March Madness bracket predictions 7.0: Projecting the Field of 68 for 2021 NCAA Tournament

Assortment Sunday for the 2021 NCAA men’s basketball match is just times absent.

The sixty eight-workforce field is getting form by conference match 7 days, and Wednesday’s timetable options 33 conference match games. A large amount can adjust from the No. 1 seeds to the bubble more than the following four times, and SN will keep track of the motion with everyday updates from right here by Assortment Sunday.

In this article is a seem at Sporting News’ up-to-date Area of sixty eight as of Saturday, March thirteen: 

More: Sporting News’ 2020-21 higher education basketball All-People in america

March Madness bracket predictions for 2021 NCAA Event

Projected No. 1 seeds

• **Gonzaga 26- (West Coast)
• Baylor 22-2 
• Michigan 20-3 (Major 10)
• Illinois 21-6

Lowdown: Gonzaga received the West Coast Meeting match for the eighth time in 9 seasons and is a digital lock for the top seed in the match. Baylor also appears to be a lock for a No. 1 seed in spite of a decline to Oklahoma Point out in the Major twelve semifinals. Michigan and Illinois took care of small business in the Major 10 quarterfinals, which must be more than enough to get the conference a pair of No. 1 seeds. That is, except if Iowa or Ohio Point out earn the Major 10 match. 

Projected No. two seeds

• Iowa 21-seven
• Alabama 22-6 (SEC)
• Houston 22-3 (American)
• Ohio Point out 20-8

Lowdown: The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes probably will drop just short of the No. 1 seed line, but their wins yesterday pretty much make certain that the Major 10 will have four groups on the top two seed traces. Which is never ever transpired just before. Alabama still has to maintain off Arkansas to keep a No. 3 seed. 

Projected No. 3 seeds

• Oklahoma Point out 20-seven (Major twelve) 
• Arkansas 22-5
• Kansas 20-8
• Virginia 18-6

Lowdown: Kansas and Virginia pulled out of their respective conference tournaments mainly because gamers analyzed positive for COVID-19. This is heading to be a genuine problem for the range committee mainly because equally groups are firm on the No. 3 line. With the seven-working day restrictions, equally groups would theoretically have to participate in first-round games Saturday. Oklahoma Point out could leap-frog both Ohio Point out or Houston for a No. two seed based on a potent exhibiting at the Major twelve match. 

Projected No. 4 seeds

• Texas 18-seven
• West Virginia 18-nine
• Florida Point out sixteen-5 (ACC) 
• Purdue 18-nine

Lowdown: Florida Point out can adhere on this line with a earn in the ACC championship recreation against Georgia Tech. A sixty nine-sixty six victory against North Carolina produced that circumstance much better, but the Seminoles are probably a extend to climb up to the No. 3 line. Purdue missed out on a prospect to shift up immediately after an 87-seventy eight extra time decline to Ohio Point out. 

More: Iowa’s Luka Garza is Sporting News’ Player of the Year

Projected No. 5 seeds

• Villanova sixteen-6
• Creighton 20-seven (Major East)
• Colorado 22-seven (Pac-twelve)
• Tennessee 18-seven

Lowdown: Villanova and Creighton probably will drop on the similar line, and bubble groups will be rooting for the Blue Jays to knock off Georgetown in the Major East championship recreation Saturday. Colorado probably earns the greatest seed between Pac-twelve groups no issue what takes place in the championship recreation against Oregon Point out. Tennessee is the SEC team 

Projected No. 6 seeds

• Wisconsin 17-twelve
• USC 22-seven
• Texas Tech 17-10
• Florida fourteen-nine

Lowdown: Wisconsin has a increased KenPom score, but this still appears like the rational landing place at this place. Some bracketologists could possibly have the Badgers as a No. 5. LSU could force one particular of these groups down a line with a victory against Arkansas on Saturday. 

Projected No. seven seeds

• LSU 17-8
• Oregon 20-6
• San Diego Point out 22-4 (Mountain West)
• North Carolina 18-10

Lowdown: The Tar Heels are heating up at the right time, and the victory against Virginia Tech must pull them off the No. 8 line. The decline to the Seminoles did not hurt far too considerably. LSU, which received seven of its last nine games, stays on this line. Oregon will take a challenging drop right here immediately after a decline to Oregon Point out in the Pac-twelve quarterfinals. 

Projected No. 8 seeds

• Clemson sixteen-seven
• Connecticut 15-6
• **Loyola-Chicago 24-4 (Missouri Valley)
• BYU 20-6

Lowdown: Clemson probably could slide down to this line immediately after a sixty seven-sixty four decline to Miami on Thursday. The team No. 1 seeds could possibly be wary of is Loyola-Chicago. The Ramblers have missing just one particular recreation considering that Jan. 11.

More: Michigan’s Juwan Howard is Sporting News’ Coach of the Year

Rest of field projections

No. nine seeds: Oklahoma 15-10, St. Bonaventure (A-10) 15-4, Virginia Tech 15-6, Missouri 17-nine
No. 10 seeds: Georgia Tech sixteen-8, Maryland sixteen-thirteen, Rutgers 15-10, VCU 19-6
No. 11 seeds: UCLA 17-nine, Louisville thirteen-seven, Michigan Point out 15-twelve, Utah Point out* 19-seven, Syracuse sixteen-nine*
No. twelve seeds: Western Kentucky 20-6 (C-United states of america), **Winthrop 23-1 (Major South), Wichita Point out sixteen-4, St. Louis* fourteen-6, Drake* twenty five-4
No. thirteen seeds: **Liberty 22-5 (A-Solar), Ohio 15-seven (MAC), UC Santa Barbara 21-4 (Major West), Colgate twelve-seven (Patriot)
No. fourteen seeds: **UNC-Greensboro 20-8 (Southern), **Morehead Point out 23-seven (Ohio Valley), Grand Canyon sixteen-6 (WAC), Jap Washington fourteen-seven (Major Sky)
No. 15 seeds: **Cleveland Point out 19-seven (Horizon), Nicholls Point out 18-6 (Southland), **Oral Roberts sixteen-10 (Summit), **Drexel twelve-7 (Colonial)
No. sixteen seeds: Iona 11-5 (MAAC), Hartford thirteen-8 (America East), Norfolk Point out* 15-seven (MEAC), Prairie See A&M* 15-4 (SWAC
), **Appalachian Point out* 17-11 (Solar Belt), **Mount St. Mary’s* twelve-10 (Northeast)

*To start with Four groups
** Groups that have clinched automatic bids

Previous four in

• Drake twenty five-4
• Utah Point out 20-seven
• Syracuse sixteen-nine
• St. Louis fourteen-6

Lowdown: Syracuse is back on the bubble immediately after a 72-sixty nine decline to Virginia in the ACC quarterfinals. The Orange, nevertheless, could possibly be served by Duke lacking the rest of the ACC match. Drake failed to earn its conference match, but the Bulldogs must be in a position crack the Area of sixty eight. Utah Point out probably played its way in with a victory against Colorado Point out. 

To start with four out

• Colorado Point out 18-6
• Xavier thirteen-8
• Ole Pass up 15-11
• Boise Point out 18-8

Lowdown: Xavier is in issues immediately after a 70-sixty nine decline to Seton Corridor in the Major East match on Thursday. That extra time decline, could knock the Musketeers off the bubble. Xavier blew a fourteen-place direct in the decline. Boise Point out missing 89-eighty two to Nevada, which could possibly have knocked the Broncos out of match consideration. Seton Hall’s bubble burst immediately after a sixty six-fifty eight decline to Georgetown in the Major East semifinals.