Every year, college basketball fans can count on several upsets taking place in the NCAA basketball tournament. That is one of the reasons why the early round games are so exciting.
These are some of the likely opening round upsets you should keep an eye out for.
Washington Huskies # 11 over Marquette Golden Eagles # 6
The Huskies have won 12 of their last 14 games, which included the Pac-10 championship. The team knows how to score points, averaging 73 points per game during the season.
The vertically challenged Golden Eagles will have their hands full with Quincy Pondexter, who’s averaging 19.8 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. The Huskies will continue their winning streak by advancing to the second round.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets # 10 over Oklahoma State Cowboys # 7
The biggest problem dogging the Georgia Tech was their lack of consistency during the regular season. But after watching their performance in the ACC Conference Championship, it is hard to see the Yellow Jackets as a first round exit.
Although Oklahoma State guard James Anderson has been scoring machine, the Yellow Jackets have more overall talent. When the game is on the line for Georgia Tech, keep an eye out for Zachery Peacock who has come up clutch four times this season.
Florida State Seminoles # 9 over Gonzaga Bulldogs # 8
To come away with a first round win, the Seminoles are going to rely upon their defensive tenacity and size to manhandle the inexperienced Bulldogs into submission.
The key to Florida State’s success will be guard Michael Snaer, who has been a jolt for their offensive since joining the starting rotation. If he’s able to find success around the perimeter, the Seminoles will have an easy path to the second round.
UTEP Miners # 12 over Butler Bulldogs # 5
Every year we see a # 12 seed upset a # 5 seed and this year will be no exception. Butler enters the NCAA tournament on a 20 game winning streak, but they have faced little competition in the past month.
The Bulldogs will have a hard time against the Miners in the paint, especially with forward Derrick Caracter, who averages 13.8 points and 8 rebounds per game. If UTEP can control the boards and disrupt the Bulldog’s perimeter game, they will advance to the second round.
