NCAA Tournament 2015: Early-Upset Picks for March Madness Bracket

You know there will be early upsets at the NCAA tournament, but the question is whether you can correctly predict which teams on the bracket will pull them off.

March Madness gets its name for a reason: Anything can happen during this exciting three-week event. While we probably won't see a No. 16 seed beat a No. 1 for the first time this season, there are plenty of other opportunities for upsets throughout the bracket.

Here are some of the more likely upset specials for you to fill out your bracket.

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No. 10 Ohio State over No. 7 VCU

VCU has had an up-and-down season, mostly thanks to the injury to Briante Weber. The senior was one of the top defenders college basketball has ever seen before going down with a torn ACL.

The Rams have recovered nicely to win the Atlantic 10 tournament, but it's still clear this is team is not as good as it once was.

Still, the biggest issue is the matchup. VCU succeeds thanks to its "Havoc" defense that pressures opponents into turnovers at a high rate. Still, Ohio State has a way to counter that, as Rob Dauster of NBC Sports pointed out:

Ohio State's D'Angelo Russell has been one of the best all-around players in college basketball this season and is considered by DraftExpress to be the No. 4 overall player in the 2015 NBA draft class. While he creates for himself and others (19.3 points and 5.1 assists per game), he isn't even the primary point guard on the team, as Shannon Scott averages 5.9 assists per game.

Having two point guards on the floor at all times is a pretty good way to beat the press, and will certainly be more effective than anything the Rams have seen this season. The Buckeyes have their problems, but this is the perfect matchup for them to exploit for an upset win.

No. 11 Texas over No. 6 Butler

Some were surprised Texas even made the tournament after struggling for much of the season, but there is no denying the squad is loaded with talent. Now that it is in the field, it will be a tough team to beat.

The Longhorns have one of the top frontcourts in the nation between Jonathan Holmes, Cameron Ridley and possible NBA lottery pick Myles Turner. These players not only find ways to rebound and score on the inside but also make it difficult for any opponent to score in the paint.

Dan Wolken of USA Today sees a nice run possible for Texas:

This is not meant to belittle Butler, which has had an excellent season. It's important to remember that the Bulldogs beat a similar North Carolina team earlier in the year by destroying them on the boards. Another effort like this, and they will be able to advance out of this difficult game.

Still, the physicality of Texas and point guard play of Isaiah Taylor will end up being the difference in what should be a close battle.

No. 13 Eastern Washington over No. 4 Georgetown

Georgetown should be happy it earned a No. 4 seed after most predicted it to land on the No. 6 line or worse, per BracketMatrix.com. That said, the excitement should end with the rest of the team's situation.

The Hoyas will now be forced to play one of the most talented mid-majors in the nation in Eastern Washington. The Eagles know how to put points on the board, averaging more than 80 points per game behind the country's leading scorer, Tyler Harvey. 

And Kevin Pelton of ESPN breaks down another issue for Georgetown:

Finally, the Hoyas struggle to defend the perimeter, giving Eastern Washington a chance to let it rain from three-point land. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera has had a great season running the offense to go with a deep frontcourt rotation, but Georgetown's run in the NCAA tournament will be a short one.

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