Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Kentucky Surges to the Top Line

Kentucky surges to the top line after thrashing Tennessee over the weekend. As of today, the model projects the top 49 seeds (listed below) as making the tournament whether they win their conference or not.  The bottom 19 are automatic qualifiers that won't make it unless they win their respective conferences.  

Bubble Talk
The last two at-large bids would go to Alabama and San Francisco.  Given the way the numbers fall, the last four in would all play-in on the 12 line.  The model indicates Wofford and New Mexico State would get in as at-larges regardless of whether they stumble in their conferences.  Florida and Seton Hall re-enter the field.  Toledo hanging on despite the home loss to Buffalo.  North Carolina State still not even close with an RPI of 99.  

Bracketology
My field prognostication as of today is as follows:
#1 seeds: Duke, Virginia, Gonzaga, Kentucky
#2 seeds: Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, Kansas
#3 seeds: North Carolina, Houston, Purdue, LSU
#4 seeds:  Texas Tech, Iowa State, Buffalo, Nevada
#5 seeds:  Villanova, Wisconsin, Florida State, Louisville
#6 seeds:  Marquette, Maryland, VA Tech, Kansas State
#7 seeds:  Mississippi State, Iowa, Cincy, Auburn
#8 seeds:  Washington, Wofford, Oklahoma, TCU
#9 seeds:  Mississippi, Texas, TCU, St. John's
#10 seeds:  UCF, Syracuse, Utah State, Clemson
#11 seeds:  Toledo, Ohio State, Baylor, Minnesota
#12 seeds:  New Mexico State, Lipscomb, play-in: Florida / Seton Hall, play-in: Alabama / San Francisco
#13 seeds:  Yale, Belmont, Hofstra, UC Irvine
#14 seeds:  Vermont, Drake, Old Dominion, Montana
#15 seeds:  Radford, Texas State, Bucknell, Northern Kentucky
#16 seeds:  South Dakota State, Sam Houston State, play-in:  St. Francis (PA) / Prairie View, play-in:  Norfolk State / Quinnipiac

First 4 Out:  Saint Mary's, Temple, Butler, Arizona State


Bracket Matrix
Check this site out.  Great compilation of expert and amateur bracket projections.

http://www.bracketmatrix.com/