March Madness is here so it’s time to finalize those brackets if you haven’t already. Three weeks of upsets, star matchups, and absolute chaos starts now.

This weekend is all about the Round of 64 and 32 and we're breaking down the biggest games across both the men's and women's brackets so you know exactly what's worth watching. A few previews look ahead to second round matchups this weekend that haven't been decided yet but trust us, if they happen as expected, you won’t want to miss them.

Here’s your weekend preview starting with what matters most. 

The stakes: This is the kind of matchup that doesn’t happen in the second round very often. Should both teams win their first round matchups as expected, we get one of the best coaching matchups of the tournament: Rick Pitino and Bill Self, who have combined for four national championships and ten Final Four appearances going head to head on Sunday.

Rick Pitino has completely turned around this St. John's program, taking them from an afterthought to one of the hottest teams in the country (19-1 in their last 20). A win here confirms the rebuild is real and that the Red Storm are a legitimate contender. On the other side, Kansas and Bill Self arrive at a crossroads. Bill Self has built one of the sport's most decorated programs, but this Kansas team has spent the season looking more like a question mark than a contender. Is Self's program still championship caliber, or is it trending in the wrong direction?

What to watch for: Daryn Peterson and Melvin Council Jr. are the names to know on the Kansas side. Peterson is the projected top 2026 NBA Draft pick and Council is the veteran guard who sets the tone offensivley. On the other side, Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East Player of the Year, is the catalyst for St. Johns and Kansas will have to account for him all night.

The bigger question is which Kansas team shows up? The Jayhawks have been very inconsistent all season, and that becomes a real problem against a St. John's defense built to force turnovers. Kansas has been turnover prone all year and this is exactly the style matchup they struggle against.

The Betting Angle [Powered by WagerXpert]: We project Kansas to open as a slight 1.5 point favorite. While the Jayhawks have the history and brand name, St. John’s has been a betting machine lately, covering the spread in 6 of their last 8 games. The Jayhawks have been far too sloppy with the ball this season, and Rick Pitino’s pressure defense is designed to punish exactly that. Look to back St. Johns as underdogs in this spot.

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The stakes: North Carolina comes into this one as a trendy upset pick, and for good reason. Their star and projected top-five 2026 NBA Draft pick, Caleb Wilson, who averaged nearly 20 points and 10 rebounds, has been out with a thumb injury. They still went 5-3 without him and didn't completely fall apart, but their offensive and defensive metrics dropped significantly and they're a different team without him. On the other side, coach Phil Martelli Jr. has VCU riding a 16-1 record making their third tournament appearance in four years. The Tar Heels have the name but VCU has the momentum and right now that could matter more.

What to watch for: VCU is built around 6-11 Serbian forward Lazar Djokovic and Terrance Hill Jr., who leads the team in scoring despite coming off the bench, a testament to how unselfish this group is. VCU's press defense will test a North Carolina team that has handled pressure well historically, but if VCU can force turnovers and get out in transition early, the wounded Tar Heels will have a long night ahead of them.

The Betting Angle [Powered by WagerXpert]: Look for VCU to set the tone early. The Rams have covered the first half spread in 11 of their last 15 games and their press creates exactly the kind of early chaos a reshuffled UNC lineup without Wilson could struggle to handle. Take VCU +1.5 in the first half and don't be surprised if they win and cover the full game +2.5 spread too.

The stakes: UConn enters this tournament as an absolute juggernaut, riding a perfect 34-0 record. They are consistently blowing out teams by almost a 15 point scoring margin. For coach Geno Auriemma’s squad, this tournament is about cementing this team as one of the most dominant to ever take the floor.

What to watch for: Audi Crooks and Azzi Fudd are the stars for each team you’ll want to watch in this one. Iowa State forward, Audi Crooks, is a matchup nightmare in the paint and currently the nation's second leading scorer averaging 25 points per game. She is the physical anchor that can get UConn’s frontcourt into foul trouble and create mismatch issues all day.

UConn has Azzi Fudd, the 2025 Final Four Most Outstanding Player. Fudd is having a career best season, shooting nearly 45% from three and acting as the engine for the Huskies offense. While they won't guard each other directly, the game will be decided by which star is able to make the bigger impact. Does Crooks force UConn to collapse their defense, or does Fudd’s elite shooting stretch the Cyclones until they break?

The Betting Angle [Powered by WagerXpert]: We project UConn to open as a 14.5 point favorite. The Huskies have won nearly every game this season by 20+, and oddsmakers will price that in. We believe the value would be on Iowa State here. Audi Crooks guarantees efficient scoring and extra defensive attention opening the floor for others. Iowa State's style to feed the post and slow the tempo is exactly the kind of game that prevents UConn from pulling away by 30. The Huskies will likely win but covering a spread this large is tough when facing a presence like Crooks.

The first weekend of March Madness produces more upsets than any other stretch in sports, nobody is safe. One bad half or cold shooting night can end a great season in an instant. Here are the potential upsets we’ve circled:

Louisville vs. South Florida (Thursday, 1:30pm, TNT): Louisville's best player, Mikel Brown Jr., is unlikely to suit up and without him, the roster gap between these two teams isn’t far off. The Bulls are one of the hottest teams in the country, and they bring an athletic and versatile lineup that matches up well with a Louisville team that has struggled in big games and away from home. If Brown Jr. sits as expected, there's no reason to treat this as a safe pick for the Cardinals.

Kentucky vs. Santa Clara (Friday, 12:15pm, CBS): Santa Clara is battle tested as their regular season schedule was loaded with tournament-caliber teams. They are heading into March performing much better against top competition than Kentucky. The Broncos also bring defensive pressure that forces turnovers that can specifically exploit one of Kentucky's biggest weaknesses. The Wildcats have been turnover prone all season, and against a defense built to take the ball away, that trend won't get better. Don't sleep on Santa Clara.

Alabama vs. Hofstra (Friday, 3:15pm, TruTV): Aiden Holloway, Alabama's second leading scorer and best three-point shooter, is out following an arrest. He is a cornerstone for their offense. Without him stretching the floor, Alabama's remaining scorers become easier to contain. Hofstra comes into this on a 11-1 run with a defense built to limit the 3-pt scoring Alabama typically leans on. Hofstra has a strong case to pull off the upset here.

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