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Bracket Predictions 2025-26

I've never been to an NCAA tournament game before - should I buy rando tickets in STL and/or Chicago? I live near Springfield Illinois, so these sites are as good as it gets for me.
 
dahliaclone said:
This person is becoming one that I agree with more than not on a lot of seeds

fivestarbracketology.com

5-Star Bracketology

Compare at Bracket Matrix: 2026 Bubble Watch, 3/15 AM update HERE
fivestarbracketology.com fivestarbracketology.com
Click to expand...

Seeding seems pretty on point to me, but his locations have a lot to be desired. No way they won't put UCONN in Philly. Also, Michigan will be in Buffalo.
 
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dahliaclone said:
I refuse to name this thread 'bracketology' because it implies it's Lunardi and Palm, and it's not. And if there is already a general bracket prediction thread for this season, feel free to move this! NOTE: This isn't a thread about metrics and NET etc (those threads are amazing FYI), this is just thread about where pundits have the bracket shaping up on a weekly basis.

I'm guilty of posting Lunardi and Palm and their brackets, but they are seriously very bad at it. Anyone can add their updates here, I just hope everyone knows how bad they are at this...

Here are the some of the ones to pay attention to (per @NiceMarmot a year or two ago!):
  1. Dave Ommen at Bracketville
  2. Lukas Harkins at HeatCheckCBB
  3. Delphi Bracketology
  4. Rocco Miller at Bracketeer
  5. Bauertology (really good at explaining why teams are where they are)
  6. T3
  7. Five Star
  8. NKY
If there are others you like to follow every week, feel free to link in a response!

NOTE: Edited and added BRACKET MATRIX link as it's always one that people ask about.
Click to expand...

Thanks to @dahliaclone for the initial shoutout. This will be my 10th year doing bracketology and since it's now February, I figured today was a good day to do my first bracket projection of the year. Just checked the Bracket Matrix rankings page, and it looks like I'm ranked 38th out of 186 bracketologists on their site. I'll take that.

Here's my initial bracket projection as well as a Resume Comparison tool as of games through yesterday. Always good to use that Resume Comparison tab to see where ISU measures up against other teams.

1770065332072.png

Some ISU notes:
- Going to be competing with Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, and maybe Vanderbilt for St. Louis. Oklahoma City is a fallback plan, but we'll be competing with Houston, Nebraska, and Kansas there.
- Good chance there's six Big 12 teams in the top 16. That will create some interesting bracketing principles to balance each of them into different regions to avoid rematches for as long as possible.
- As far as potential second weekend location, I'd say there's an equal chance at Chicago, DC, or Houston right now. Would be surprised if we're sent west with Arizona likely being the 1-seed there.
 
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NiceMarmot said:
Thanks to @dahliaclone for the initial shoutout. This will be my 10th year doing bracketology and since it's now February, I figured today was a good day to do my first bracket projection of the year. Just checked the Bracket Matrix rankings page, and it looks like I'm ranked 38th out of 186 bracketologists on their site. I'll take that.

Here's my initial bracket projection as well as a Resume Comparison tool as of games through yesterday. Always good to use that Resume Comparison tab to see where ISU measures up against other teams.

View attachment 167067

Some ISU notes:
- Going to be competing with Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State, and maybe Vanderbilt for St. Louis. Oklahoma City is a fallback plan, but we'll be competing with Houston, Nebraska, and Kansas there.
- Good chance there's six Big 12 teams in the top 16. That will create some interesting bracketing principles to balance each of them into different regions to avoid rematches for as long as possible.
- As far as potential second weekend location, I'd say there's an equal chance at Chicago, DC, or Houston right now. Would be surprised if we're sent west with Arizona likely being the 1-seed there.
Click to expand...
It's so gross to say this. But having Iowa beat Purdue and/or Nebraska would be helpful to us. Just not sure I can cheer for it. Nebraska could win out...they don't have a tough schedule left.
 
nrg4isu said:
I've never been to an NCAA tournament game before - should I buy rando tickets in STL and/or Chicago? I live near Springfield Illinois, so these sites are as good as it gets for me.
Click to expand...
When the Clones were in Denver in 2015 or 16? I purchased tickets through the smaller schools in that bracket once the teams were announced. I'd imagine this was just a luck of the draw thing, but it worked out!
 
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ESPN's "Bubble Watch" returns.

A positive aspect: BW had been behind pay wall the past couple of seasons, looks like they got smart and returned it to general use.

Intro/summary has the reliable crappy writing, including this:

"There is little chance these ones will make the Big Dance without winning their conference tournament."

Really?!!

(And other annoyances.)

But whatevs. I enjoy tracking the updates each season.

www.espn.com

Men's Bubble Watch: Tracking which teams will make (or miss) the NCAA tournament

How are your team's chances to make the Big Dance shaping up in the final six weeks until Selection Sunday?
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
NiceMarmot said:
- As far as potential second weekend location, I'd say there's an equal chance at Chicago, DC, or Houston right now. Would be surprised if we're sent west with Arizona likely being the 1-seed there.
Click to expand...
St Louis to Chicago would be ideal, but an Oklahoma City to Houston path in the South region would be acceptable. Both locations should attract plenty of Cyclone fans.
 
CentexCyclone said:
St Louis to Chicago would be ideal, but an Oklahoma City to Houston path in the South region would be acceptable. Both locations should attract plenty of Cyclone fans.
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You probably realize this but first two rounds aren’t tied to regions. You could play in OKC and still be in the Midwest Regional in Chicago.
 
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I like following this person. They provide some great commentary. Their post today about the Bracket of Death...woof. That would be brutal. Also, their updated bracket today is solid.

bauertology.com

Bauertology: 2/6/26

Boy, an NCAA Tournament region with all of Duke, Illinois, Kansas, and Florida in it sure would sound like an absolute madhouse, wouldn’t it? Huh. Well, would you look at that. Today’s …
bauertology.com bauertology.com
 
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Sitting solidly on that 2 line on average is awesome. Seems like barring an epic collapse the floor would be 3 but the ceiling is still a 1.
 
dahliaclone said:
I like following this person. They provide some great commentary. Their post today about the Bracket of Death...woof. That would be brutal. Also, their updated bracket today is solid.

bauertology.com

Bauertology: 2/6/26

Boy, an NCAA Tournament region with all of Duke, Illinois, Kansas, and Florida in it sure would sound like an absolute madhouse, wouldn’t it? Huh. Well, would you look at that. Today’s …
bauertology.com bauertology.com
Click to expand...
Although UK and UCLA have been hit-and-miss, that wouldn't be a simple R32 matchup. Of course it'd be fun to have opportunity to advance to S16 by beating either.

I might prefer swapping Clemson/IU and UK/UCLA, and it'd work with the arrangement as it's presented, no conflict with any conference bracketing conflict).

Screen Shot 2026-02-06 at 5.54.16 PM.png
 

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Sign me up today for this draw. And looking at draws, while it won't happen, a FF of AZ, Iowa State, Houston, and Kansas isn't crazy.

www.cbssports.com

Bracketology 2026 - NCAA Tournament Predictions

CBS Sports is helping you get ready for March Madness with the latest news, picks, and predictions for the 2026 NCAA Basketball Tournament Bracket.
www.cbssports.com www.cbssports.com
 
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