College Basketball Tournaments: winner predictions, odds, and schedule

Choice Sunday is on the horizon, however March Insanity begins with Championship Week, as convention champions will probably be topped throughout the nation. The coveted automated bid to the NCAA Match comes with the convention trophy and some groups have already punched their Massive Dance ticket.

There are 32 conferences in Division I basketball, that means there will probably be no scarcity of hardwood motion this week. Nevertheless, search for the six energy conferences—ACC, Massive 12, Massive East, Massive Ten, Pac-12, and SEC – to draw the majority of the eye. These conferences will present a lot of the prime seeds for the soon-to-be revealed subject of 68 and the place the oddsmakers’ favorites to ultimately lower the nets down reside.

Moreover convention bragging rights, seeding is definitely on the road in these convention tournaments, to not point out a handful of groups that discover themselves squarely on the bubble coming into Championship Week. And simply because the regular-season champion is the No. 1 seed and could also be labeled the favourite of their respective match, keep in mind that is March. Count on upsets, and loads of them.

The ACC and Massive 12 will tip issues off on Tuesday from Washington, D.C., and Kansas Metropolis, respectively. The remaining comply with on Wednesday with the Massive East taking part in in Madison Sq. Backyard, the Massive Ten in Minneapolis, the SEC holding its match in Nashville and the Pac-12 out in Las Vegas. Each the Massive Ten and SEC will crown their champions on Sunday previous to this yr’s bracket being unveiled whereas the opposite 4 will wrap up their tournaments on Saturday.

Locks, projected to be in and on the bubble are from Justin Williams’ bubble watch day by day on Monday.

ACC

Dates: March 12-16

Championship recreation: 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN

Locks: North Carolina, Duke, Clemson

On the bubble: Virginia, Wake Forest, Pittsburgh

Common season champion: North Carolina (25-6, 17-3 in ACC)

What to observe for: Are we headed for North Carolina-Duke Spherical 3? The Tar Heels and Blue Devils are the highest two seeds in Washington, D.C., and a championship matchup might decide a No. 1 seed within the NCAA Match. If Wake Forest wins its second-round recreation, a bubble-bursting quarterfinals date with Pittsburgh awaits.  Virginia additionally has a golden alternative to play its approach into (or out of) the sector of 68.

Massive Ten

Dates: March 13-17

Championship recreation: 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS

Locks: Purdue, Wisconsin, Illinois

Projected to be in: Northwestern, Nebraska, Michigan State

On the bubble: Iowa, Ohio State

Common season champion: Purdue (28-3, 17-3 in Massive Ten)

The storyline: The Ohio State-Iowa second-round matchup is a de facto bubble showdown. The winner then will get Illinois within the quarterfinals with the Combating Illini hoping for one more shot at top-seed Purdue. The Boilermakers can in all probability lock up a No. 1 seed just by making it to the championship recreation. Nebraska and Northwestern should be on upset alert to make Choice Sunday rather less nerve-racking.

Massive 12

Dates: March 12-16

Championship recreation: 6 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN

Locks: Baylor, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, BYU, Texas Tech, Texas

Projected to be in: TCU, Oklahoma

On the bubble: Kansas State

Common season champion: Houston (28-3, 15-3 in Massive 12)

What to observe for: Houston is rolling, contemporary off of a 30-point blowout of Kansas and poised to assert the No. 1 total seed. Can anybody resolve the red-hot Cougars in Kansas Metropolis? For the Jayhawks, the standing of Hunter Dickinson’s shoulder looms giant this week and past, to not point out the truth that Invoice Self’s staff has misplaced three of its final 4 video games. TCU and Oklahoma are each at the moment projected as in, however aren’t positive issues at this level.

Massive East

Dates: March 13-16

Championship recreation: 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX

Locks: Marquette, UConn, Creighton

On the bubble: Seton Corridor, Villanova, St. John’s, Windfall

Common season champion: UConn (28-3, 18-2 in Massive East)

What to observe for: UConn is the defending nationwide champion and clearly has larger objectives in thoughts however the Huskies additionally haven’t gained the Massive East Match since 2011 (UConn was within the AAC from 2014-20). Creighton surprised UConn just a few weeks in the past and will get one other shot in Madison Sq. Backyard. Villanova is on the improper aspect of the lower line, relying on which bracketologist you like, so the Wildcats want no less than one win if no more to go dancing. Seton Corridor and St. John’s might burst one another’s bubble after they meet within the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.

Pac-12

Dates: March 13-16

Championship recreation: 9 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX

Locks: Arizona, Washington State

On the bubble: Colorado, Utah

Common season champion: Arizona (24-7, 15-5 in Pac-12)

What to observe for: Colorado has gained six in a row to enhance its NCAA Match possibilities tremendously however the Buffaloes can’t afford a slip-up in its quarterfinal matchup between the winner of Arizona State and Utah. Arizona can put itself within the dialog for a No. 1 seed with a dominant displaying in Las Vegas, however ought to the Wildcats worry Washington State? The Cougars swept each regular-season conferences. If there’s a 3rd encounter, it will be within the championship recreation.

SEC

Dates: March 13-16

Championship recreation: 1 p.m. ET Sunday on ESPN

Locks: Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina

On the bubble: Mississippi State, Texas A&M

Common season champion: Tennessee (24-7, 14-4 in SEC)

What to observe for: One recreation separated the highest 5 seeds within the SEC Match so there doesn’t look like a lot of a spot on the prime of the bracket. Tennessee might be the one SEC staff that may declare a No. 1 seed, however that’s provided that the Volunteers lower down the nets in Nashville. Mississippi State could make its case with a victory over LSU within the second spherical adopted by an upset of Tennessee. Kentucky enters with essentially the most momentum, together with a highway win over the Vols, however the Wildcats might draw bubble staff Texas A&M within the quarterfinals and Alabama within the semis.

Extra Convention Match Week

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2024 NCAA Match Bubble Watch: Go time for Wake Forest, St. John’s and extra

NCAA Match Bracket Breakers: 8 energy convention groups that make nice underdog picks

(Picture of Zach Edey: John Fisher/Getty Photos)