Updated Championship Week Predictions

One more ticket was punched yesterday, with Creighton holding off Illinois State in overtime for the Missouri Valley crown.  Three top seeds fell today as well.  In the MAAC, top-seed Iona fell to the mighty Stags of Fairfield in the semis.  Meanwhile, in the Sun Belt, top-seed and heavy favorite Middle Tennessee State fell in the quarterfinals to 8-seed Arkansas State.  And North 1-seed UNC-Greensboro was knocked off by Western Carolina in the SoCon.  Other than that, all of the remaining conference tournament fields have been set.  We're through the looking glass, people.


Tonight, there are 4 automatic berths up for grabs:
-Colonial Athletic Association (7 p.m. (ESPN)): Drexel vs. VCU
-MAAC (7 p.m. (ESPN2)):  Loyola (Md.) vs. Fairfield
-Southern (9 p.m. (ESPN2)):  Davidson vs. Western Carolina
-West Coast (9 p.m. (ESPN)):  St. Mary's vs. Gonzaga

Here is who has already clinched an automatic berth, as well as my predictions for the remaining conference tournaments with TV listings, so that you have no excuse not to watch every single televised game.  You're welcome.

Already clinched automatic berths (with the number of NCAA tournament appearances, including 2012):

Atlantic Sun - Belmont (5)
Big South - UNC-Asheville (3)
Missouri Valley - Creighton (18)
Ohio Valley - Murray State (15)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern)

ACC (Atlanta; March 8-11)

First Round - 3/8
12 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) Maryland vs. (9) Wake Forest.  Winner:  Maryland
2 p.m. (ESPNU) (5) NC State vs. (12) Boston College.  Winner:  NC State
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) Clemson vs. (10) Virginia Tech.  Winner:  Virginia Tech
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (6) Miami vs. (11) Georgia Tech.  Winner:  Miami
Quarterfinals - 3/9
12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) North Carolina vs. (8) Maryland.  Winner:  North Carolina
2 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Virginia vs. (5) NC State.  Winner:  NC State
7 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) Duke vs. (10) Virginia Tech.  Winner:  Duke
9 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) Florida State vs. (6) Miami.  Winner:  Florida State
Semifinals - 3/10
1 p.m. (ESPN) (1) North Carolina vs. (5) NC State.  Winner:  North Carolina
3 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Duke vs. (3) Florida State.  Winner:  Duke
Championship - 3/11 1 p.m. (ESPN)
(1) North Carolina vs. (2) Duke.  Winner:  Duke

America East (Hartford, CT and campus sites; March 1, 3-4, 10)

Championship 3/10 11 a.m. (at higher seed) (ESPN2)

(1) Stony Brook vs. (2) Vermont.  Winner: Stony Brook

Atlantic 10 (Atlantic City, NJ and campus sites; March 6, 9-11)

First Round - 3/6 (at campus sites (higher seed))
7 p.m. (8) UMass vs. (9) Duquesne.  Winner:  Duquesne
7 p.m. (5) St. Joseph's vs. (12) Charlotte.  Winner:  St. Joseph's
7 p.m. (7) LaSalle vs. (10) Richmond.  Winner: LaSalle
7 p.m. (6) Dayton vs. (11) George Washington.  Winner:  Dayton
Quarterfinals - 3/9
12 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Temple vs. (9) Duquesne.  Winner:  Temple
2:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (4) St. Bonaventure vs. (5) St. Joseph's.  Winner:  St. Bonaventure
6:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) St. Louis vs. (7) LaSalle.  Winner: St. Louis
9 p.m. (CBS Sports) (3) Xavier vs. (6) Dayton.  Winner: Dayton
Semifinals - 3/10
1 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Temple vs. (4) St. Bonaventure.  Winner:  Temple
3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) St. Louis vs. (6) Dayton.  Winner: St. Louis
Championship - 3/11 1 p.m. (CBS)
(1) Temple vs. (2) St. Louis.  Winner:  St. Louis

Big East (New York; March 6-10)

