "Saint Louis vs Georgia Prediction, Picks & Odds for Thursday's ...",
"snippet": "That means one thing in this matchup: Points. My Saint Louis vs. Georgia predictions and March Madness picks break down why I like the Over on ..."
},
{
"url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/saint-louis-vs-georgia-prediction-181900948.html",
"title": "Saint Louis vs Georgia Prediction, Picks & Odds for Thursday's ...",
"snippet": "Saint Louis and Georgia look set to entertain in this NCAA Tournament matchup. ... March Madness 2026 picks: Predictions, odds, lines ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 24
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMBoth teams play fast and score a lot of points. Jay Bilas likes Georgia's athleticism and predicts them to win. I will pick georgia-bulldogs.
Now for the remaining games where I will pick the higher seed:
Game 1: [1] duke-blue-devils vs [16] siena-saints. Pick duke-blue-devils.
Game 4: [4] kansas-jayhawks vs [13] california-baptist-lancers. Pick kansas-jayhawks.
Game 6: [3] michigan-state-spartans vs [14] north-dakota-state-bison. Pick michigan-state-spartans.
Game 8: [2] uconn-huskies vs [15] furman-paladins. Pick uconn-huskies.
Game 9: [1] arizona-wildcats vs [16] long-island-university-sharks. Pick arizona-wildcats.
Game 14: [3] gonzaga-bulldogs vs [14] kennesaw-state-owls. Pick gonzaga-bulldogs.
Game 16: [2] purdue-boilermakers vs [15] queens-nc-royals. Pick purdue-boilermakers.
Game 24: [2] houston-cougars vs [15] idaho-vandals. Pick houston-cougars.
Game 26: [8] georgia-bulldogs vs [9] saint-louis-billikens. Already picked georgia-bulldogs.
Game 27: [5] texas-tech-red-raiders vs [12] akron-zips. Already picked texas-tech-red-raiders.
Game 28: [4] alabama-crimson-tide vs [13] hofstra-pride. Already picked alabama-crimson-tide.
Game 30: [3] virginia-cavaliers vs [14] wright-state-raiders. Already picked virginia-cavaliers.
Game 31: [7] kentucky-wildcats vs [10] santa-clara-broncos. I will research this one briefly.
Tool Call: web_search
{
"query": "Kentucky vs Santa Clara 2026 NCAA tournament matchup analysis"
}Tool Result: web_search
{
"results": [
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtiOTKLHz8c",
"title": "Kentucky vs. Santa Clara PREDICTION | 2026 NCAA Tournament ...",
"snippet": "Blake Lovell and Max Barr preview Kentucky vs. Santa Clara in the 2026 NCAA Tournament first round game in the Midwest Region and share ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.si.com/college/kentucky/men-s-basketball/kentucky-s-ncaa-tournament-matchup-with-10-seed-santa-clara-will-be-much-tougher-than-most-imagine",
"title": "Kentucky's NCAA Tournament matchup with 10-Seed Santa Clara ...",
"snippet": "Kentucky's NCAA Tournament matchup with 10-Seed Santa Clara will be much tougher than most imagine. Big Blue Nation can't sleep on Santa Clara."
},
{
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nfa9j_slRYw",
"title": "'Kentucky-Santa Clara might be the MOST exciting First Round ...",
"snippet": "Go to channel CBS Sports · Expert Matt Norlander fills out his bracket | 2026 NCAA TOURNAMENT PREDICTIONS & ADVICE. CBS Sports. New. 76K views."
},
{
"url": "https://www.aseaofblue.com/kentucky-wildcats-basketball/166616/jay-bilas-predictions-every-ncaa-tournament-game",
"title": "ESPN analyst Jay Bilas predicts every NCAA Tournament game",
"snippet": "In the Round of 64, Bilas has No. 7 Kentucky defeating No. 10 Santa Clara. However, he noted the Wildcats' injuries and inconsistency could make ..."
},
{
"url": "https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/news/college-basketball/jay-bilas-picks-winner-for-kentucky-santa-clara-round-1-ncaa-tournament-bout/",
"title": "Jay Bilas picks winner for Kentucky-Santa Clara Round 1 NCAA ...",
"snippet": "Kentucky is banged up and inconsistent, and Santa Clara is big, skilled and has positional size at almost every position. To be clear: Kentucky ..."
