2017 NCAA Basketball Seed Predictions

I’ve been following college basketball ever since I moved to the great state of Kentucky. While I’d love to see my Wildcat’s go all the way this year, I have to take an honest look at the basketball landscape.

Listed below you will find my predictions for the seeding of the men’s college basketball tournament. These are not based on current rankings, but uses completed games to predict the rest of the season.

Updated through: Thursday, January 26, 2017

Final Four Teams: Villanova, Louisville, Gonzaga,  Arizona
Champion: Gonzaga over Villanova (70-66)

1. Baylor
(Big 12)		2. Villanova
(Big East)		3. Louisville
(ACC)		4. Gonzaga
(West Coast)
5. North Carolina
(ACC)		6. Cincinnati
(American Athletic)		7. Butler
(Big East)		8. Kentucky
(Southeastern)
9. Oregon
(Pac 12)		10. Arizona
(Pac 12)		11. Florida
(Southeastern)		12. Virginia
(ACC)
13. Florida State
(ACC)		14. UNC-Wilmington
(Colonial Athletic)		15. Xavier
(Big East)		16. Wisconsin
(Big Ten)
17. St. Mary’s
(West Coast)		18. Notre Dame
(ACC)		19. South Carolina
(Southeastern)		20. Purdue
(Big Ten)
21. Kansas
(Big 12)		22. SMU
(American Athletic)		23. Minnesota
(Big Ten)		24. Texas-Arlington
(Sun Belt)
25. Arkansas
(Southeastern)		26. Vermont
(America East)		27. Dayton
(Atlantic 10)		28. Akron
(Mid-American)
29. VCU
(Atlantic 10)		30. West Virginia
(Big 12)		31. Middle Tennessee
(Conference USA)		32. Rhode Island
(Atlantic 10)
33. Monmouth
(MAAC)		34. Illinois State
(Missouri Valley)		35. Duke
(ACC)		36. Florida Gulf Coast
(Atlantic Sun)
37. Lehigh
(Patriot League)		38. Tennessee
(Southeastern)		39. Creighton
(Big East)		40. UCLA
(Pac 12)
41. Nevada
(Mountain West)		42. Southern California
(Pac 12)		43. Texas Southern
(SWAC)		44. Arkansas State
(Sun Belt)
45. Northwestern
(Big Ten)		46. Maryland
(Big Ten)		47. Winthrop
(Big South)		48. Valparaiso
(Horizon League)
49. UNC-Asheville
(Big South)		50. North Dakota State
(Summit League)		51. Princeton
(Ivy League)		52. E. Tennessee State
(Southern)
53. Marquette
(Big East)		54. Bucknell
(Patriot League)		55. Cal State Bakersfield
(Western Athletic)		56. New Mexico State
(Western Athletic)
57. Wichita State
(Missouri Valley)		58. Belmont
(Ohio Valley)		59. California
(Pac 12)		60. TCU
(Big 12)
61. Oklahoma State
(Big 12)		62. Yale
(Ivy League)		63. IPFW
(Summit League)		64. New Orleans
(Southland)
65. Weber State
(Big Sky)		66. UC Davis
(Big West)		67. North Carolina Central
(MEAC)		68. LIU-Brooklyn
(Northeast)

Why should you trust me? You shouldn’t. I just find it fun to see how close I can get to the selection committee come selection Sunday.

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The Road to March Madness Starts Today

Today should be the best day of NCAA basketball until the tournament starts. This is an exciting time of year. Almost every top 25 team takes the court.

Over the last few weeks, I’ve worked on reincarnating my senior CS project, a sports ranking algorithm. I’ve reworked the code, added future game predictions and complete season modeling. Personally, I am surprised at the results, but I have to take what the computer tells me. Kansas ends the season ranked above two undefeated team, Kentucky and Virginia. I’ll have more on my season end predictions after today’s games.

The excitement starts at noon. After dropping two games, including a home loss, Duke travels to Louisville. Louisville lost a heartbreaker last week in the final seconds to UNC. I think this game might be the best game you could watch all season. Both teams have everything on line. Based on my calculations, Duke as a the slight advantage here, but that doesn’t take into account they are on the road. This game should come down to the final seconds again, this time Pitino should have his team ready. Louisville 88, Duke 86.

Another great game should be Utah at Arizona (7:00pm). I give Arizona the edge here.

Also tipping off at 7:00pm is Oklahoma at Oklahoma St. This game should be close down to the wire, but Oklahoma St. gets the edge, but only slightly (less than 1% separate these two).

Earlier in the day (4:00pm), my #1 Kentucky Wildcats travel to Alabama. Everyone is trying to find a way to slay the dragon Kentucky has built this year. On paper they are an 84% favorite, but given the recent OT games, Kentucky needs to come out strong to hold this edge. I theorized before there’s an underground meeting of SEC coaches plotting ways to defeat Coach Cal’s #1 team. I don’t think anyone will find the formula. Cal has a way of staying one step ahead when it’s needed. Kentucky takes this one down.

Outside of the top 25 and for the night owl’s out there, the 11:00pm game of BYU at St. Mary’s should be a thriller. My calculations have these two dead even.