Back in November, 350 teams started the season with the objective of operating by way of March Madness and winning the 2023 national championship. Following the field of teams chasing a title was decreased to 68, it was whittled down to 64 teams nevertheless alive in the NCAA Tournament.
Now all that is left is to make your picks!
Our CBS Sports specialists have spent months preparing for this precise moment. We’ve broken down the tape, watched the top rated players and compiled all the intel vital to support guide you by way of creating your bracket. From the No. 1 teams to the No. 16 seeds, we have you covered across all 68 teams, all 65 games and all 3 weeks of the tournament.
The CBS Sports college basketball group has filled out its specialist brackets, so assume of this as a cheat sheet to help you in winning your pool. (Copy all you want we will not judge.) We’re right here to serve you, and our information is your information. Just know, if we’re correct and make the right picks, we are certainly accountable and want credit (tweet us!). And if not, properly, we take zero blame. Thems the guidelines.
Get just about every choose, just about every play, just about every upset and fill out your bracket with our support! Go to SportsLine now to see which teams will make and break your bracket and who will reduce down the nets, all from the model that beat more than 92% of all CBS Sports brackets in two of the final 4 tournaments.
OK, adequate with the entertaining stuff. On to the brackets …
2023 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions
Gary Parrish
Click to enlarge Gary’s bracket
A terrific coach, wonderful guards, skilled players and NBA talent are normally what it requires to win a national title. Houston checks just about every box thinking about Kelvin Sampson is a terrific coach, Jamal Shead and Marcus Sasser are wonderful guards, 4 of Houston’s top rated 5 scorers are non-freshmen, and Sasser and Jarace Walker need to each be initial-round NBA Draft picks. Am I concerned about Sasser’s groin injury? Positive, a tiny. But assuming he’s OK, I assume Houston is improved equipped than anyone else to win six games in this bracket and reduce nets on the initial Monday evening in April.
Matt Norlander
Click to enlarge Matt’s bracket
I am going storybook. I am going Houston to do what hasn’t been performed considering that 1972: a group winning the national championship in its dwelling city (UCLA did it in ’68 and ’72). I am going Houston to do this, with UH alumnus Jim Nantz on the mic for the final NCAA Tournament get in touch with of his Hall of Fame profession. But I am performing this, most of all, due to the fact Houston has rated as the finest group in college basketball in just about every mainstream sophisticated analytic metric for months. The proof is in. It really is no assure this group even reaches the Final 4, but it is the finest candidate. And if Marcus Sasser’s groin challenge can subside, it indicates the Cougars will have a nasty 3-guard attack, a future lottery choose (Jarace Walker) and a coach (Kelvin Sampson) who took this college to the largest stage just two years ago. They have the pedigree, talent, size, strength and toughness to do this.
As for Purdue, it is got the finest player in college basketball. Painter is correct up there with Sampson on the quick list of finest coaches in the game. I think the Boilers finish their March hex this year and lastly break by way of to their initial Final 4 in 43 years, performing so with a heroic/dominant run from Zach Edey in the method. I will retain it quick on my other two Final 4 teams: Gonzaga has the finest offense in college hoops and has rated as the finest group nationally for a month. Creighton has one particular of the eight-ten finest beginning fives in the sport and checks just about every box for what you want in a Final 4 group: expertise, defense, shooting, NBA athleticism, higher-level point guard play, a definitely great coach. There will be a non-1/two/three seed that breaks by way of. Why not Creighton?
Kyle Boone
Click to enlarge Kyle’s bracket
The overall health of star guard and major scorer Marcus Sasser could lead to doubt to creep into your thoughts about the Cougars’ probabilities, but need to he return at complete strength, Houston need to be regarded as the frontrunner till additional notice. This Kelvin Sampson-led club is the toughest, most properly-rounded group in the sport and the most grueling matchup for opposing teams to boot. They routinely rake on the offensive glass, thrive on second-possibility possibilities and grind teams down with their methodical pace. With 31 wins to just 3 losses getting into March Madness, this Houston group prices No. 1 across a number of analytics web-sites and has the requisite offensive/defensive balance you want from a contender as the only group in the sport with a top rated-11 offense and defense in adjusted efficiency ratings.
David Cobb
Click to enlarge Cobb’s bracket
Alabama struggled in its final 4 common season games right after revelations about star freshman Brandon Miller’s connection to a fatal shooting became public. But the Crimson Tide regained their composure at the SEC Tournament and beat 3 NCAA Tournament teams by double-digits on their way to a title. With veteran guards, elite wings/forwards and a rim protector down low in Charles Bediako, this group lacks nothing at all. Though the program’s handling of an off-court scandal has clearly been questionable, the group has extra talent than any in college basketball.
Jerry Palm
Click to enlarge Jerry’s bracket
Alabama could not have been my decision for the all round No. 1 seed, but they undoubtedly got a good draw. The South Area characteristics the weakest two and 4 seeds and a 3 seed that is struggling late in the season. After they get to the Final 4, I count on Brandon Miller to take more than and lead Bama to its initial national title. Gonzaga did not have a common season that lived up to the requirements we are utilised to from them. Following the loss at Saint Mary’s, factors changed. The Zags backcourt play enhanced in specific and they are now on a roll getting into the NCAA Tournament. I count on that roll to continue all the way to Houston.
Dennis Dodd
Click to enlarge Dennis’ bracket
Chip Patterson
Click to enlarge Chip’s bracket
I began filling out my bracket figuring out how unlikely it is for schools to win a national championship and then run it back. I also know how unlikely it is for a system to win a national championship, shed most of the principal rotation players and then come back and compete for a national championship. But that is specifically what Kansas has performed, notching a record 17 Quad 1 wins, yet another Major 12 common season crown and earning the third No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. I assume the bracket breaks favorably, as UCLA is dealing with injury troubles and Kansas can match types with the likes of UConn or Gonzaga based on what is required. From there it is a fourth meeting with Texas, in Houston, which need to be epic and then facing the winner of my chaos side which has Arizona out of the South and Duke out of the East. The Blue Devils have not been playing like a No. five seed more than the final nine games, as they’ve gotten healthier and the blue chip freshmen have gotten even extra comfy in their roles. It really is a terrible draw for Purdue, produced even worse by the Madison Square Garden setting — a creating Duke plays in just about every year — for the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight.
Josh Nagel
Click to enlarge Josh’s bracket
Tim Doyle
Click to enlarge Josh’s bracket
Get just about every choose, just about every play, just about every upset and fill out your bracket with our support! Go to SportsLine now to see which teams will make and break your bracket and who will reduce down the nets, all from the model that nailed 18 upsets by double-digit seeds.