NCAA Bracket 2016: Schedule, Updated Predictions Before Thursday 1st-Round Games

Do you hear that sound? It's the click-clack of keyboards as people across the country scramble to finalize their March Madness brackets ahead of the beginning of the NCAA tournament at 12:15 p.m. ET Thursday. 

It's not hyperbole to say that this year's games are set to contain more, well, madness than years past. Last year, Kentucky went undefeated in the regular season and marched into the tournament as the clear favorite to win it all. 

Of course, that didn't happen, but it's a stark contrast to this year, which features a somewhat bizarre bracket including Yale, which hasn't been to an NCAA men's tournament in 54 years, and Austin Peay, which is in the Big Dance for the first time since 2008. 

"2016 has so much parity—the best teams aren't as good as top teams normally are," wrote FiveThirtyEight's Neil Paine. 

With that, let's take a look at the tournament field and schedule for the upcoming games and then break down some predictions for the Final Four. 

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Bracket Predictions

Kansas Will Make It All the Way to Houston

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

There's no question that if there's one team experts can agree has the best chance of making it to the national final in Houston, it's Kansas. 

However, given the parity in the bracket this year, even Kansas' chances aren't overwhelming. FiveThirtyEight puts the Jayhawks' probability of winning it all at 19.1 percent, with the next-highest probability going to North Carolina in the East Division at 14.9 percent. 

Kansas had the best record in the Big 12 after the regular season for the 12th straight year, and Odds Shark puts the Jayhawks' odds to win it all at 14-1.

Per KenPom.com, Kansas' offense, led by senior forward Perry Ellis and guards Wayne Selden Jr., Frank Mason III, Devonte' Graham and Brannen Greene, ranks eighth in efficiency. All those standouts have double-digit scoring averages and shoot at least 40 percent from deep. 

You may not have Kansas to win the whole thing in your bracket, but if you want to keep those late-round points in play, advance the Jayhawks to the national final. 

Texas A&M Will Advance to the Final Four

Sam Craft/Associated Press

Any way you slice it, Texas A&M's path to the Final Four will have to go through Oregon at some point. It's highly unlikely that any of the opponents Oregon will face in the Sweet 16—Duke being the most likely, but also potentially Baylor—will topple the Ducks.

Meanwhile, to make it to Houston, the Aggies will have to best No. 2 seed Oklahoma, assuming it is not upset by another West Division opponent such as VCU—also no small feat. 

The Sooners' Buddy Hield, the Big 12 Player of the Year, leads the nation in three-point attempts and is shooting 46.4 percent from deep. 

But the Aggies have a deep, talented group featuring three double-digit scorers in Jalen Jones, Danuel House and freshman Tyler Davis. 

They also feature the kind of defense it will take to stifle Oregon, ranking 11th in defensive efficiency, per KenPom.com. 

Kentucky Will Take Advantage of Its Underdog Status

You know it's a bizarre year in March Madness when perennial contender Kentucky is considered an underdog, but there it is, a No. 4 seed entering the Big Dance. 

John Calipari's Wildcats had to recalibrate entering the 2015-16 season, but the team is hitting its stride heading into the tournament.

Kentucky features only a few Final Four veterans in Alex Poythress and Marcus Lee, and it is getting a lot of its firepower this year from freshman guard Jamal Murray and forward Skal Labissiere

But since when is making it to the national final with a team composed of freshmen a problem for Calipari?

Kentucky's backcourt is looking like the nation's best, featuring Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe and Murray.

And per KenPom.com, the Wildcats are the No. 1-ranked team in the tournament in offensive efficiency, which is going to be hard to grapple with regardless of Kentucky's seeding. 

Don't sleep on Kentucky to advance to the national final this year when choosing your bracket.

Odds via Odds Shark unless otherwise noted.