Maybe its just me, but the Top 16 looks like it’s going to be very cut and dry. Not a whole lot of controversy or wiggle room for more than a few outcomes on the back end.
First, it’s pretty wild how many groups of in-state rivals are in the Top 18 teams in RPI. UCLA-USC, Texas-Tex A&M, Bama-Auburn, Florida-FSU, MSU-OM-USM, Oregon-Oregon State, Georgia-Georgia Tech. That’s 15 of the 18. West Virginia, North Carolina, and Nebraska are the only outliers. I fully expect the committee to take full advantage of this to create compelling Super Regional pairings when they can. Also expect those not hosting to be 2-seeds in a rival’s regional.
Generally, I think the current Top 14 in the RPI are hosting. The last 2 spots will be as follows:
-Either Oregon or Oregon State
-Either WVU or Kansas (who play tonight)
Most seeds should generally fall in line with RPI, except for a few. I think Georgia gets a Top 3-4 seed, and I think USC probably drops back a bit. I think A&M is ahead of MSU, like 11-12 or so.
Here’s what I’d predict as of now:
1) UCLA (no-brainer)
2) Georgia Tech (no-brainer)
3) Georgia
4) Texas
5) North Carolina
6) Auburn
7) Alabama
8) Florida State
9) Florida
10) Nebraska
11) USC
12) USM
13) Texas A&M
14) MSU
15) West Virginia
16) Oregon
Marquee potential Super Regional pairings include Texas-Texas A&M and Florida-FSU. Kansas is the #2 seed in Morgantown, Oregon State is the #2 seed in Eugene. Ole Miss is the #2 seed in Hattiesburg. Another SEC vs. SEC potential Super Regional with UGA vs. MSU. 7 hosts from SEC, 4 from B1G, 2 from ACC, 1 from Big 12, 1 from Sun Belt.
First, it’s pretty wild how many groups of in-state rivals are in the Top 18 teams in RPI. UCLA-USC, Texas-Tex A&M, Bama-Auburn, Florida-FSU, MSU-OM-USM, Oregon-Oregon State, Georgia-Georgia Tech. That’s 15 of the 18. West Virginia, North Carolina, and Nebraska are the only outliers. I fully expect the committee to take full advantage of this to create compelling Super Regional pairings when they can. Also expect those not hosting to be 2-seeds in a rival’s regional.
Generally, I think the current Top 14 in the RPI are hosting. The last 2 spots will be as follows:
-Either Oregon or Oregon State
-Either WVU or Kansas (who play tonight)
Most seeds should generally fall in line with RPI, except for a few. I think Georgia gets a Top 3-4 seed, and I think USC probably drops back a bit. I think A&M is ahead of MSU, like 11-12 or so.
Here’s what I’d predict as of now:
1) UCLA (no-brainer)
2) Georgia Tech (no-brainer)
3) Georgia
4) Texas
5) North Carolina
6) Auburn
7) Alabama
8) Florida State
9) Florida
10) Nebraska
11) USC
12) USM
13) Texas A&M
14) MSU
15) West Virginia
16) Oregon
Marquee potential Super Regional pairings include Texas-Texas A&M and Florida-FSU. Kansas is the #2 seed in Morgantown, Oregon State is the #2 seed in Eugene. Ole Miss is the #2 seed in Hattiesburg. Another SEC vs. SEC potential Super Regional with UGA vs. MSU. 7 hosts from SEC, 4 from B1G, 2 from ACC, 1 from Big 12, 1 from Sun Belt.