Jay Bilas Predicts Three Major Upsets in First Round of NCAA Tournament

The first one is the No. 10 seed Vanderbilt Commodores over the No. 7 seed Saint Mary's Gaels in the East Region.

"This is a coin-flip," Bilas said. "Saint Mary's is very physical and outrebounds opponents by 10.7 per game (best in Division I), but Vanderbilt has played a killer schedule and is used to being challenged. Regardless, I don't see either team beating Alabama in the second round."

Bilas' second upset is the No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns defeating the No. 6 Illinois Fighting Illini in the Midwest Region. Texas will have to knock off the No. 11 seed Xavier Musketeers in the First Four to even get a crack at Illinois in the Round of 64.

"I like Texas to slip past Xavier -- Tre Johnson is one of the best scorers in the tournament, and often a First Four team advances," Bilas stated. "It won't be easy; Xavier could easily advance behind Ryan Conwell's shooting. There is a risk to advance Texas, but it's one worth taking. All three teams have been inconsistent, but Texas has won more big games."

The final upset Bilas predicts is the No. 10 seed Utah State Aggies taking down the No. 7 UCLA Bruins. This is also in the Midwest Region.

"UCLA should win, because its defense is better," Bilas added. "But if there is an upset to pick, this one works. The Aggies are very good offensively and have beaten Saint Mary's and San Diego State this season. Ian Martinez and Mason Falslev can really shoot it."

Here's when those games are scheduled for:

• Wednesday, 9:30 p.m. ET - No. 11 Xavier vs. No. 11 Texas (First Four)
• Thursday, 9:25 p.m. ET - No. 10 Utah State vs. No. 7 UCLA (Round of 64)
  
• Friday, 3:15 p.m. ET - No. 10 Vanderbilt vs. Saint Mary's (Round of 64)
• Friday, 9:45 p.m. ET - No. 11 Xavier/Texas winner vs. No. 6 Illinois (Round of 64)