Welcome to Bracketology 2021, where our resident bracketologist, Justin Meyer, gives you his prediction of what the selection committee would have the NCAA Tournament look like if the season were to end today. He has done bracketology for more than 10 years, and this is his seventh season as part of the Bracket Matrix.
This is not what he would make the bracket if he were the selection committee, and this is not a guess for what it will look like on Selection Sunday (unless, of course, it is Selection Sunday). It is merely a snapshot of where things stand right now.
Per usual, you can expect our Bubble Watch series to return later in the season, breaking down where all remotely relevant teams stand relative to the cutline, with resume explanations and a set of requirements for what the team needs to secure its spot in the Big Dance. Here is where you can find the Bubble Watch from last season (before it was called off) to see what’s in store, and you can find the last bracketology update here.
This year, the entire 2021 NCAA Tournament will be held in Indiana because of the pandemic, meaning the regions will be unattached to a location. That will not be a factor in what region teams play in.
Without further ado, here is your update for how the Field of 68 stands right now in our Bracketology 2021 (as of games played through Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021):
Bracketology 2021
Region 1
1 GONZAGA vs 16 PRAIRIE VIEW A&M/NORTH CAROLINA A&T
8 Connecticut vs 9 Louisville
5 Creighton vs 12 TOLEDO
4 West Virginia vs 13 UAB
6 Minnesota vs 11 Colorado State
3 Ohio State vs 14 BRYANT
7 USC vs 10 DRAKE
2 Texas vs 15 GRAND CANYON
Region 4
1 ALABAMA vs 16 SAM HOUSTON STATE
8 Xavier vs 9 BOISE STATE
5 Colorado vs 12 ST. BONAVENTURE
4 Kansas vs 13 SIENA
6 Oklahoma vs 11 Arkansas/North Carolina
3 Wisconsin vs 14 NAVY
7 Virginia Tech vs 10 Oregon
2 HOUSTON vs 15 NORTHEASTERN
Region 2
1 BAYLOR vs 16 SOUTH DAKOTA/MONTANA STATE
8 Rutgers vs 9 LSU
5 Texas Tech vs 12 WINTHROP
4 Missouri vs 13 BELMONT
6 Purdue vs 11 San Diego State
3 VIRGINIA vs 14 ETSU
7 Oklahoma State vs 10 Stanford
2 Iowa vs 15 TEXAS STATE
Region 3
1 MICHIGAN vs 16 CLEVELAND STATE
8 Florida vs 9 BYU
5 Florida State vs 12 Utah State/Maryland
4 Tennessee vs 13 LIBERTY
6 UCLA vs 11 Saint Louis
3 Illinois vs 14 UC IRVINE
7 Clemson vs 10 Indiana
2 VILLANOVA vs 15 UMBC
The Bubble
Last Four Byes
Stanford
Colorado State
San Diego State
Saint Louis
Last Four In
Arkansas
North Carolina
Utah State
Maryland
First Four Out
Providence
Seton Hall
Western Kentucky
Pittsburgh
Next Four Out
Marquette
VCU
Richmond
Syracuse
S-Curve
- Gonzaga
- Baylor
- Michigan
- Alabama
- Houston
- Villanova
- Iowa
- Texas
- Ohio State
- Wisconsin
- Virginia
- Illinois
- Tennessee
- Missouri
- Kansas
- West Virginia
- Creighton
- Texas Tech
- Florida State
- Colorado
- Purdue
- Oklahoma
- UCLA
- Minnesota
- USC
- Oklahoma State
- Clemson
- Virginia Tech
- Xavier
- Florida
- Rutgers
- Connecticut
- Louisville
- BYU
- Boise State
- LSU
- Oregon
- Indiana
- Stanford
- Drake
- Colorado State
- San Diego State
- Saint Louis
- Arkansas
- North Carolina
- St. Bonaventure
- Utah State
- Maryland
- Winthrop
- Toledo
- UAB
- Belmont
- Liberty
- Siena
- Navy
- UC Irvine
- ETSU
- Bryant
- Grand Canyon
- Texas State
- UMBC
- Northeastern
- Sam Houston State
- Cleveland State
- South Dakota
- Montana State
- Prairie View A&M
- North Carolina A&T
Per Conference
Big Ten – 10 (Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue, Minnesota, Rutgers, Indiana, Maryland)
Big 12 – 7 (Baylor, Texas, Kansas, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State)
ACC – 6 (Virginia, Florida State, Clemson, Virginia Tech, Louisville, North Carolina)
SEC – 6 (Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, LSU, Arkansas)
Pac-12 – 5 (Colorado, UCLA, USC, Oregon, Stanford)
Big East – 4 (Villanova, Creighton, Xavier, Connecticut)
MWC – 4 (Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Utah State)
A-10 – 2 (Saint Louis, St. Bonaventure)
