A new Bracketology NCAA Tournament projected bracket was released on Friday, and the lower you go in the bracket, the less stable it becomes. Nobody on the top two lines lost this week, but that will undoubtedly change this weekend. On Saturday, there are a number of major games that do not feature bubble teams. Here’s a rundown of some of the most important games, organized by release date.
(2) Purdue at. (7) Michigan State | ESPN, fuboTV | 12 p.m. (Try for free)
Michigan State, like Xavier, is moving in the wrong direction. In addition, the Spartans have dropped five of their previous six games, including a thrashing at Iowa on Wednesday. MSU, like Xavier, is not presently in danger of missing the tournament, but they will go to Michigan and Ohio State after this game.
For the Boilermakers, another Big Ten title and a chance at a No. 1 seed are on the table. If they are to achieve either of those objectives, there is very little room for error.
2 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App | (2) Kentucky vs. (6) Arkansas | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free)
This is a clash between the SEC’s two hottest teams. The Wildcats have won eight of their last nine games, including the last two without starting guards TyTy Washington Jr. and Sahvir Wheeler. Kentucky still has a chance to win the SEC tournament and earn a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Arkansas has screamed up the bracket in recent weeks, winning 12 of their last 13 games. After not being in the bracket at all a few weeks ago, the Razorbacks are suddenly a No. 6 seed. They could be one of those under-seeded teams that you don’t want to face in the tournament.
Bracketology top seeds
|
SEED
|
West | Midwest | South | East |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
NO. 1
|
 Gonzaga
|
 Arizona
|
 Auburn
|
 Kansas
|
|
NO. 2
|
 Duke
|
 Baylor
|
 Purdue
|
 Kentucky
|
(3) Texas Tech vs. (10) TCU | ESPN, fuboTV | 6 p.m. (Try for free)
The Red Raiders still have a chance to win the Big 12 and run down either Baylor or Kansas to become the second highest-seeded team in the NCAA Tournament from the Big 12. As a result, the NCAA Tournament will most likely begin in Fort Worth, Texas.
8 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV | (1) Kansas vs. (2) Baylor (Try for free)
The No. 4 overall Jayhawks and the No. 5 Bears are currently vying for a No. 1 seed. The Big 12 title, on the other hand, isn’t on the line. Kansas leads the Bears and Texas Tech by two games in the loss column. Baylor is also attempting to demonstrate to the NCAA Tournament selection committee that they can win important games even when they are shorthanded. The Bears’ injury woes include the season-ending loss of forwarding Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua.
1) Arizona vs Colorado | ESPN2, fuboTV | 8 p.m. (Try for free)
With a win over the Buffaloes and a loss by USC at Oregon, the Wildcats may clinch the Pac-12 regular-season title on Saturday. That was not something many people predicted before the season began. Arizona is also a No. 1 seed in the bracket, and it can’t afford any more defeats if it wants to keep its spot.
8:30 p.m.: (8) Seton Hall vs. (9) Xavier FS1
The Musketeers have lost five of their last six games, including a triple-OT loss at Providence. I’m not ready to be concerned about Xavier making the tournament just yet, but things might use some improvement. The Musketeers still have a tough road game against St. John’s to play. The next bracket will be released on Monday, and with the start of conference tournaments, Bracketology will be updated every day until Selection Sunday on March 13.
