Bracketology: ESPN updates 68-team field projection for March Madness on Selection Sunday

The latest bracketology from ESPN’s Joe Lunardi is here on Selection Sunday. There are conference championships to be finalized and of course, a bracket to be made.

The projections are practically set in stone going into the final games of the conference calendar, in tournament form of course. There are some surprises and some, well, non-surprises.

So without further ado, let’s dive into ESPN’s bracketology. We’ll start with the bubble teams!

ESPN Bracketology: On the Bubble

Last Four Byes: Oklahoma, Arkansas, West Virginia, Utah State
Last Four In: Vanderbilt, San Diego State, Xavier, Indiana
First Four Out: Boise State, North Carolina, Texas, Ohio State
Next Four Out: Dayton, UC Irvine, Wake Forest, SMU

South Region – Atlanta

1. Auburn vs. 16. Jackson State/St. Francis (PA)
8. Marquette vs. 9. Baylor
5. Clemson vs. 12. Colorado State
4. Arizona vs. 13 High Point

6. Illinois vs. 11. Drake
3. Kentucky vs. 14. Troy
7. Missouri vs. 10. West Virginia
2. Michigan State vs. 15. Wofford

Despite losing in the SEC semifinals, Auburn is still the top seed for Lunardi’s bracketology. Michigan State shifts over to this region but there’s a fascinating matchup looming with Kentucky in the Sweet 16. Arizona and Clemson, should the seeds hold, could be a really fun game.

East Region – Newark

1. Duke vs. 16. American/Mount St. Mary’s
8. UConn vs. 9. Mississippi State
5. Oregon vs. 12. Liberty
4. Maryland vs. 13. Yale

6. Ole Miss vs. 11. VCU
3. Iowa State vs. 14. UNC Wilmington
7. Kansas vs. 10. Utah State
2. Alabama vs. 15. Bryant

Duke won the ACC and clinched a No. 1 seed in Lunardi’s bracketology on Selection Sunday. A second round matchup with UConn is still a high possibility. Maryland will be no pushover either and Alabama should be favored to get by a bunch of land mines as well, such as Kansas. Watch out for Oregon too. You know what? Watch this whole quad.

Midwest Region – Indianapolis

1. Houston vs. 16. SIU Edwardsville 
8. Memphis vs. 9. Georgia
5. Purdue vs. 12. McNeese
4. Texas A&M vs. 13. Lipscomb

6. Louisville vs. 11. Vanderbilt/San Diego State
3. Wisconsin vs. 14. Robert Morris
7. Saint Mary’s 10. Arkansas
2. Tennessee vs. 15. Montana

Houston is the top dog in the Midwest region per this latest bracketology. Purdue could certainly turn this part of the bracket upside down. Tennessee and Wisconsin on the bottom side? Sign us up for that Sweet 16 matchup. Going into Sunday, Tennessee is playing for an SEC title against Florida.

West Region – San Francisco

1. Florida vs. 16. Norfolk State
8. Creighton vs. 9. New Mexico
5. BYU vs. 12. Xavier/Indiana
4. Michigan vs. 13. Akron

6. UCLA vs. 11. UC San Diego
3. Texas Tech vs. 14 Utah Valley
7. Gonzaga vs. 10. Oklahoma 
2. St. John’s vs. Omaha

Florida is on top and it’ll be a fascinating exercise to see if this bracketology holds. The Gators play Tennessee for the SEC title Sunday. Michigan also plays for the Big Ten title vs. Wisconsin Sunday so seedings could change. What a year for St. John’s by the way. Rick Pitino has now won conference titles with five different schools.