2013 March Madness Bracketology Predictions and Projections – NCAA Bracket Field of 68 from Expert March Madness Bracket Prognosticators(UPDATED Feb 28th): The field of 68 for this year’s 2013 NCAA Tournament won’t be announced until Sunday, March 17th but teams are already starting to punch and secure their March Madness tickets by playing well enough to cement themselves into at-large bids at minimum – barring any unforseen late season collapses. Many teams not able to submit a resume good enough to earn an at-large bid will still be able to earn the Automatic bids in next month’s exciting Conference Tournament action. Of course, some less fortunate programs will most likley play themselves completely out and off the “March Madness Bubble” by losing must-win games in their March Madness Postseason Conference Tournaments. Who will make it in this year’s 2013 Field of 68 as this year’s 37 at-large selections? We got a pretty good handle on who will be in the field and have listed our March Madness Expert Predictions below as we will be updating this list regularly the next few weeks as we get set to finally see the field announced so we can get down to our main business and start forecasting and predicting the WINNERS of each game and round in this year’s NCAA Tournament 2013 Bracket. Well, let’s cut to the chase and stop the talk, let’s get down to picking and predicting who will make it in and out of this year’s 2013 March Madness Bracket baby!
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NOTE: This March Madness Bracket UPDATE was last updated at February 28th at 7PM EST. Please bookmark and check back for future updates!
ACC Conference
LOCKS: Miami-Fl, Duke, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia
“Bubble Teams” IN: NONE
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Maryland
NOTES: Both Miami-Fl and Duke are in position to hunt down a #1 seed, while Virginia is a LOCK despite a surprisingly low #67 RPI rating because of a strong 9-5 ACC record and a signature out of conference road win at Wisconsin. NC State has a strong RPI of #26 and has little to worry about unless they fall apart down the stretch. North Carolina’s strong #20 RPI and historical NCAA Tournament dominance will most definitely secure them a bid despite what you hear from people looking to stir the pot. Maryland needs signature wins down the stretch because of their 7-8 ACC record, ZERO out of conference quality wins and a low #73 RPI.
ATLANTIC 10 Conference
LOCKS: Saint Louis, Butler, VCU
“Bubble Teams” IN: La Salle, Temple
“Bubble Teams” OUT: UMass, Xavier
NOTES: This conference has to be one of the most improved an underrated leagues in the nation. BAR NONE. They can get upto 5 bids if things break their way. Saint Louis, Butler and VCU are clear LOCKS, while La Sale is “IN” on the Bubble due to quality wins in and out of conference along with a RPI of #38 and Temple is also “IN” due to their high quality out of conference win versus Syracuse and solid RPI of #42. However, they must finish STRONG. Umass can still stake claim to an at-large bid with a STRONG finish down the stretch and an improvement of their current #47 RPI rating. Xavier looks like they realistiaclly have NO SHOT unless they make the A-10 title game at least due to a really low #86 RPI.
BIG EAST Conference
LOCKS: Georgetown, Louisville, Syracuse, Marquette, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame
“Bubble Teams” IN: Villanova
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Cincinnati
NOTES: No need to discuss the LOCKS in this league as ALL of them will get IN no questions asked. Cincinnati was in strong shape with good out of conference wins against Iowa St, Alabama and Oregon but has completely fallen apart at the seams the last couple weeks. They need to do real damage by getting to the Big East tournament semifinals to reclaim their at-large bid. Villanova also needs to finish strong and do damage in the Big East Tournament. Nova’s RPI of #56 is not that good and they lack any out of conference signature wins. However, their calling card rests on their in-conference wins against Syracuse, Louisville, Marquette and at Uconn and a 9-7 conference record in the Big East. As of today, they are the LAST TEAM in as an at-large in our field.
BIG 10 Conference
LOCKS: Indiana, Michigan St, Michigan, Ohio St, Wisconsin
“Bubble Teams” IN: Minnesota, Illinois
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Iowa
NOTES: The BIG 10 has been getting hyped up a lot as the nation’s best league this year. We’re not buying it. Sure, the 5 LOCKS you see above are all quality teams but none are GREAT despite what you hear and can be beaten early in the NCAA Tournament if they catch the wrong matchup. Anyhow, this league should get 7 bids with Iowa basically needing a miracle to sneak in as an 8th bid with their low #90 RPI and lack of quality wins. Minnesota at #15 and Illinois at #32 in the RPI ratings and a bunch of quality wins are LOCKS so pay no attention to the talking heads saying otherwise.
BIG 12 Conference
LOCKS: Kansas, Kansas St, Oklahoma St, Oklahoma
“Bubble Teams” IN: Iowa St
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Baylor
NOTES: This league is a 6 team league MAX but could drop to 4 if Baylor and/or Iowa State struggle down the stretch. Baylor’s RPI of #59 and less than stellar quality wins resume has them squarely on the BUBBLE and need to finish strong while Iowa State at #54 in the RPI is in the same boat, but Iowa State’s quality wins over BYU, Baylor, Kansas St and Oklahoma thus far is pretty solid and they should sneak in.
Colonial Athletic Conference
LOCKS: NONE
“Bubble Teams” IN: NONE
“Bubble Teams” OUT: NONE
NOTES: This league has really fallen off hard this year and has NO CHANCE at any at-large bids and will only send the tournament champion with the automatic bid dancing.
