Women's college basketball bold predictions: UCLA, Vanderbilt on upset alert in conference tournaments

March is officially here, and although it isn't quite yet time for the Big Dance, it is time for postseason college basketball. There really is nothing quite like the excitement of single-elimination playoff games.

Most major women's conference tournaments tip off this week, and here at CBS Sports, we think there is potential for some chaos along the way. Here are bold predictions for the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and SEC conference tournaments.

ACC: Syracuse will make a run and Uche Izoje will steal the show

Conference tournaments are great places for young players to shine, and I think that will happen with Syracuse and Uche Izoje in Duluth this week. I predict the Orange will make it to the semifinals and that Izoje -- the leading candidate for ACC rookie of the year, who leads Syracuse with 15 points and 9.3 rebounds per game -- will average a 20-point double-double during the run.

Syracuse is the No. 7 seed in the ACC tournament and CBS Sports bracketologist Connor Groel projects it safely into the NCAA tournament no matter what happens this week, which takes the pressure off. The Orange get a bye in the first round and then face either California or Wake Forest on Thursday evening, both of whom it defeated in the regular season. 

In the quarterfinals, Syracuse would then face Louisville, the No. 2 seed. While the Cardinals looked to be the best team in the ACC for a good chunk of the season, they struggled down the stretch, losing two of their last three. When the two teams met a month ago, Louisville got the win 84-65, but it was a strange game because Syracuse didn't score a field goal in the first 10 minutes and fell behind 28-6 after the first. 

The Orange will not allow the Cardinals to jump on them out of the gate like that again, and Izoje will be a big reason why. The 21-year-old 6-foot-3 center, who is from Nigeria and spent a few years playing professionally in Japan before coming to Syracuse, has been a force since the season tipped off and it will be fun to see her truly announce herself on the national stage. -- Lindsay Gibbs

Big Ten: Michigan takes down UCLA

This one didn't come easily, considering I've been riding the Bruins train all season long. That said, I like this Wolverines squad. Their points per game are almost identical to UCLA's, while they also concede fewer points per game. Michigan's ability to crash the offensive boards and force turnovers makes it a team that can catch UCLA slipping. Not to mention, Michigan has been playing bridesmaid all season long, despite having the best season in program history. 

The Wolverines will be led, as they have all season, by two underclassmen: Olivia Olsen and Syla Swords. Olsen will tally 35 points to give Michigan a five-point overtime victory and win the Big 10 Tournament MVP.  

I do like the sound of this, but there are no guarantees in the Big Ten. UCLA is still the favorite to win, but Michigan (and perhaps Ohio State) is my favorite to play spoiler. -- Erica Ayala 

Big 12: TCU's Olivia Miles will have multiple triple-doubles

After some hiccups in the middle of conference play, TCU closed the regular season on a six-game winning streak -- including victories over Baylor (twice), West Virginia and Iowa State -- to clinch the Big 12 regular season title. The Horned Frogs are the No. 1 seed heading into Kansas City, so picking them to win the tournament for the second consecutive year isn't a bold prediction.

So how about this: Olivia Miles will have multiple triple-doubles en route to their title. Miles has recorded five triple-doubles this season, with the most recent one coming on Feb. 22 against Iowa State. Five of the other top-six defenses in the conference (aside from TCU) are on the other side of the bracket, so Miles and Co. will only have to face one of them to lift the trophy. That should allow Miles and the Horned Frogs' offense to run wild.  --Jack Maloney

SEC: Ole Miss upsets Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals

Multiple teams across the nation are entering the postseason with momentum, but Ole Miss is most certainly not one of them. That being said, I wouldn't count out the Rebels just yet. Ole Miss has lost six of its last eight games, including four consecutive losses at the end of the regular season. However, Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin knows how to work magic in March, as shown by the program appearing in two of the last four Sweet 16s.

The Rebels can get back on the right track with a big win in the SEC Tournament, so why not against Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals? I'm well aware the Commodores are still in the running for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament but the Rebels already pulled off an upset against them this season while in the middle of their winter storm struggles. I don't expect a blowout by Ole Miss, but Coach Yo's players have shown they have the grit and determination to sneak out wins against top opponents. -- Isabel Gonzalez