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Bracketology: Final predictions are in and Syracuse, Illinois State won’t be happy

2017-march-madness-bracket-official

It’s almost time to being the Madness. Here’s one final look at our projected NCAA Tournament Bracket.

UPDATED: March 12, 2017 | 4:30 p.m. (ET)

Note: Teams in ALL CAPS will represent automatic bids as they are earned.

Regarding bracketing principles, can read them for yourself at www.ncaa.com. For example: teams from the same conference may now meet before a Regional final, even if fewer than eight teams are selected. The goal is to keep as many teams as possible on their actual seed line.

FIRST FOUR PAIRINGS - Dayton (First Round)


  • Wake Forest vs. USC | South Region
  • Providence vs. Kansas State | East Region
  • UC DAVIS vs. Texas State | Midwest Region
  • NEW ORLEANS vs. NC CENTRAL | East Region

BRACKET PROJECTION ...

EAST - New YorkMIDWEST - Kansas City
BuffaloTulsa
1) VILLANOVA1) Kansas
16) NC CENTRAL / MT ST. MARY’S16) UC-DAVIS / NEW ORLEANS
8) Miami8) South Carolina
9) Dayton9) VCU
OrlandoMilwaukee
5) IOWA STATE5) Virginia
12) UNC-WILMINGTON12) VERMONT
4) Florida4) Butler
13) EAST TENNESSEE ST13) PRINCETON
IndianapolisSacramento
6) Wisconsin6) SMU
11) Kansas St / Providence11) MID TENNESSEE ST
3) Louisville3) UCLA
14) IONA14) NEW MEXICO ST
SacramentoGreenville
7) Saint Mary’s7) Maryland
10) Michigan State10) Marquette
2) Oregon2) DUKE
15) TEXAS-SOUTHERN15) JACKSONVILLE ST
WEST - San JoseSOUTH - Memphis
Salt Lake CityGreenville
1) GONZAGA1) North Carolina
16) SOUTH DAKOTA ST16) TROY
8) Northwestern8) Arkansas
9) Oklahoma State9) Seton Hall
MilwaukeeBuffalo
5) Cincinnati5) Purdue
12) NEVADA12) Wake Forest / USC
4) Notre Dame4) West Virginia
13) WINTHROP13) BUCKNELL
TulsaOrlando
6) Michigan6) Minnesota
11) Xavier11) RHODE ISLAND
3) Baylor3) Florida State
14) FLA GULF COAST14) KENT STATE
Salt Lake CityIndianapolis
7) Virginia Tech7) Creighton
10) Vanderbilt10) WICHITA STATE
2) ARIZONA2) KENTUCKY
15) NORTH DAKOTA15) NORTHERN KENTUCKY

NOTES on the BRACKET: Villanova is the No. 1 overall seed, followed by Kansas, North Carolina, and Gonzaga.

Last Four Byes (at large): Marquette, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, Xavier

Last Four IN (at large): Providence, Kansas State, Wake Forest, USC

First Four OUT (at large): Illinois State, Syracuse, California, Iowa

Next four teams OUT (at large): Indiana, Illinois, Georgia, Alabama

Breakdown by Conference ...

ACC (9): DUKE, North Carolina, Louisville, Florida State, Virginia, Notre Dame, Virginia Tech, Miami-FL, Wake Forest

Big 10 (7): Purdue, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Maryland, Northwestern, Michigan State

Big East (7): VILLANOVA, Butler, Creighton, Seton Hall, Marquette, Xavier, Providence

Big 12 (6): IOWA STATE, Kansas, Baylor, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Kansas State

SEC (5): KENTUCKY, Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, Vanderbilt

Pac 12 (4): ARIZONA, Oregon, UCLA, USC

Atlantic 10 (2): RHODE ISLAND, Dayton, VCU

American (2): SMU, Cincinnati

West Coast (2): GONZAGA, Saint Mary’s

Missouri Valley (2): WICHITA STATE

Mountain West (1): NEVADA

ONE BID LEAGUES: IONA (MAAC), MIDDLE TENNESSE STATE (C-USA), TROY (SBELT), PRINCETON (IVY), NORTH DAKOTA (BSKY), NORTHERN KENTUCKY (HORIZON), NEW OLEANS (SLND), EAST TENNESSEE STATE (STHN), UC-DAVIS (BWEST), KENT STATE (MAC), FLORIDA GULF COAST (ASUN), JACKSONVILLE STATE (OVC), UNC-WILMINGTON (CAA), WINTHROP (BSO), NC-CENTRAL (MEAC), SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (SUM), NEW MEXICO STATE (WAC), VERMONT(AEAST), BUCKNELL (PAT), MOUNT ST. MARY’S (NEC), TEXAS-SOUTHERN (SWAC)