Updated Championship Week Predictions

What a day!  In the OVC Championship, March Madness officially began, as 3-seed Belmont hit a fade-away 3-pointer with 3 seconds left to beat 1-seed Murray State 88-87, to punch the first ticket to the Big Dance, ending the Racers' 25-game winning streak in the process.  It was the second-longest winning streak in the nation, behind only their fellow Kentucky statesmen (or is it commonwealthmen?) at UK.  Then again, the Racers aren't paid professionals.  The Bruins, by the way, earned their 4th trip to the Big Dance in the last five years and seventh overall.

In the MVC, 4-seed Illinois State upset 1-seed Wichita State to earn a spot in tomorrow's championship game against 2-seed Northern Iowa.

In the Ivy League, Yale lost and Harvard won, which means they will play each other at the Palestra in Philly next Saturday for the Ivy League title.

We also had a couple 2-seeds bite the dust.  In the MAAC, 7-seed St. Peter's -- the Peacocks, mind you -- beat 2-seed Rider.  In the SoCon, 10-seed Furman continued their unlikely run with an upset of 2-seed Chattanooga to earn a spot in the semis.

 

Three bids are up for grabs today:  Atlantic Sun, Big South, and Missouri Valley.

Here are the tournaments starting today, the tournaments with games today, bids up for grab today, who has already clinched an automatic berth, and my predictions for the remaining conference tournaments. 

Tournaments starting today:

-None

Tournaments with games today:

-America East

-Atlantic Sun

-Big South

-Colonial

-MAAC

-Missouri Valley

-Patriot League

-Southern Conference

-Summit League

Bids up for grabs today (all times Eastern):

-Big South:  (3) Coastal Carolina vs. (5) Winthrop (12:30 p.m.; ESPN2)

-Missouri Valley:  (4) Illinois State vs. (2) Northern Iowa (2:05 p.m.; CBS)

-Atlantic Sun:  (3) South Carolina Upstate at (1) North Florida (2:30 p.m.; ESPN2)

Already clinched automatic berths (I will add in parentheses the NCAA tournament appearances, including the bid just clinched):

-Ohio Valley:  Belmont (7)

Remaining Tournaments (all times are Eastern; to the extent there are teams that have clinched seeds in tournament fields that are not completely set, I will put those in):

AAC (March 12-15; Hartford)

3/12 – First Round

3:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9)

6 p.m. (ESPNews) (7) vs. (10)

8 p.m. (ESPNews) (6) vs. (11)

3/13 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) vs. (6)

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

3/14 – Semifinals

3 p.m. (ESPN2)

5 p.m. (ESPN2)

3/15 – Finals

3:15 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  SMU

ACC (March 10-14; Greensboro)

3/10 – First Round

1 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) Wake Forest vs. (13)

3 p.m. (ESPN2) (11) vs. (14)

3/11 – Second Round

12 p.m. (ESPN) (8) vs. (9)

2 p.m. (ESPN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

7 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) vs. (10)

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/12 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Virginia vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Duke vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (ESPN) (3) Notre Dame vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/15 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/16 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Virginia

America East (March 4, 8, 14; campus of higher seeds)

3/8 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) Stony Brook at (2) Vermont.  Predicted winner:  Stony Brook

2 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) New Hampshire at (1) Albany.  Predicted winner:  Albany

3/14 – Finals

11:30 a.m. (ESPN2) (3) Stony Brook at (1) Albany.  Predicted winner:  Albany

Atlantic 10 (March 11-15; Brooklyn)

3/11 – First Round

6:30 p.m. (A-10 Network) (12) vs. (13)

9 p.m. (A-10 Network) (11) vs. (14) St. Louis

3/12 – Second Round

12 p.m. (NBCSN) (8) vs. (9)

2:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (7) vs. (10)

9 p.m. (NBCSN) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/13 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

2 p.m. (NBCSN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (NBCSN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/14 – Semifinals

1:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

4 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/15 – Finals

1 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  VCU

Atlantic Sun (March 3, 5, 8; campus of higher seed)

3/8 – Finals

2:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) South Carolina Upstate at (1) North Florida.  Predicted winner:  North Florida