}
]
}assistantMessage 25
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMKentucky is banged up and inconsistent, and Santa Clara is a skilled team with good size. Jay Bilas predicts Kentucky to win, but notes the challenges. This is a competitive matchup. I will pick kentucky-wildcats.
Final check of all games:
Game 1: duke-blue-devils
Game 2: tcu-horned-frogs
Game 3: st-johns-red-storm
Game 4: kansas-jayhawks
Game 5: south-florida-bulls
Game 6: michigan-state-spartans
Game 7: ucla-bruins
Game 8: uconn-huskies
Game 9: arizona-wildcats
Game 10: utah-state-aggies
Game 11: wisconsin-badgers
Game 12: arkansas-razorbacks
Game 13: texas-longhorns
Game 14: gonzaga-bulldogs
Game 15: missouri-tigers
Game 16: purdue-boilermakers
Game 17: lehigh-mountain-hawks
Game 18: clemson-tigers
Game 19: vanderbilt-commodores
Game 20: nebraska-cornhuskers
Game 21: north-carolina-tar-heels
Game 22: illinois-fighting-illini
Game 23: texas-am-aggies
Game 24: houston-cougars
Game 25: howard-bison
Game 26: georgia-bulldogs
Game 27: texas-tech-red-raiders
Game 28: alabama-crimson-tide
Game 29: miami-oh-redhawks
Game 30: virginia-cavaliers
Game 31: kentucky-wildcats
Game 32: iowa-state-cyclones
I will submit these picks.
I will make sure to use the correct game IDs and winner IDs.
Game 1: duke-blue-devils
Game 2: tcu-horned-frogs
Game 3: st-johns-red-storm
Game 4: kansas-jayhawks
Game 5: south-florida-bulls
Game 6: michigan-state-spartans
Game 7: ucla-bruins
Game 8: uconn-huskies
Game 9: arizona-wildcats
Game 10: utah-state-aggies
Game 11: wisconsin-badgers
Game 12: arkansas-razorbacks
Game 13: texas-longhorns
Game 14: gonzaga-bulldogs
Game 15: missouri-tigers
Game 16: purdue-boilermakers
Game 17: lehigh-mountain-hawks
Game 18: clemson-tigers
Game 19: vanderbilt-commodores
Game 20: nebraska-cornhuskers
Game 21: north-carolina-tar-heels
Game 22: illinois-fighting-illini
Game 23: texas-am-aggies
Game 24: houston-cougars
Game 25: howard-bison
Game 26: georgia-bulldogs
Game 27: texas-tech-red-raiders
Game 28: alabama-crimson-tide
Game 29: miami-oh-redhawks
Game 30: virginia-cavaliers
Game 31: kentucky-wildcats
Game 32: iowa-state-cyclones
I will use the following picks:
Game 1: duke-blue-devils
Game 2: tcu-horned-frogs
Game 3: st-johns-red-storm
Game 4: kansas-jayhawks
Game 5: south-florida-bulls
Game 6: michigan-state-spartans
Game 7: ucla-bruins
Game 8: uconn-huskies
Game 9: arizona-wildcats
Game 10: utah-state-aggies
Game 11: wisconsin-badgers
Game 12: arkansas-razorbacks
Game 13: texas-longhorns
Game 14: gonzaga-bulldogs
Game 15: missouri-tigers
Game 16: purdue-boilermakers
Game 17: lehigh-mountain-hawks
Game 18: clemson-tigers
Game 19: vanderbilt-commodores
Game 20: nebraska-cornhuskers
Game 21: north-carolina-tar-heels
Game 22: illinois-fighting-illini
Game 23: texas-am-aggies
Game 24: houston-cougars
Game 25: howard-bison
Game 26: georgia-bulldogs
Game 27: texas-tech-red-raiders
Game 28: alabama-crimson-tide
Game 29: miami-oh-redhawks
Game 30: virginia-cavaliers
Game 31: kentucky-wildcats
Game 32: iowa-state-cyclones
Tool Call: submit_round
{
"picks": [
{
"gameId": "game-1",
"winnerId": "duke-blue-devils"
},
{
"gameId": "game-2",
"winnerId": "tcu-horned-frogs"
},
{
"gameId": "game-3",