First Round - 3/6
12 p.m. (ESPN2) (9) UConn vs. (16) DePaul.  Winner: UConn
2 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) St. John's vs. (13) Pitt.  Winner:  St. John's
7 p.m. (ESPNU) (10) Seton Hall vs. (15) Providence.  Winner: Seton Hall
9 p.m. (ESPNU) (11) Rutgers vs. (14) Villanova.  Winner:  Rutgers
Second Round - 3/7
12 p.m. (ESPN) (8) West Virginia vs. (9) UConn.  Winner: UConn
2 p.m. (ESPN) (5) Georgetown vs. (12) St. John's.  Winner:  Georgetown
7 p.m. (ESPN) (7) Louisville vs. (10) Seton Hall.  Winner: Louisville
9 p.m. (ESPN) (6) USF vs. (11) Rutgers.  Winner:  Rutgers
Quarterfinals - 3/8
12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Syracuse vs. (9) UConn.  Winner: Syracuse
2 p.m. (ESPN) (4) Cincinnati vs. (5) Georgetown.  Winner:  Georgetown
7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Marquette vs. (7) Louisville.  Winner: Louisville
9 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Notre Dame vs. (11) Rutgers.  Winner:  Notre Dame
Semifinals - 3/9
7 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Syracuse vs. (5) Georgetown.  Winner:  Syracuse
9 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Notre Dame vs. (7) Louisville.  Winner:  Louisville
Championship - 3/10 9.m. (ESPN)
(1) Syracuse vs. (7) Louisville. Winner:  Syracuse

Big Sky (Missoula, MT; March 3, 6-7)

Semifinals – 3/6

7:30 p.m. (Altitude) (2) Weber State vs. (3) Portland State.  Winner:  Weber State

10 p.m. (Altitude) (1) Montana vs. (4) Eastern Washington.  Winner:  Montana

Championship – 3/7 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

(1) Montana vs. (2) Weber State.  Winner: Montana

Big Ten (Indianapolis; March 8-11)

First Round - 3/8
11:30 a.m. (BTN) (8) Iowa vs. (9) Illinois.  Winner:  Illinois
2 p.m. (BTN) (5) Indiana vs. (12) Penn State.  Winner:  Indiana
5:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) Northwestern vs. (10) Minnesota.  Winner:  Northwestern
8 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) Purdue vs. (11) Nebraska.  Winner:  Purdue
Quarterfinals - 3/9
12 p.m. (BTN) (1) Michigan State vs. (9) Illinois.  Winner:  Michigan State
2:30 p.m. (BTN) (4) Wisconsin vs. (5) Indiana.  Winner:  Indiana
6:30 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Michigan vs. (7) Northwestern.  Winner:  Northwestern
9 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Ohio State vs. (6) Purdue.  Winner:  Ohio State
Semifinals - 3/10
1:40 p.m. (CBS) (1) Michigan State vs. (5) Indiana.  Winner:  Indiana
4:10 p.m. (CBS) (3) Ohio State vs. (7) Northwestern.  Winner:  Ohio State
Championship - 3/11 3:30 p.m. (CBS)
(3) Ohio State vs. (5) Indiana.  Winner: Indiana

Big 12 (Kansas City, MO; March 7-10)

First Round - 3/7
7 p.m. (Big 12 Network) (8) Oklahoma vs. (9) Texas A&M.  Winner:  Oklahoma
9:30 p.m. (Big 12 Network) (7) Oklahoma State vs. (10) Texas Tech.  Winner:  Oklahoma State
Quarterfinals - 3/8
12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) Baylor vs. (5) Kansas State.  Winner:  Baylor
3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Kansas vs. (8) Oklahoma.  Winner:  Kansas
7 p.m. (Big 12 Network) (2) Missouri vs. (7) Oklahoma State.  Winner:  Missouri
9:30 p.m.  (Big 12 Network) (3) Iowa State vs. (6) Texas.  Winner:  Iowa State
Semifinals - 3/9
7:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Kansas vs. (4) Baylor.  Winner: Kansas
10 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) Missouri vs. (3) Iowa State.  Winner: Missouri
Championship - 3/10 6 p.m. (ESPN)
(1) Kansas vs. (2) Missouri.  Winner: Missouri

Big West (Anaheim, CA; March 8-10)

