BAC'S 2026 FINAL BRACKET PREDICTION

I love how "the analysts" say well I thought such and such deserved this seed or a higher seed or lower seed for tv knowing they have to seed based on conference and not matching conferences 1,4 and 2,3.

ACC(1) B12(2) B1G(3) SEC(4)
BigE(6) B1G(8) B12(8) B12(5)
B1G(9) WCC(11) ACC(12) B1G(10)
B12(15) SEC(16) SEC(14) B1G(13)

The Nebraska & Mich St was unavoidable but on different sides of the bracket with 5 in the top 16 seeds, 4 B12, 3 SEC, 2 ACC, a Big East and WCC.

Great job as always , you are one of the best doing this as well as your detailed write ups on each team. As you say a labor of love.

Though for once the committee got the right 68 picked ( hardly ever happens ) some of the seeding was ridiculous as was the placement. The team screwed the most was Vanderbilt. Their metrics were off the charts and they could have argued for a 3. But definitely a 4. Then to make them a 5 and have to play Florida again in the sweet 16 , where they both are likely to get to, is just asinine. Vandy was also missing Duke Miles for 7 games.

Really think the committee about 5-6 years ago removing the last 10 games criteria was a mistake. Nebraska deserved a 4 but over last 10 games did not. They dinged Texas Tech because of Toppin’s injury but they then win 3 in a row before their losses , so they were a 3 and end up at 5. Miami of Ohio didn’t deserve the First Four. They were a ranked team at 31-0 and lose one game and drop to 11. Just ridiculous even though they get a semi home game in Dayton against SMU. Gonzaga a 3 compared to the other high end teams was overly generous. Would not be suprised if Gonzaga goes down to BYU and Kansas loses to St. John’s as giving Kansas a 4 was an absolute gift. St Jon’s should have swiped places. You are right 8/9 are interchangeable and not getting that just right is just the whim of the committee as the 8’s can be 9’s

bac2therac said:

please no expansion yuck

Click to expand...

My idea is 72, something like this...

2 play-in at large (SEC,B12,B1G,ACC) 10 seeds
2 play in at large (next 6 conf) 11 seeds
12 seed shouldn't be touched
2 play-in at large (mid majors 11-20, top100 NET/SOR) 13 seeds
2 play-in (AQ from low majors) 16 seeds

Not sayings its perfect, but it would be a start in the right direction rewarding teams with 22-23+ wins and 9 losses or less that can't get big teams to play them, home, neutral or road.

bac2therac said:

All 68 schools correct

53 of 68 seeded correctly which is pretty good

67 of 68 within 1 seed

1 missed by 2..Vanderbilt

The f up was Vandy at 3...somehow a 5 im shaking my head there but its clear they undeevalued them given their metrics and 10 Q1 wins. Arky got the nod for 4 because they won today yet Vandy profile better

Click to expand...

Nice work, just seeing this, have paid no attention to it this year

Good analysis as always!

bac2therac said:

please no expansion yuck

Click to expand...

That’s awful. If the powers that be determine this MUST happen, they really need to include every conference champ. Death to the NIT.