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, Feb. 4, 2021):
Bracketology 2021
Region 1
1 BAYLOR vs 16 MONTANA STATE/NORTH CAROLINA A&T
8 BOISE STATE vs 9 Louisville
5 West Virginia vs 12 WINTHROP
4 Missouri vs 13 UAB
6 Oklahoma State vs 11 North Carolina
3 Iowa vs 14 GRAND CANYON
7 Rutgers vs 10 ST. BONAVENTURE
2 VILLANOVA vs 15 NORTHEASTERN
Region 4
1 Ohio State vs 16 SAM HOUSTON STATE
8 Colorado vs 9 Connecticut
5 Virginia Tech vs 12 Maryland/Seton Hall
4 Texas vs 13 UNC GREENSBORO
6 Kansas vs 11 Oregon
3 Wisconsin vs 14 NAVY
7 Creighton vs 10 Stanford
2 ALABAMA vs 15 CLEVELAND STATE
Region 2
1 GONZAGA vs 16 SOUTH DAKOTA/PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
8 Minnesota vs 9 Colorado State
5 Purdue vs 12 TOLEDO
4 Oklahoma vs 13 BELMONT
6 UCLA vs 11 LSU
3 VIRGINIA vs 14 UC IRVINE
7 Xavier vs 10 San Diego State
2 Illinois vs 15 BRYANT
Region 3
1 MICHIGAN vs 16 LOUISIANA
8 Clemson vs 9 BYU
5 Florida State vs 12 VCU/Indiana
4 Tennessee vs 13 LIBERTY
6 USC vs 11 Arkansas
3 Texas Tech vs 14 SIENA
7 Florida vs 10 DRAKE
2 HOUSTON vs 15 UMBC
The Bubble
Last Four Byes
North Carolina
LSU
Oregon
Arkansas
Last Four In
Maryland
Seton Hall
VCU
Indiana
First Four Out
Utah State
Richmond
Western Kentucky
Loyola Chicago
Next Four Out
St. John’s
Syracuse
Saint Louis
Georgia Tech
S-Curve
- Baylor
- Gonzaga
- Michigan
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- Illinois
- Houston
- Villanova
- Virginia
- Iowa
- Texas Tech
- Wisconsin
- Texas
- Tennessee
- Oklahoma
- Missouri
- West Virginia
- Purdue
- Florida State
- Virginia Tech
- Kansas
- USC
- UCLA
- Oklahoma State
- Xavier
- Rutgers
- Creighton
- Florida
- Colorado
- Clemson
- Minnesota
- Boise State
- BYU
- Louisville
- Colorado State
- Connecticut
- Stanford
- Drake
- San Diego State
- St. Bonaventure
- North Carolina
- LSU
- Oregon
- Arkansas
- Maryland
- Seton Hall
- VCU
- Indiana
- Toledo
- Winthrop
- UAB
- Belmont
- Liberty
- UNC Greensboro
- Navy
- Siena
- UC Irvine
- Grand Canyon
- Northeastern
- Bryant
- UMBC
- Cleveland State
- Sam Houston State
- Louisiana
- South Dakota
- Prairie View A&M
- Montana State
- North Carolina A&T
Per Conference
Big Ten – 10 (Michigan, Ohio State, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Purdue, Rutgers, Minnesota, Maryland, Indiana)
Big 12 – 7 (Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Kansas, Oklahoma State)
ACC – 6 (Virginia, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Louisville, North Carolina)
SEC – 6 (Alabama, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, LSU, Arkansas)
Big East – 5 (Villanova, Xavier, Creighton, Connecticut, Seton Hall)
Pac-12 – 5 (USC, UCLA, Colorado, Stanford, Oregon)
MWC – 3 (Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State)
A-10 – 2 (St. Bonaventure, VCU)
WCC – 2 (Gonzaga, BYU)