Quarterfinals - 3/8
3 p.m. (3) UC Santa Barbara vs. (6) Pacific.  Winner:  UC Santa Barbara
5:30 p.m. (2) Cal State Fullerton vs. (7) UC Irvine.  Winner:  Cal State Fullerton
9 p.m. (1) Long Beach State vs. (8) UC Davis.  Winner:  Long Beach State
11:30 p.m.  (4) Cal Poly vs. (5) UC Riverside.  Winner:  Cal Poly
Semifinals - 3/9 (reseeds so highest seed plays lowest seed)
9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (1) Long Beach State vs. (4) Cal Poly.  Winner: Long Beach State
Midnight (ESPNU) (2) Cal State Fullerton vs. (3) UC Santa Barbara.  Winner: Cal State Fullerton
Championship - 3/10 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
(1) Long Beach State vs. (2) Cal State Fullerton.  Winner: Long Beach State

Colonial (Richmond, VA; March 2-5)

Championship – 3/5 7 p.m. (ESPN)

(1) Drexel vs. (2) VCU.  Winner: Drexel

Conference USA (Memphis; March 7-10)

First Round - 3/7
1 p.m. (CSS) (7) Rice vs. (10) East Carolina.  Winner: Rice
3:30 p.m. (CSS) (6) Marshall vs. (11) SMU.  Winner: Marshall
7:30 p.m. (CSS) (8) UTEP vs. (9) Houston.  Winner: UTEP
10 p.m. (CSS) (5) UAB vs. (12) Tulane.  Winner: UAB
Quarterfinals - 3/8
1 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) Southern Miss vs. (7) Rice.  Winner:  Southern Miss
3:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (3) Tulsa vs. (6) Marshall. Winner:  Tulsa
7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Memphis vs. (8) UTEP.  Winner:  Memphis
10 p.m. (CBS Sports) (4) UCF vs. (5) UAB.  Winner:  UAB
Semifinals - 3/9
4 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) Southern Miss vs. (3) Tulsa.  Winner:  Tulsa
6:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Memphis vs. (5) UAB.  Winner:  Memphis
Championship - 3/10 11:35 a.m. (CBS)
(1) Memphis vs. (3) Tulsa.  Winner: Memphis

Horizon (Valparaiso, IN and campus sites (higher seeds); February 28, March 2-3, 6)

Championship – 3/6 9 p.m. (at higher seed) (ESPN)

(1) Valparaiso vs. (3) Detroit.  Winner:  Valparaiso

Ivy League (no tournament)

Predicted winner:  Harvard

MAAC (Springfield, MA; March 2-5)

Championship – 3/5 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

(2) Loyola (Md.) vs. (4) Fairfield.  Winner: Fairfield

MAC (Cleveland and campus sites; March 5, 7-10)

First Round - 3/5 (at higher seed)
7 p.m. (5) Eastern Michigan vs. (12) Northern Illinois.  Winner:  Eastern Michigan
7 p.m. (8) Western Michigan vs. (9) Ball State.  Winner: Western Michigan
7 p.m. (7) Toledo vs. (10) Miami.  Winner:  Miami
7 p.m. (6) Bowling Green vs. (11) Central Michigan.  Winner: Bowling Green
Second Round - 3/7
7 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (5) Eastern Michigan vs. (8) Western Michigan.  Winner: Eastern Michigan
9:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (6) Bowling Green vs. (10) Miami.  Winner: Bowling Green
Quarterfinals - 3/8
7 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (4) Kent State vs. (5) Eastern Michigan.  Winner:  Kent State
9:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (3) Ohio vs. (6) Bowling Green.  Winner:  Ohio
Semifinals - 3/9
7 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (1) Akron vs. (4) Kent State.  Winner:  Akron
9:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (2) Buffalo vs. (3) Ohio.  Winner:  Ohio
Championship - 3/10 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
(1) Akron vs. (3) Ohio.  Winner:  Akron

MEAC (Winston-Salem, NC; March 6-10)

