Pre-tournament expectations and championship predictions for March Madness typically center around top-seeded teams, conference tournament champions, and programs boasting elite defensive ratings and veteran backcourt play. Analysts and bracket predictors heavily weigh advanced analytics, strength of schedule, and recent tournament history when selecting their favorites to cut down the nets. However, because the single-elimination format is universally celebrated for generating massive upsets and Cinderella runs, consensus expectations are frequently upended, proving that no team is entirely safe once the tournament bracket gets underway and the pressure mounts.