Big 12 (March 11-14; Kansas City)

3/11 – First Round

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (8) vs. (9) TCU

9 p.m. (ESPNU) (7) vs. (10) Texas Tech

3/12 – Quarterfinals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (4) vs. (5)

3 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Kansas vs. (8)/(9)

7 p.m. (ESPNU) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU) (3) vs. (6)

3/14 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

9 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2)

3/15 – Finals

6 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Kansas

Big East (March 11-14; New York)

3/11 – First Round

7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (8) vs. (9)

9 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (7) vs. (10)

3/12 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (1) Villanova vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (4) vs. (5)

7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) (3) vs. (6) Xavier

3/13 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

9 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

3/14 – Finals

8:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Predicted winner:  Butler

Big Sky (March 12-14; hosted by regular season champion)

3/13 – Quarterfinals

TBD (TBD) (2) vs. (7)

TBD (TBD) (3) vs. (6)

TBD (TBD) (4) vs. (5)

TBD (TBD) (1) vs. (8)

3/14 – Semifinals

TBD (TBD)

TBD (TBD)

3/15 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Eastern Washington

Big South (March 4, 6-8; Conway, SC)

3/8 – Finals

12:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (3) Coastal Carolina vs. (5) Winthrop.  Predicted winner:  Coastal Carolina

Big Ten (March 11-15; Chicago)

3/11 – First Round

4:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (12) vs. (13)

7 p.m. (BTN) (11) vs. (14)

3/12 – Second Round

12 p.m. (BTN) (8) vs. (9)

2:30 p.m. (BTN) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (7) vs. (10)

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/13 – Quarterfinals

12 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Wisconsin vs. (8)/(9)

2:30 p.m. (ESPN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

6:30 p.m. (BTN) (2) Maryland vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (BTN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/14 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (CBS)

3:30 p.m. (CBS)

3/15 – Finals

3:30 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  Indiana

Big West (March 12-14; Anaheim)

3/12 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (1) UC Davis vs. (8) Cal State Northridge

5:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (4) vs. (5)

9 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (3) vs. (6)

11:30 p.m. (Fox Sports West Prime Ticket) (2) vs. (7)

3/13 – Semifinals

9:30 p.m. (ESPNU – tape delayed) highest remaining seed vs. lowest remaining seed

11:59 p.m. (ESPN3) other two quarterfinal winners

3/14 – Finals

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  UC Davis

CAA (March 6-9; Baltimore)

3/8 – Semifinals

2:30 p.m. (NBCSN) (1) William & Mary vs. (5) Hofstra.  Predicted winner:  William & Mary

5 p.m. (NBCSN) (2) UNC Wilmington vs. (3) Northeastern.  Predicted winner:  Northeastern

3/9 – Finals

7 p.m. (NBCSN) (3) Northeastern vs. (1) William & Mary.  Predicted winner:  Northeastern

Conference USA (March 11-14; Birmingham, AL)

3/11 – First Round

1 p.m. (ASN)

3:30 p.m. (ASN) (12) vs. (13) Southern Mississippi

7 p.m. (ASN) (10) vs. (15)

9:30 p.m. (ASN) (11) vs. (14) Florida Atlantic

3/12 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (ASN) (1) Louisiana Tech vs. (8)/(9)

3:30 p.m. (ASN) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

7 p.m. (ASN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)/(15)

9:30 p.m. (ASN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/13 – Semifinals

4 p.m. (CBSSN)

6:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/14 – Finals

3:30 p.m. (Fox Sports 1)

Predicted winner:  Louisiana Tech

Horizon (March 3, 6-7, 10; campus of higher seed for first round, campus of #1 seed for second round and semifinals, then campus of higher seed for championship)

3/10 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN) (2) Green Bay at (1) Valparaiso.  Predicted winner:  Valparaiso

MAAC (March 5, 7-9; Albany, NY)

3/8 – Semifinals

4:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Iona vs. (4) Monmouth.  Predicted winner:  Iona

7 p.m. (ESPN3) (7) St. Peter's vs. (3) Manhattan.  Predicted winner:  Manhattan

3/9 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) Iona vs. (3) Manhattan.  Predicted winner:  Iona