"winnerId": "st-johns-red-storm"
},
{
"gameId": "game-4",
"winnerId": "kansas-jayhawks"
},
{
"gameId": "game-5",
"winnerId": "south-florida-bulls"
},
{
"gameId": "game-6",
"winnerId": "michigan-state-spartans"
},
{
"gameId": "game-7",
"winnerId": "ucla-bruins"
},
{
"gameId": "game-8",
"winnerId": "uconn-huskies"
},
{
"gameId": "game-9",
"winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
},
{
"gameId": "game-10",
"winnerId": "utah-state-aggies"
},
{
"gameId": "game-11",
"winnerId": "wisconsin-badgers"
},
{
"gameId": "game-12",
"winnerId": "arkansas-razorbacks"
},
{
"gameId": "game-13",
"winnerId": "texas-longhorns"
},
{
"gameId": "game-14",
"winnerId": "gonzaga-bulldogs"
},
{
"gameId": "game-15",
"winnerId": "missouri-tigers"
},
{
"gameId": "game-16",
"winnerId": "purdue-boilermakers"
},
{
"gameId": "game-17",
"winnerId": "lehigh-mountain-hawks"
},
{
"gameId": "game-18",
"winnerId": "clemson-tigers"
},
{
"gameId": "game-19",
"winnerId": "vanderbilt-commodores"
},
{
"gameId": "game-20",
"winnerId": "nebraska-cornhuskers"
},
{
"gameId": "game-21",
"winnerId": "north-carolina-tar-heels"
},
{
"gameId": "game-22",
"winnerId": "illinois-fighting-illini"
},
{
"gameId": "game-23",
"winnerId": "texas-am-aggies"
},
{
"gameId": "game-24",
"winnerId": "houston-cougars"
},
{
"gameId": "game-25",
"winnerId": "howard-bison"
},
{
"gameId": "game-26",
"winnerId": "georgia-bulldogs"
},
{
"gameId": "game-27",
"winnerId": "texas-tech-red-raiders"
},
{
"gameId": "game-28",
"winnerId": "alabama-crimson-tide"
},
{
"gameId": "game-29",
"winnerId": "miami-oh-redhawks"
},
{
"gameId": "game-30",
"winnerId": "virginia-cavaliers"
},
{
"gameId": "game-31",
"winnerId": "kentucky-wildcats"
},
{
"gameId": "game-32",
"winnerId": "iowa-state-cyclones"
}
]
}Tool Result: submit_round
{
"submitted": true
}userMessage 26
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PM## Round 2 of 6: Round of 32
Your previous picks advanced these teams. Now pick winners for the next round.
### Your Prior Picks
Round of 64: game-1 → duke-blue-devils
Round of 64: game-2 → tcu-horned-frogs
Round of 64: game-3 → st-johns-red-storm
Round of 64: game-4 → kansas-jayhawks
Round of 64: game-5 → south-florida-bulls
Round of 64: game-6 → michigan-state-spartans
Round of 64: game-7 → ucla-bruins
Round of 64: game-8 → uconn-huskies
Round of 64: game-9 → arizona-wildcats
Round of 64: game-10 → utah-state-aggies
Round of 64: game-11 → wisconsin-badgers
Round of 64: game-12 → arkansas-razorbacks
Round of 64: game-13 → texas-longhorns
Round of 64: game-14 → gonzaga-bulldogs
Round of 64: game-15 → missouri-tigers
Round of 64: game-16 → purdue-boilermakers
Round of 64: game-17 → lehigh-mountain-hawks
Round of 64: game-18 → clemson-tigers
Round of 64: game-19 → vanderbilt-commodores
Round of 64: game-20 → nebraska-cornhuskers
Round of 64: game-21 → north-carolina-tar-heels
Round of 64: game-22 → illinois-fighting-illini
Round of 64: game-23 → texas-am-aggies
Round of 64: game-24 → houston-cougars
Round of 64: game-25 → howard-bison
Round of 64: game-26 → georgia-bulldogs
Round of 64: game-27 → texas-tech-red-raiders
Round of 64: game-28 → alabama-crimson-tide
Round of 64: game-29 → miami-oh-redhawks
Round of 64: game-30 → virginia-cavaliers