First Round - 3/6
11 a.m. (8) Hampton vs. (9) Morgan State.  Winner:  Hampton
1:30 p.m. (7) North Carolina A&T vs. (10) Howard.  Winner:  North Carolina A&T
4 p.m. (5) North Carolina Central vs. (12) Maryland-Eastern Shore.  Winner: North Carolina Central
6:30 p.m. (4) Bethune-Cookman vs. (13) South Carolina State.  Winner:  Bethune-Cookman
9 p.m. (6) Coppin State vs. (11) Florida A&M.  Winner:  Coppin State
Quarterfinals
3/7
6 p.m. (1) Savannah State vs. (8) Hampton.  Winner:  Savannah State
8 p.m. (2) Norfolk State vs. (7) North Carolina A&T.  Winner:  Norfolk State
3/8
6 p.m. (3) Delaware State vs. (6) Coppin State.  Winner:  Delaware State
8 p.m. (4) Bethune-Cookman vs. (5) North Carolina Central.  Winner:  North Carolina Central
Semifinals - 3/9
6 p.m. (1) Savannah State vs. (5) North Carolina Central.  Winner:  Savannah State
8 p.m. (2) Norfolk State vs. (3) Delaware State.  Winner:  Norfolk State
Championship - 3/10 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
(1) Savannah State vs. (2) Norfolk State.  Winner: Norfolk State

Mountain West (Las Vegas, NV; March 8-10)

Quarterfinals - 3/8
3 p.m. (The Mountain) (1) San Diego State vs. (8) Boise State.  Winner:  San Diego State
5:30 p.m. (The Mountain/CBS Sports) (4) Colorado State vs. (5) TCU.  Winner:  Colorado State
9 p.m. (The Mountain) (2) New Mexico vs. (7) Air Force.  Winner:  New Mexico
11:30 p.m. (The Mountain/CBS Sports) (3) UNLV vs. (6) Wyoming.  Winner:  UNLV
Semifinals - 3/9
9 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) San Diego State vs. (4) Colorado State.  Winner: San Diego State
11:30 p.m. (CBS Sports) (2) New Mexico vs. (3) UNLV.  Winner: UNLV
Championship - 3/10 7 p.m. (NBC Sports)
(1) San Diego State vs. (3) UNLV.  Winner: San Diego State

Northeast (Campus sites (higher seeds); March 1, 4, 7)

Championship – 3/7 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

(1) LIU vs. (3) Robert Morris.  Winner:  LIU

Pac-12 (Los Angeles; March 7-10)

First Round - 3/7
3 p.m. (FSN) (8) Washington State vs. (9) Oregon State.  Winner:  Oregon State
5:30 p.m. (FSN) (5) UCLA vs. (12) USC.  Winner:  UCLA
9 p.m. (FSN) (7) Stanford vs. (10) Arizona State.  Winner:  Stanford
11:30 p.m. (FSN) (6) Colorado vs. (11) Utah.  Winner:  Colorado
Quarterfinals - 3/8
3 p.m. (FSN) (1) Washington vs. (9) Oregon State.  Winner:  Washington
5:30 p.m. (FSN) (4) Arizona vs. (5) UCLA.  Winner:  Arizona
9 p.m. (FSN) (2) California vs. (7) Stanford.  Winner:  California
11:30 p.m. (FSN) (3) Oregon vs. (6) Colorado.  Winner:  Oregon
Semifinals - 3/9
9 p.m. (FSN) (1) Washington vs. (4) Arizona.  Winner:  Washington
11:30 p.m. (FSN) (2) California vs. (3) Oregon.  Winner:  Oregon
Championship - 3/10 6 p.m. (CBS)
(1) Washington vs. (3) Oregon.  Winner: Washington

Patriot (Campus sites (higher seeds); February 29, March 3, 7)

Championship – 3/7 7 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

(1) Bucknell vs. (2) Lehigh.  Winner:  Lehigh

SEC (New Orleans; March 8-11)

First Round - 3/8
1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) LSU vs. (9) Arkansas.  Winner:  Arkansas
3:30 p.m.  (SEC Network) (5) Alabama vs. (12) South Carolina. Winner:  Alabama
7:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) Ole Miss vs. (10) Auburn.  Winner:  Ole Miss
10 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) Mississippi State vs. (11) Georgia.  Winner:  Mississippi State
Quarterfinals - 3/9
1 p.m. (SEC Network) (1) Kentucky vs. (9) Arkansas.  Winner:  Kentucky
3:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (4) Florida vs. (5) Alabama.  Winner:  Florida
7:30 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) Tennessee vs. (7) Ole Miss.  Winner:  Tennessee
10 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) Vanderbilt vs. (6) Mississippi State.  Winner:  Vanderbilt
Semifinals - 3/10
1 p.m. (ABC) (1) Kentucky vs. (4) Florida.  Winner:  Kentucky
3:30 p.m. (ABC) (2) Tennessee vs. (3) Vanderbilt.  Winner:  Vanderbilt
Championship - 3/11 1 p.m. (ABC)
(1) Kentucky vs. (3) Vanderbilt.  Winner: Kentucky