MAC (March 9, 11-14; first round at campus sites of higher seed; remaining rounds in Cleveland)

3/9 – First Round

TBD (12) Ball State at (5)

TBD (9) at (8)

TBD (10) at (7)

TBD (11) Ohio at (6)

3/11 – Second Round

6:30 p.m. (TBD) (5)/(12) vs. (8)/(9)

9 p.m. (TBD) (7)/(10) vs. (6)/(11)

3/12 – Third Round

6:30 p.m. (TBD) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(8)/(9)

9 p.m. (TBD) (3) vs. (7)/(10)/(6)/(11)

3/13 – Semifinals

6:30 p.m. (TBD) (1) vs. (4)/(5)/(12)/(8)/(9)

9 p.m. (TBD) (2) vs. (3)/(7)/(10)/(6)/(11)

3/14 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Central Michigan

MEAC (March 9-14; Norfolk, VA)

First Round

3/9

6:30 p.m. (5) Delaware State vs. (12) Savannah State.  Predicted winner:  Delaware State

9 p.m. (6) Hampton vs. (11) Morgan State.  Predicted winner:  Hampton

3/10

6 p.m. (8) Bethune-Cookman vs. (9) Coppin State.  Predicted winner:  Bethune-Cookman

8 p.m. (7) South Carolina State vs. (10) North Carolina A&T.  Predicted winner:  South Carolina State

Quarterfinals

3/11

6 p.m. (1) North Carolina Central vs. (8) Bethune-Cookman.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

8 p.m. (2) Norfolk State vs. (7) South Carolina State. Predicted winner:  Norfolk State

3/12

6 p.m. (3) Maryland Eastern Shore vs. (6) Hampton.  Predicted winner:  Maryland Eastern Shore

8 p.m. (4) Howard vs. (5) Delaware State.  Predicted winner:  Howard

3/13 – Semifinals

6:00 p.m. (1) North Carolina Central vs. (4) Howard.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

8:00 p.m. (2) Norfolk State vs. (3) Maryland Eastern Shore.  Predicted winner:  Norfolk State

3/14 – Final

1:00 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) North Carolina Central vs. (2) Norfolk State.  Predicted winner:  North Carolina Central

Missouri Valley (March 5-8; St. Louis)

3/8 – Finals

2:05 p.m. (CBS) (4) Illinois State vs. (2) Northern Iowa.  Predicted winner:  Northern Iowa

Mountain West (March 11-14; Las Vegas)

3/11 – First Round

3 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (8) vs. (9)

5:30 p.m. (Mountain West Network) (7) vs. (10)

3/12 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (CBSSN) (1) vs. (8)/(9)

5:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) vs. (5)

9 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (3) vs. (6)

3/13 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (CBSSN)

11:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

3/14 – Finals

6 p.m. (CBS)

Predicted winner:  San Diego State

Northeast Conference (March 4, 7, 10; campus of higher seed)

3/10 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (2) Robert Morris at (1) St. Francis (NY).  Predicted winner:  St. Francis (NY)

Pac-12 (March 11-14; Las Vegas)

3/11 – First Round

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (8) vs. (9)

5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (5) vs. (12) USC

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (7) vs. (10)

11:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (6) vs. (11) Washington

3/12 – Quarterfinals

3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (1) Arizona vs. (8)/(9)

5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (4) UCLA vs. (5)/(12)

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network) (2) vs. (7)/(10)

11:30 p.m. (ESPN) (3) vs. (6)/(11)

3/13 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)

11:30 p.m. (ESPN)

3/14 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Utah

Patriot League (March 3, 5, 8, 11; campus of higher seed)

3/8 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (CBSSN) (4) Lafayette at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

4 p.m. (CBSSN) (6) American at (2) Colgate.  Predicted winner:  Colgate

3/11 – Finals

7:30 p.m. (CBSSN) (2) Colgate at (1) Bucknell.  Predicted winner:  Bucknell

SEC (March 11-15; Nashville)

3/11 – First Round

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (12) vs. (13)