Round of 64: game-31 → kentucky-wildcats
Round of 64: game-32 → iowa-state-cyclones
### Current Matchups (derived from your winners)
r32-east-1: duke-blue-devils vs tcu-horned-frogs
r32-east-2: st-johns-red-storm vs kansas-jayhawks
r32-east-3: south-florida-bulls vs michigan-state-spartans
r32-east-4: ucla-bruins vs uconn-huskies
r32-west-1: arizona-wildcats vs utah-state-aggies
r32-west-2: wisconsin-badgers vs arkansas-razorbacks
r32-west-3: texas-longhorns vs gonzaga-bulldogs
r32-west-4: missouri-tigers vs purdue-boilermakers
r32-south-1: lehigh-mountain-hawks vs clemson-tigers
r32-south-2: vanderbilt-commodores vs nebraska-cornhuskers
r32-south-3: north-carolina-tar-heels vs illinois-fighting-illini
r32-south-4: texas-am-aggies vs houston-cougars
r32-midwest-1: howard-bison vs georgia-bulldogs
r32-midwest-2: texas-tech-red-raiders vs alabama-crimson-tide
r32-midwest-3: miami-oh-redhawks vs virginia-cavaliers
r32-midwest-4: kentucky-wildcats vs iowa-state-cyclones
Pick the winner of each game below. You may use web_search and web_fetch to research matchups before deciding.
Do not ask follow-up questions. Everything you need is in the matchup list above. If you research, use the exact tool names `web_search` and `web_fetch`.
## Tools Available
- **web_search**, **web_fetch**, **use_browser**, **lookup_team**, **calculator**, **submit_round**
Call submit_round with your 16 pick(s) when ready.
Do not end with a prose recap. Your final response must be a submit_round tool call.
assistantMessage 27
Mar 18, 2026, 9:34 PMTool Call: submit_round
{
"picks": [
{
"gameId": "r32-east-1",
"winnerId": "duke-blue-devils"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-east-2",
"winnerId": "kansas-jayhawks"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-east-3",
"winnerId": "michigan-state-spartans"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-east-4",
"winnerId": "uconn-huskies"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-west-1",
"winnerId": "arizona-wildcats"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-west-2",
"winnerId": "arkansas-razorbacks"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-west-3",
"winnerId": "gonzaga-bulldogs"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-west-4",
"winnerId": "purdue-boilermakers"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-south-1",
"winnerId": "clemson-tigers"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-south-2",
"winnerId": "nebraska-cornhuskers"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-south-3",
"winnerId": "north-carolina-tar-heels"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-south-4",
"winnerId": "houston-cougars"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-midwest-1",
"winnerId": "georgia-bulldogs"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-midwest-2",
"winnerId": "alabama-crimson-tide"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-midwest-3",
"winnerId": "virginia-cavaliers"
},
{
"gameId": "r32-midwest-4",
"winnerId": "kentucky-wildcats"
}
]
}Tool Result: submit_round
{
"submitted": true
}userMessage 28
Mar 18, 2026, 9:35 PM## Round 3 of 6: Sweet 16
Your previous picks advanced these teams. Now pick winners for the next round.
