NCAA Bracket 2016: Smart Predictions for Round 1's Most Intriguing Matchups

The spectacle known as March Madness has outdone itself this year. 

Normally, the buildup to the 68-team field isn't so notable, but in this year's conference tournaments, upset after upset made for a wild time, and notable teams such as Monmouth missed out on the Big Dance, stirring up controversy before play has even begun.

With the field set, one doesn't have to look far to find some of the wildest, most unpredictable matchups on the bracket. As some would say, it's already working as intended.

Here's a look at the bracket and some of the more intriguing matchups which might come with some of this year's highest upset potential.

Round 1's Most Intriguing Matchups

No. 6 Seton Hall vs. No. 11 Gonzaga 

Talk about an odd pairing in the Midwest Regional. 

The No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs outscored opponents by almost 14 points per game this year but wind up as the apparent underdog based on their seed here against No. 6 Seton Hall.

Gonzaga put on a show this year, running up a 25-7 mark and ranking 46th in ESPN's RPI rankings with a 5-7 mark against the RPI top 100.

Strength of schedule separated these two, though, with Gonzaga sitting 125th and Seton Hall at 56th, which the Pirates turned into a 25-8 mark, 22nd in the RPI and a stellar 6-3 mark against the RPI top 50, boasting two wins against Xavier and one against Villanova.

This one boils down to strength against strength, or backcourt against frontcourt. Gonzaga leans on forwards Kyle Wiltjer (20.7 points per game) and Domantas Sabonis (17.4), while Seton Hall looks to guards Isaiah Whitehead (18.4 points, 5.0 assists) and Khadeen Carrington (14.3, 2.5).

Folks seasoned in bracket picks should know how to go here. SNY.tv's Adam Zagoria put it best:

Not only does Gonzaga score like a much higher seed, but it will control the glass in this matchup. If either of Seton Hall's guards hits a shooting slump, it will only make the situation worse.

Look for the Bulldogs to outlast while dominating the boards and the pace.

Prediction: Gonzaga 66, Seton Hall 60

No. 8 Saint Joseph's vs. No. 9 Cincinnati

Gary Landers/Associated Press

Nobody can say the selection committee doesn't know exactly what it's doing.

No. 8 Saint Joseph's enters the Big Dance looking unstoppable after shooting 64.8 percent from the field Sunday to down VCU for the A10 title. Great, but No. 9 Cincinnati, the Hawks' opponent in the first round, ranked first in the nation by allowing just 40.6 percent shooting from inside the arc this year.

Cincinnati used that defense to win 22 games and place 45th in the RPI with a 4-4 mark against the RPI top 50. Saint Joseph's finished with the same mark against the RPI top 50 but won 27 games to finish with an RPI of 20.

This one screams "low-scoring affair." Both teams rarely turn the ball over and make opposing teams work overtime on the offensive end of the court just to post basic numbers. Cincinnati's leading scorer, Troy Caupain, posts just 13.2 points per game. The Hawks' Isaiah Miles scores 18.4, but on a larger quantity of attempts.

Mid-Utah Radio's Brad James slapped the perfect descriptor on the committee's savvy pairing:

This one comes down to experience. The Bearcats are regulars in the tournament, and their defense will make it difficult for the Hawks to enjoy the same unexpected success they have against A10 competition.

In a physical affair, look for Caupain to put his guys in a position to knock down high-percentage looks and get a win late.

Prediction: Cincinnati 63, Saint Joseph's 59

No. 3 West Virginia vs. No. 14 Stephen F. Austin

Craig Mitchelldyer/Associated Press

The upset special resides here. 

Take nothing away from No. 3 West Virginia. The Mountaineers finished second in the Big 12, grabbing an RPI of 12 and going 9-7 against the RPI top 50.

But heap all the praise on No. 14 Stephen F. Austin. The Lumberjacks finished first in the Southland Conference, tallying an RPI of 71 and averaging a ridiculous 19 assists per game. Not only that, but the team is on an epic winning streak, riding a defense that doesn't get enough credit, as ESPN.com's Eamonn Brennan helped to explain:

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All hail Brad Underwood. He has yet to miss an NCAA tournament in his three-year tenure, and this might be his best group of Lumberjacks yet. You've heard of West Virginia's press? SFA forced its opponents into turnovers slightly more frequently than the Mountaineers. No one in the country was better. The Jacks' last loss? Dec. 29. They nearly took down an excellent Utah team in the first round a year ago; don't be surprised if they finish the job this time around.

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Experience trumps many factors in the Big Dance, which is another detail that makes the Lumberjacks so scary for a high seed. The team has now been here three years in a row and a couple years back took down fifth-seeded VCU.

West Virginia does its damage with Jaysean Paige and Devin Williams, who are both averaging better than 13 points per game. The former runs the offense, and the latter nearly averages a double-double by cleaning up on the glass to the tune of 9.3 rebounds per game.

But Stephen F. Austin has three players above 13 points per game led by Thomas Walkup (17.5), and it averages almost as many boards per game as a team and shoots much better from deep, hitting on 37 percent of its attempts.

Spacing, experience and a gaudy win streak mean the Lumberjacks won't blink much in the face of a high seed. Look for the biggest upset of the first round to go down in the East Regional.

Prediction: Stephen F. Austin 69, West Virginia 67

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Stats and information courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified. Advanced metrics courtesy of ESPN.