Bracketology: Texas Tech and Auburn soar in CBS Sports predictions following rated blowouts
Particularly this season, pandemonium in college basketball is the norm. When it deliberates and announces its midseason top 16 seeds this weekend, the NCAA Tournament selection committee is in for a difficult task. If the first three months of the season are any guide, the teams that finish inside those predicted top-four seed lines are as susceptible to upset losses as any other.
After their incredible wins earlier this week, Texas Tech and Auburn may find themselves on the cusp of the 16-team field. The Red Raiders defeated Kansas by 29 points in their own lopsided victory, while the Tigers dominated South Carolina by 40 points. These outcomes led to significant adjustments to CBS Sports bracketologist Jerry Palm’s NCAA Tournament bracket.
In the most recent bracketology update, Purdue, UConn, Houston, and Arizona were still the top four seeds overall, but midweek mayhem drastically changed the field behind them. After this weekend’s packed schedule, more changes to the hierarchy are in store.
Last weekend, Gonzaga had a chance to make a big push in its chase for a tournament berth, and it made the most of it by winning a tough road game against Kentucky and momentarily exiting the league. With around a month left in the regular season, the Zags’ run of not missing the postseason since 1998 is still in peril, but Mark Few started the process of changing the story of this campaign when he secured his first Quad 1 victory of the year. Their broad potential depends on Saint Mary’s regular season conclusion.
In its most recent game, Houston narrowly avoided a costly defeat against Cincinnati. The Cougars, who boast the second-best defense in the country according to KenPom, will have a test on Saturday when they play the Longhorns, Max Abmas, and Dylan Disu. This is the second of two in-state rivalry games that Houston will play. Washington State’s standing as a tournament team is growing stronger every week, despite dropping one seed line since Monday’s bracketology update. The Cougars could end up with their first Big Dance appearance in 17 years, possibly ending the second-longest drought among high-major programs.