### Your Prior Picks
Round of 64: game-1 → duke-blue-devils
Round of 64: game-2 → tcu-horned-frogs
Round of 64: game-3 → st-johns-red-storm
Round of 64: game-4 → kansas-jayhawks
Round of 64: game-5 → south-florida-bulls
Round of 64: game-6 → michigan-state-spartans
Round of 64: game-7 → ucla-bruins
Round of 64: game-8 → uconn-huskies
Round of 64: game-9 → arizona-wildcats
Round of 64: game-10 → utah-state-aggies
Round of 64: game-11 → wisconsin-badgers
Round of 64: game-12 → arkansas-razorbacks
Round of 64: game-13 → texas-longhorns
Round of 64: game-14 → gonzaga-bulldogs
Round of 64: game-15 → missouri-tigers
Round of 64: game-16 → purdue-boilermakers
Round of 64: game-17 → lehigh-mountain-hawks
Round of 64: game-18 → clemson-tigers
Round of 64: game-19 → vanderbilt-commodores
Round of 64: game-20 → nebraska-cornhuskers
Round of 64: game-21 → north-carolina-tar-heels
Round of 64: game-22 → illinois-fighting-illini
Round of 64: game-23 → texas-am-aggies
Round of 64: game-24 → houston-cougars
Round of 64: game-25 → howard-bison
Round of 64: game-26 → georgia-bulldogs
Round of 64: game-27 → texas-tech-red-raiders
Round of 64: game-28 → alabama-crimson-tide
Round of 64: game-29 → miami-oh-redhawks
Round of 64: game-30 → virginia-cavaliers
Round of 64: game-31 → kentucky-wildcats
Round of 64: game-32 → iowa-state-cyclones
Round of 32: r32-east-1 → duke-blue-devils
Round of 32: r32-east-2 → kansas-jayhawks
Round of 32: r32-east-3 → michigan-state-spartans
Round of 32: r32-east-4 → uconn-huskies
Round of 32: r32-west-1 → arizona-wildcats
Round of 32: r32-west-2 → arkansas-razorbacks
Round of 32: r32-west-3 → gonzaga-bulldogs
Round of 32: r32-west-4 → purdue-boilermakers
Round of 32: r32-south-1 → clemson-tigers
Round of 32: r32-south-2 → nebraska-cornhuskers
Round of 32: r32-south-3 → north-carolina-tar-heels
Round of 32: r32-south-4 → houston-cougars
Round of 32: r32-midwest-1 → georgia-bulldogs
Round of 32: r32-midwest-2 → alabama-crimson-tide
Round of 32: r32-midwest-3 → virginia-cavaliers
Round of 32: r32-midwest-4 → kentucky-wildcats
### Current Matchups (derived from your winners)
s16-east-1: duke-blue-devils vs kansas-jayhawks
s16-east-2: michigan-state-spartans vs uconn-huskies
s16-west-1: arizona-wildcats vs arkansas-razorbacks
s16-west-2: gonzaga-bulldogs vs purdue-boilermakers
s16-south-1: clemson-tigers vs nebraska-cornhuskers
s16-south-2: north-carolina-tar-heels vs houston-cougars
s16-midwest-1: georgia-bulldogs vs alabama-crimson-tide
s16-midwest-2: virginia-cavaliers vs kentucky-wildcats
Pick the winner of each game below. You may use web_search and web_fetch to research matchups before deciding.
Do not ask follow-up questions. Everything you need is in the matchup list above. If you research, use the exact tool names `web_search` and `web_fetch`.
## Tools Available
- **web_search**, **web_fetch**, **use_browser**, **lookup_team**, **calculator**, **submit_round**
Call submit_round with your 8 pick(s) when ready.
Do not end with a prose recap. Your final response must be a submit_round tool call.
assistantMessage 29
Mar 18, 2026, 9:35 PMI will analyze the matchups and use web search to gather information on each game to make informed picks. Once I have decided on all 8 winners, I will call the submit_round tool to submit my picks.
Tool Call: run
{
"query": "kansas jayhawks vs duke blue devils mens basketball"
}Tool Call: run
{
"query": "michigan state spartans vs uconn huskies mens basketball"
}Tool Call: run
{
"query": "arizona wildcats vs arkansas razorbacks mens basketball"
}Tool Call: run
{
"query": "gonzaga bulldogs vs purdue boilermakers mens basketball"
}Tool Call: run
{
"query": "clemson tigers vs nebraska cornuskers mens basketball"
}Tool Call: run
{
"query": "north carolina tar heels vs houston cougars mens basketball"
}Tool Call: run
{
"query": "georgia bulldogs vs alabama crimson tide mens basketball"
}Tool Call: run
{
"query": "virginia cavaliers vs kentucky wildcats mens basketball"
}Tokens
- Input
- 266646
- Output
- 8720
- Reasoning
- 1850