NCAA Bracket Predictions

Here is my final bracket projections. Before, I was predicting who should get an invite in my opinion. Now I’m trying to predict who will actually get in (For example, personally, I think Colorado should have been given an invite and Bradley shouldn’t be up for consideration…but that’s not going to happen). Seeding is below the bids, but to be honest, if I can just get the teams correct, I’ll be rather impressed. I’m not a seeding expert. Conference winners (or projected winners) in italics.

POWER
ACC (5): Boston College, Duke, Florida State, North Carolina, NC State
Big East (8): Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia
Big 10 (6): Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan State, Ohio State, Wisconsin
Big 12 (4): Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M
Pac 10 (4): Arizona, California, UCLA, Washington
SEC (6): Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Tennessee

Notes: I think Florida State gets in. I can’t see the committee only taking four ACC schools. Cincinnati should get in too. Seton Hall: OUT. Their horrible loss to average Rutgers in the Big East first round was a joke. If they get in, I have no more respect for the committee. Michigan: OUT. The Wolverines have tanked like no other team over the last few weeks. Maryland: Hahahaha, OUT.

MAJOR
Atlantic-10 (2): George Washington, Xavier
Conference USA (2): Memphis, UAB
Mountain West (1): San Diego State

Notes: The Musketeers will be a dangerous team in the first round. GW will not. Air Force, BYU and Utah all screwed up their at large chances in the MWC.

MID-MAJOR
Colonial Athletic (2): George Mason, UNC-Wilmington
Horizon (1): Milwaukee-Wisconsin
MAAC (1): Iona
Mid-American (1): Kent State
Missouri Valley (5) Bradley, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, Wichita State
Sun Belt (1): Southern Alabama
West Coast (1): Gonzaga
Western Athletic (1): Nevada

Notes: Again, I’m going to express my displeasure at Bradley even being considered. They beat no one remotely tough outside their conference and have 10 losses, so of them bad, while playing a mid-major schedule. I still don’t think Hofstra will sneak in the CAA bids, but George Mason should be rewarded for their season, not just the last few games.

SMALL
America East: Albany
Atlantic Sun: Belmont
Big Sky: Montana
Big South: Winthrop
Big West: Pacific
Ivy: Pennsylvania
Mid-Continent: Oral Roberts
MEAC: Hampton
Northeast Conference: Monmouth
Ohio Valley: Murray State
Patriot: Bucknell
Southern: Davidson
Southland: Northwestern State
Southwestern: Southern U.

Notes: As predicted here the past two weeks, Montana shocked Northern Arizona and won the Big Sky conference. See, I don’t just pay attention to the big boys. Solid job by me.

2006 BRACKETS

As I post this, I see that Kansas just won the Big 12 tournament, which will probably bump them up to a fourth seed and knock down Tennessee. I also see Ohio State is struggling with Iowa. If Ohio State comes back, look for them and Memphis to switch between the 1 and 2 seeds. If that were to happen, as a result of seeding and conference pairing rules, Xavier and Missouri State would swap spots as would UAB and Southern Illinois. If not, than this is my best guess. I'll have plenty of tounament analysis this week!

WASHINGTON DC REGION
Philadelphia, PA
(1) Connecticut vs. (16) Southern/Hampton
(8) Indiana vs. (9) California
Dallas, TX
(4) LSU vs. (13) George Mason
(5) Kansas vs. (12) Kent State
Auburn Hills, MI
(3) Boston College vs. (14) Davidson
(6) Marquette vs. (11) Alabama
Salt Lake City, UT
(7) Nevada vs. (10) UNC-Wilmington
(2) Gonzaga vs. (15) Pennsylvania

MINNEAPOLIS REGION
Philadelphia, PA
(1) Villanova vs. (16) Albany
(8) Kentucky vs. (9) Arizona
Auburn Hills, MI
(4) Iowa vs. (13) South Alabama
(5) George Washington vs. (12) Florida State
Greensboro, NC
(3) North Carolina vs. (14) Pacific
(6) Michigan State vs. (11) Bucknell
Dallas, TX
(7) Georgetown vs. (10) Northern Iowa
(2) Texas vs. (15) Northwestern State

ATLANTA REGION
Greensboro, NC
(1) Duke vs. (16) Monmouth
(8) Alabama-Birmingham vs. (9) Wisconsin
San Diego, CA
(4) Tennessee vs. (13) Iona
(5) Syracuse vs. (12) Missouri State
Jacksonville, FL
(3) Florida vs. (14) Murray State
(6) Oklahoma vs. (11) San Diego State
Dayton, OH
(7) Wichita State vs. (10) Cincinnati
(2) Illinois vs. (15) Winthrop

OAKLAND REGION
Jacksonville, FL
(1) Memphis vs. (16) Oral Roberts
(8) Southern Illinois vs. (9) Arkansas
Salt Lake City, UT
(4) Pittsburgh vs. (13) Wisconsin-Milwaukee
(5) Washington vs. (12) Xavier
San Diego, CA
(3) UCLA vs. (14) Montana
(6) West Virginia vs. (11) Bradley
Dayton, OH
(7) NC State vs. (10) Texas A&M
(2) Ohio State vs. (15) Belmont