Updated Championship Week Predictions

No Tuesday Top Ten this week.  Too much basketball.  It seems to make more sense to post in the morning or late night after the day's games have all ended, so that everything for the day is final and you have a full slate of games during the next day to look forward to.


Four more bids were clinched Monday night in four great games.  Loyola (Md.) clinched its first NCAA berth since 1994 with a 4-point win in the MAAC championship over the Fairfield Stags.  VCU proved once again, you don't sleep on the Rams, winning the CAA over top seed Drexel 59-56.  Both of the late games went into overtime, with Davidson taking the SoCon title over Western Carolina in two overtimes, and St. Mary's winning the WCC over Gonzaga in one measly overtime.  


Tonight, four more bids were clinched. Cinderella sub-.500 Western Kentucky beat North Texas to win the Sun Belt in a 74-70 barn burner (not literally, Kevin).  Detroit beat Valpo to win the Horizon.  In the Summit League final, the mighty Jackrabbits of South Dakota State cliched their first-ever berth when they took down the Leathernecks of Western Illnois in OT in what I would consider the best mascot match-up of the night.  And Harvard clinched the Ivy League title and its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1946 by virtue of Penn's loss to Princeton.  To top that off, today, the A-10, Big East, and MEAC tournaments started.  Tomorrow, the Big 12, Conference USA, Pac-12, Southland, and SWAC tournaments start.  God, I love this week.  And next week.  And the week after that.  And the weekend after that.


Wednesday, there are 3 automatic berths up for grabs:
-Northeast:  Robert Morris at LIU (7 p.m. ESPN2)

-Patriot:  Lehigh at Bucknell (7 p.m. CBS Sports Network)

-Big Sky:  Montana vs. Weber State (9 p.m. ESPN2)

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)
Colonial - VCU (11)
Horizon - Detroit (6)
Ivy - Harvard (2)
MAAC - Loyola (Md.) (2)
Missouri Valley - Creighton (18)
Ohio Valley - Murray State (15)
Southern - Davidson (11)
Summit - South Dakota State (1)
Sun Belt - Western Kentucky (22)
West Coast - St. Mary's (7)

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)

Quarterfinals - 3/9
12 p.m. (CBS Sports) (1) Temple vs. (8) UMass.  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)

Second Round - 3/7
12 p.m. (ESPN) (8) West Virginia vs. (9) UConn.  Winner: UConn
2 p.m. (ESPN) (5) Georgetown vs. (13) Pitt.  Winner:  Georgetown
7 p.m. (ESPN) (7) Louisville vs. (10) Seton Hall.  Winner: Louisville
9 p.m. (ESPN) (6) USF vs. (14) Villanova.  Winner:  USF
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. (6) USF.  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)

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

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

Ivy League (no tournament)

Predicted winner:  Harvard

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

Second Round - 3/7
7 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (12) Northern Illinois vs. (8) Western Michigan.  Winner: Western Michigan
9:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (11) Central Michigan vs. (7) Toledo.  Winner: Toledo
Quarterfinals - 3/8
7 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (4) Kent State vs. (8) Western Michigan.  Winner:  Kent State
9:30 p.m. (SportsTime Ohio) (3) Ohio vs. (7) Toledo.  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)

Quarterfinals
3/7
6 p.m. (1) Savannah State vs. (8) Hampton.  Winner:  Savannah State
8 p.m. (2) Norfolk State vs. (7) Howard.  Winner:  Norfolk State
3/8
6 p.m. (3) Delaware State vs. (11) Florida A&M.  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

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

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
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.  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