NEWSLETTER
The celebrations have calmed from the Sweet 16, and the stakes have never been higher. Only eight teams remain in the hunt for national glory as March Madness rolls into the Elite 8. Familiar faces like the defending champion UConn and fellow number 1 seed Purdue are joined by surprise contenders like NC State and Clemson. With games tipping off today, here’s a closer look at the Elite 8 bracket and the teams vying to punch their tickets to the Final Four.
Elite 8 March Madness Schedule: How to watch the games
The Elite 8 March Madness schedule is broadcast on CBS and TBS. Saturday’s games will be on TBS and feature the East and West Regional Finals. Sunday’s Elite 8 schedule will have the South and Midwest Regional champs being crowned over on CBS.
Both TBS and CBS are available through most cable TV providers. But if you are looking to stream the games, check out Fubo TV which has different packages that include both TBS and CBS.
You can also catch all the Elite 8 updated bracket action on the NCAA March Madness Live app
Elite 8 Bracket Schedule: Saturday, March 30th
East Region
West Region
Elite 8 Bracket Schedule: Sunday, March 31st
Midwest Region
South Region
Elite 8 Upset Picks
At this stage of March Madness, every team is as good as the next because otherwise, they wouldn’t have reached the Elite 8. All four of this weekend’s games are matchups between teams playing some of their best basketball of the season.
In the East we have the prohibitive favorite UConn, off their 30-point destruction of San Diego State looking to reach their 2nd straight Final Four going against the surging Illinois Fighting Illini. Connecticut is the most balanced team in the nation, and from what we’ve seen this season, has zero flaws. Illinois has played its best basketball during March Madness, but even that probably isn’t good enough to defeat this UConn team.
Out West is a battle between teams more synonymous with college football, Clemson and Alabama. The Tigers have ratcheted up their defense holding opponents to under 30% from 3-point land so far in the tournament. The Crimson Tide have also picked up their defensive intensity in beating Grand Canyon and North Carolina in their last two games. If Clemson can continue defending the arc as well as they have, they could be playing in their first-ever Final Four next weekend.
The Midwest Regional final between Purdue and Tennesse has two of the top National Player of the Year contenders. Zach Edey will be a handful for this Vols defense who excels at defending guards. With Dalton Knecht poised to be a matchup nightmare for any Boilermakers defender. We all love to pick on Purdue for becoming just the 2nd ever 1-seed to lose to a 16, but this is a much different, and better team. I don’t think the Volunteers have enough bodies to defend Edey inside and contain Purdue’s auxiliary players who’ve performed admirably during March Madness.
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Last but not least is the South Region where a classic Tobacco Road rivalry is renewed. NC State and Duke are going at it for a third time this month with the last coming in the ACC Tournament where the Wolfpack upset the Blue Devils 74 to 69. This is a hard game to handicap with both teams playing so well, and their familiarity with each other. But seeing how NC State has turned up the heat defensively has me thinking we’re in for a Wolfpack party on Sunday.
