2021 NCAA Tournament Midwest Region bracket picks: Upset watch, Illinois' toughest test and more to know

The Illinois Fighting Illini are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2013 in style, as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest region following a torrid run to the Big Ten Tournament title.

They enter the Big Dance on a seven-game winning streak that includes victories over four top-10 teams, including Sunday's 91-88 overtime win over No. 9-ranked Ohio State for the Big Ten championship. Versatile 7-foot center Kofi Cockburn, who sets the tone on both ends, led the way with 16 points and nine rebounds. 

Get every pick, every play, every upset and fill out your bracket with our help! Join SportsLine now to see which teams will make and break your bracket, and see who cuts down the nets, all from the model that beat nearly 90 percent of brackets last tournament, one year after finishing in the top 5 percent!

Before you lock in your bracket, here's everything you should consider about the Midwest Region.

More regional breakdowns: West | South | Midwest | East

Cinderella to watch

No. 11 Syracuse seems to have reveled in this position for years now. The Orange struggle and bubble their way into among the last teams receiving an invite to the field, then find themselves among the last teams standing. Not only does their rugged style always make them a tough out in March, the recent surge by Buddy Boeheim has given them a go-to offensive option down the stretch. The junior sharpshooter has scored at least 26 points in four of the last seven games.   

Bracket buster alert

No. 4 Oklahoma State could be in a rough spot against No. 13 Liberty in the first round. The Cowboys are fresh off an impressive surge to the Big 12 title game that included a grueling six-game set that saw them go 5-1 while facing Oklahoma, West Virginia and Baylor twice each, with all games coming down to the wire. They also could be smarting from the perception around the program that they deserved a higher seed. They will get no sympathy from No. 13-seeded Liberty, which has won 12 straight heading into the NCAA Tournament and has held opponents to 59.6 points per game. 

Illinois' landmines

The Illini face potential roadblocks as early as the second round, where they could meet a No. 9-seeded Georgia Tech team that will have won 10 straight (including a forfeit against Virginia) if it gets past Loyola-Chicago in the first round. The Yellow Jackets found consistent offensive flow on their way to the ACC Tournament title and have one of the toughest defenders in the country in Jose Alvarado, who averages 15.3 points and 3.0 assists per game. 

Also, an inconsistent but dangerous No. 5-seeded Tennessee club could await the Illini in the Sweet 16. 

Final Four bound

No. 2 Houston. The surging Cougars have won seven straight, including a 91-54 win over Cincinnati for the AAC Tournament title. Led by Kansas transfer Quentin Grimes and a Final Four-experienced coach in Kelvin Sampson, Houston has the right combination of experience, leadership and a stifling defense that ranks second in the country at 57.6 points per game. This is the most complete team in the Midwest region. 

Before you bet

• The Syracuse Orange have covered four straight NCAA Tournament games as an underdog and are 8-2 ATS overall in their last 10 March Madness contests. 
• The Oklahoma State Cowboys have failed to cover in their last five NCAA Tournament games as a favorite. 
• The West Virginia Mountaineers have gone 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games as a favorite in the NCAA Tournament. 

Odds to win Midwest Region

Odds provided by William Hill.

Illinois +125
Houston +220
West Virginia +1200
Oklahoma State +1200
Tennessee +1200
San Diego State +1200
Loyola-Chicago +1200
Georgia Tech +3000
Rutgers +4000
Clemson +5000
Syracuse +5000
Oregon State +20000
Liberty +30000
Morehead State +100000
Cleveland State +100000
Drexel +100000

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