Southern (Asheville, NC; March 2-5)

Championship – 3/5 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

(S1) Davidson vs. (N3) Western Carolina.  Winner:  Davidson

Southland (Katy, TX; March 7-8, 10)

Quarterfinals - 3/7
1 p.m. (2) Stephen F. Austin vs. (7) Sam Houston State.  Winner:  Stephen F. Austin
3:30 p.m. (3) Lamar vs. (6) Northwestern State.  Winner:  Lamar
7 p.m. (1) UT Arlington vs. (8) Nicholls State.  Winner:  UT Arlington
9:30 p.m. (4) McNeese State vs. (5) UTSA.  Winner:  UTSA
Semifinals - 3/8
7 p.m. (Southland TV) (2) Stephen F. Austin vs. (3) Lamar.  Winner:  Lamar
9:30 p.m. (Southland TV) (1) UT Arlington vs. (4) UTSA.  Winner:  UT Arlington
Championship - 3/10 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
(1) UT Arlington vs. (3) Lamar.  Winner: Lamar

Summit (Sioux Falls, SD; March 3-6)

Semifinals - 3/5
7 p.m. (FCS) (1) Oral Roberts vs. (4) Western Illinois.  Winner:  Oral Roberts

9:30 p.m. (FCS) (2) South Dakota State vs. (6) Southern Utah.  Winner:  South Dakota State

Championship - 3/6 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

(1) Oral Roberts vs. (2) South Dakota State.  Winner: South Dakota State

Sun Belt (Hot Springs, AR; March 3-6)

Semifinals – 3/5

7 p.m. (ESPN3/SBC Network) (5) North Texas vs. (8) Arkansas State.  Winner:  North Texas

9:30 p.m. (ESPN3/SBC Network) (7) Western Kentucky vs. (3) Denver.  Winner:  Denver

Championship – 3/6 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

(5) North Texas vs. (3) Denver.  Winner: Denver

SWAC (Garland, TX; March 7-10)

Quarterfinals
3/7
1:30 p.m. (SWAC TV) (2) Texas Southern vs. (7) Alabama A&M.  Winner:  Texas Southern
9 p.m. (SWAC TV) (1) Mississippi Valley State vs. (8) Jackson State.  Winner:  Mississippi Valley State
3/8
1:30 p.m. (SWAC TV) (3) Prairie View A&M vs. (6) Alcorn State.  Winner:  Prairie View A&M
9 p.m. (SWAC TV) (4) Alabama State vs. (5) Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  Winner:  Alabama State
Semifinals - 3/9
3:30 p.m. (SWAC TV) (2) Texas Southern vs. (3) Prairie View A&M.  Winner:  Texas Southern
9 p.m. (SWAC TV) (1) Mississippi Valley State vs. (4) Alabama State.  Winner:  Mississippi Valley State
Championship - 3/10 8 p.m. (ESPNU)
(1) Mississippi Valley State vs. (2) Texas Southern.  Winner: Mississippi Valley State

WAC (Las Vegas, NV; March 8-10)

Quarterfinals - 3/8
3 p.m. (3) Idaho vs. (6) Hawaii.  Winner:  Idaho
5:30 p.m. (2) New Mexico State vs. (7) Fresno State.  Winner:  New Mexico State
9 p.m. (1) Nevada vs. (8) San Jose State.  Winner:  Nevada
11:30 p.m. (4) Utah State vs. (5) Louisiana Tech.  Winner:  Utah State
Semifinals - 3/9
9 p.m. (WSN) (2) New Mexico State vs. (3) Idaho.  Winner:  New Mexico State
11:30 p.m. (WSN) (1) Nevada vs. (4) Utah State.  Winner:  Nevada
Championship - 3/10 Midnight (ESPN2)
(1) Nevada vs. (2) New Mexico State.  Winner: Nevada

West Coast (Las Vegas, NV; February 29-March 3, March 5)

Championship – 3/5 9 p.m. (ESPN)

(1) St. Mary's vs. (2) Gonzaga.  Winner:  St. Mary's