The 2021-22 men’s college basketball season started all the way back in November, when 350 teams began their journey to secure a spot in the highly anticipated NCAA Tournament. On Sunday, that number dwindled down to just 64 teams, as the NCAA Tournament selection committee released the 2022 bracket for the first time.

Although filling out an NCAA Tournament bracket is a joyful experience, it can be stressful, and in the end, it might be tempting to make decisions based on gut instinct when selecting your winners. The Lasso decided to relieve some of that stress by compiling several upsets you should watch out for in this year’s March Madness.

No. 10 Loyola Chicago vs. No. 7 Ohio State

The Ramblers may have a new coach, but they are capable of yet another strong run in the NCAA Tournament. Loyola plays significantly faster than in years past and doesn’t rely on post players, since it’s one of the nation’s most prolific three-point shooting teams with one of the most efficient defenses in the league. 

Additionally, this team also has lots of experience. Four of Loyola’s top six scorers are seniors, led by Lucas Williamson. Ohio State, on the other hand, has been inconsistent all season long and lost to Oral Roberts in the first round last season. If you’re looking for a Cinderella story in this year’s March Madness, Loyola is the team to pick. 

No. 13 South Dakota State vs. No. 4 Providence

The Jackrabbits didn’t lose a game in Summit League play and ranked second in the nation, in points per game, averaging 87. While this is a basketball program that has been in this spotlight before, this year’s group definitely has the best chance in program history of winning a March Madness game.

This is simply because South Dakota State is elite on the offensive end. The Jackrabbits top the nation in both three-point field goal percentage and field goal percentage. They do a great job of taking care of the ball, are loaded to the brim with shooters, and have several key weapons that can easily beat any team. However, their biggest flaw lies in on the defensive end, as they aren’t an overly athletic team and have struggled to defend major competition this season. Fortunately, this might not be a big concern against a Providence team that isn’t explosive on the offensive end. 

No. 14 Colgate vs. No. 3 Wisconsin

Colgate threw a scare into Tennessee in 2019 and they are fully capable of doing the same to 3-seed Wisconsin in the Midwest Region. The Raiders have won 15 straight games and have five starters who are all averaging double figures. Colgate also ranks second in the nation in three-point percentage, with a staggering 40.3 percent. If the shots fall against the Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the tournament, then Colgate has a pretty good shot at pulling off this upset. 

No. 11 Virginia Tech vs. No. 6 Texas

The Hokies have already added some madness to March with their remarkable run to an ACC championship, beating Duke by 15 in the finale and picking up wins against other high caliber teams, such as Notre Dame and North Carolina. After starting the season with a bleak 10-10 record, the Hokies went 9-2 down the stretch of the regular season before ending with the four tournament wins. 

Knowing that the Texas Longhorns have lost their past three games and that Virginia Tech has momentum entering the tournament as they seek their fifth straight win, this game may fall into Virginia Tech’s favor.