9 p.m. (SEC Network) (11) vs. (14)

3/12 – Second Round

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (8) vs. (9)

3 p.m. (SEC Network) (5) vs. (12)/(13)

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (7) vs. (10)

9 p.m. (SEC Network) (6) vs. (11)/(14)

3/13 – Quarterfinals

1 p.m. (SEC Network) (1) Kentucky vs. (8)/(9)

3 p.m. (SEC Network) (4) vs. (5)/(12)/(13)

7 p.m. (SEC Network) (2) Arkansas vs. (7)/(10)

9 p.m. (SEC Network) (3) vs. (6)/(11)/(14)

3/14 – Semifinals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

3 p.m. (ESPN)

3/15 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN)

Predicted winner:  Kentucky

Southern Conference (March 6-9; Asheville, NC)

3/8 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) Wofford vs. (4) Western Carolina.  Predicted winner:  Wofford

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (10) Furman vs. (3) Mercer.  Predicted winner:  Mercer

3/9 – Finals

7 p.m. (ESPN/ESPN2) (1) Wofford vs. (3) Mercer.  Predicted winner:  Wofford

Southland (March 11-14; Katy, TX)

3/11 – First Round

6 p.m. (SLCDN) (5) Incarnate Word vs. (8)

8:30 p.m. (SLCDN) (6) Lamar vs. (7)

3/12 – Second Round

6 p.m. (SLCDN) (4) vs. (5)/(8)

8:30 p.m. (SLCDN) (3) vs. (6)/(7)

3/13 – Semifinals

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) vs. (4)/(5)/(8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)

3/14 – Finals

9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Sam Houston State

Summit (March 7-10; Sioux Falls, SD)

Quarterfinals

3/8

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (4) IPFW vs. (5) South Dakota.  Predicted winner:  IPFW

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (3) Oral Roberts vs. (6) IUPUI.  Predicted winner:  Oral Roberts

3/9 – Semifinals

7 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (1) South Dakota State vs. (4) IPFW.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State

9:30 p.m. (MidcoSN/ESPN3) (2) North Dakota State vs. (3) Oral Roberts.  Predicted winner:  North Dakota State

3/10 – Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN2) (1) South Dakota State vs. (2) North Dakota State.  Predicted winner:  South Dakota State

Sun Belt (March 12-15; New Orleans)

3/12 – First Round

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (5) UT-Arlington vs. (8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (6) vs. (7)

3/13 – Second Round

6 p.m. (ESPN3) (4) Louisiana Lafayette vs. (5)/(8)

8:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (3) vs. (6)/(7)

3/14 – Semifinals

2 p.m. (ESPN3) (1) vs. (4)/(5)/(8)

4:30 p.m. (ESPN3) (2) vs. (3)/(6)/(7)

3/15 – Finals

1 p.m. (ESPN2)

Predicted winner:  Georgia Southern

SWAC (March 10-14; Houston)

3/10 – First Round

9:30 p.m. (8) vs. (9)

Quarterfinals

3/11

3:30 p.m. (2) vs. (7) Alabama A&M

9:30 p.m. (1) Texas Southern vs. (8)/(9)

3/12

3:30 p.m. (3) vs. (6)

9:30 p.m. (4) Prairie View A&M vs. (5)

3/13 – Semifinals

3:30 p.m.

9:30 p.m.

3/14 – Finals

6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  Texas Southern

WAC (March 12-14; Las Vegas)

3/12 – Quarterfinals

5 p.m. (1) New Mexico State vs. (8)

7:30 p.m. (4) vs. (5)

10 p.m. (3) vs. (6)

11:30 p.m. (2) vs. (7)

3/13 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (1) vs. (4)/(5)

11:30 p.m.

3/14 – Finals

11 p.m. (ESPNU)

Predicted winner:  New Mexico State

West Coast (March 6-7, 9-10; Las Vegas)

3/9 – Semifinals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (4) Pepperdine.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) (2) BYU vs. (6) Portland.  Predicted winner:  BYU

3/10 - Finals

9 p.m. (ESPN) (1) Gonzaga vs. (2) BYU.  Predicted winner:  Gonzaga