NCAA Tournament: If USC beats Michigan State, who will Trojans play? (East Region bracket breakdown)

For the third year in a row, USC has qualified for the NCAA Tournament

For the third year in a row, USC has qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans, a No. 10 seed, have been placed in the East Region and will take on No. 7 Michigan State in a first-round game in Columbus, Ohio on Friday at 9:15 am PST.

Let's take a look at the rest of the bracket.

If USC wins against Michigan State, the Trojans will play the winner of No. 2 Marquette and No. 15 Vermont in the second round. 

CONNOR MORRISSETTE'S FIRST ROUND PICKS

No. 1 Purdue over No. 16 play in winner, No. 8 Memphis over No. 9 Florida Atlantic, No. 5 Duke over No. 12 Oral Roberts, No. 4 Tennessee over No. 13 Louisiana, No. 6 Kentucky over No. 11 Providence, No. 3 Kansas State over No. 14 Montana State, No. 7 Michigan State over No. 10 USC, No. 2 Marquette over No. 15 Vermont.

Yes, it's chalk... Look for the upsets to start in round two. 

SWEET 16 PICKS

No. 1 Purdue, No. 2 Marquette, No. 5 Duke, No. 6 Kentucky

Despite having a tough second-round matchup against the Memphis/Florida Atlantic winner, Purdue should get to the Sweet 16 led by unanimous All-American center Zach Edey. 

Marquette won the Big East Tournament after finishing in first place in the conference in the regular season. The Golden Eagles are playing some of the best basketball in the country right now.

It took Duke a little while, but the Blue Devils are finally firing on all cylinders. Duke won the ACC Tournament last week knocking off Pittsburgh, Miami and Virginia, three NCAA Tournament teams. Freshman Kyle Filipowski is a player we think will have such a good tournament, he'll move up NBA mock draft boards into the top ten. 

Kentucky is our final Sweet 16 pick and it has more to do with not liking Providence, Kansas State or Montana State's chances than loving the up-and-down Wildcats. Kentucky's rated No. 14 in the nation in adjusted offensive efficiency, which is the best of this group. 

WHO WILL WIN THE EAST REGION?

Duke