Conference USA Conference
LOCKS: Memphis
“Bubble Teams” IN: NONE
“Bubble Teams” OUT: So Miss
NOTES: Memphis’ RPI of 18 and overall record of 24-3 is a LOCK to get them IN. However, the only way this league gets two bids is if someone else wins the automatic bid in the CUSA Tournament. No if’s, and’s or but’s about it. So Miss has a good RPI of #36 but absolutely ZERO out of conference quality wins to hang it’s hat on.
Horizon League Conference
LOCKS: NONE
“Bubble Teams” IN: NONE
“Bubble Teams” OUT: NONE
NOTES: This is a one bid league this year. Only the Horizon League Tournament winner will make the field and it should be either Valparaiso or Detroit.
IVY League Conference
LOCKS: NONE
“Bubble Teams” IN: NONE
“Bubble Teams” OUT: NONE
NOTES: The IVY league is a one-bid league like almsot always again this year. Nothing to see here folks, let’s move along…
Missouri Valley Conference
LOCKS: NONE
“Bubble Teams” IN: Wichita St, Creighton
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Indiana St
NOTES: Wichita St’s strong 24-6 record and #39 RPI along with some solid out of conference wins against VCU, So Miss and Iowa should land them an at-large bid if they lose no earlier than the semi’s in the MVC Tournament. Creighton with a RPI of #40, 23-7 record and out of conference wins against Arizona St, Wisconsin and Cal make them a LOCK as well. Indiana St with a relatively mediocre 17-12 record and #70 RPI is squarely on the “Bubble” but signature out of conference wins at Miami-Fl and vs Ole Miss along with in-conference wins against Wichita St and Creighton make their resume STRONG. They are still in the hunt for an at-large bid.
Mountain West Conference
LOCKS: New Mexico, Colorado St
“Bubble Teams” IN: UNLV, San Diego St
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Boise St
NOTES: This is an intriguing league. They should land 4 bids at minimum due to the RPI ratings and overall records of the top four teams. If you base it on the RPI’s than this league could threaten for 5 with New Mexico(#3), Colorado St(#17), UNLV(#16), San Diego St(#31) and Boise St(#47) all being in the top 47 of the RPI.
Pac 12 Conference
LOCKS: Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, UCLA
“Bubble Teams” IN: California
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Arizona St, Stanford
NOTES: The 4 LOCKS are definitely in the field but that might be all the PAC 12 gets in as California(#46 RPI) is IN at the moment but can’t afford any slip ups. Stanford(#69 RPI) and Arizona St(#88 RPI) need to get super HOT and make the PAC 12 semi’s at minimum to even think about getting an at-large bid.
Southeastern Conference(SEC)
LOCKS: Florida
“Bubble Teams” IN: Missouri, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Alabama
“Bubble Teams” OUT: Arkansas, LSU, Tennessee
NOTES: This league is looking more and more like it will get 5 teams MAX and maybe just 3-4 if some of the “Bubble Teams” you see above falter down the stretch. It’s tough to predict at this moment so check back on future updates to this page as the SEC at-large bids picture becomes more clear. For now, we’ll stick with Florida, Missouri, Ole Miss, Alabama and Kentucky getting IN. The SEC Tournament will seal the fates of all these BUBBLE TEAMS as more than likely the 3 of them that make the SEC semi’s should seal their bids with one more probably just sneaking in to give the league 5 bids.
West Coast Conference
LOCKS: Gonzaga, St Mary’s
“Bubble Teams” IN: NONE
“Bubble Teams” OUT: BYU
NOTES: BYU is in trouble this year. Their RPI of #58 is low and they have no signature wins to speak of in or out of conference. Tough to see them getting in unless they win the WCC Tournament.
NOTE: Belmont(Ohio Valley), Middle Tenn St(Sun Belt), Akron(MAC), La Tech(WAC) and Bucknell(Patriot) are all in strong shape to potentially land an at-large bid if they fail to win their leagues. This would take one or more of these leagues from one-bid leagues to two-bid leagues thus knocking off som at-large bid teams you see us having IN above.
LAST FOUR BUBBLE TEAMS IN THE FIELD: California, Ole Miss, Alabama, Villanova
LAST FOUR BUBBLE TEAMS OUT OF THE FIELD: BYU, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Boise St
BREAKDOWN BY LEAGUE:
7: Big Ten, Big East
5: ACC, SEC, A-10, BIG 12, PAC 12
4: Mountain West
2: MVC, WCC
1: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Colonial, CUSA, Horizon, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-American, Mid-Eastern Athletic, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern Athletic, Summit, Sun Belt, Western Athletic (21)
2013 NCAA TOURNAMENT DATES
• Selection Sunday
March 17, 2013
• First Round
March 19-20
UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
• Second-Third Rounds
March 21, 23
The Palace of Auburn Hills (Auburn Hills, Mich.)
Rupp Arena (Lexington, Ky.)
EnergySolutions Arena (Salt Lake City, Utah)
HP Pavilion (San Jose, Calif.)
March 22, 24
Frank Erwin Center (Austin, Texas)
UD Arena (Dayton, Ohio)
Sprint Center (Kansas City, Mo.)
Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)
• East Regional
March 28, 30
Verizon Center (Washington, D.C.)
• West Regional
March 28, 30
Staples Center (Los Angeles)
• Midwest Regional
March 29, 31
Lucas Oil Stadium (Indianapolis)
• South Regional
March 29, 31
Cowboys Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
• National Semifinals
April 6
Georgia Dome (Atlanta)
• Championship Game
April 8
Georgia Dome (Atlanta)
