SI's 2021 March Madness Expert Picks and Predictions


The men's field of 68 is set, and SI's college basketball writers' completed brackets are in.

March Madness is here, and after a one-year absence, the 2021 men's NCAA tournament kicks off Thursday, March 18. On Sunday, the full field of 68 was revealed, from No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga to the First Four teams.

The Big Dance is always unpredictable, but this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire tournament will take place in the state of Indiana, with the vast majority occurring in Indianapolis. Sports Illustrated has a breakdown of each of the four regionsWest, South, Midwest and East—and below, eight writers have also submitted their completed bracket to help you make your own tough decisions before the games tip-off.

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Who is the SI staff taking to reach the men's Final Four and win it all? Our 2021 expert brackets are below.

Pat Forde

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Forde's Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Alabama
Forde's champ: Gonzaga

Jeremy Woo

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Woo's Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Alabama
Woo's champ: Baylor

Jason Jordan

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Jordan's Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Alabama
Jordan's champ: Gonzaga

Molly Geary

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Geary's Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Florida State
Geary's champ: Gonzaga

Kevin Sweeney

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Sweeney's Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Alabama
Sweeney's champ: Gonzaga

Michael Shapiro

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Shapiro's Final Four: Gonzaga, Ohio State, Illinois, Texas
Shapiro's champ: Gonzaga

Elizabeth Swinton

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Swinton's Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Houston, Michigan
Swinton's champ: Gonzaga

Nick Selbe

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Selbe's Final Four: Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Alabama
Selbe's champ: Illinois

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