Bracketology 2: Detroit Boogaloo

As the full slate of Saturday games come to an end, as does most of the drama surrounding who is going to earn automatic bids. With the Big Ten deciding to give up it’s spot as the last game before Selection Sunday, Michigan State Spartans fans have been left waiting for over a week before they find out where the Spartans will start the NCAA Tournament.

Unfortunately, the week of not playing hasn’t been kind to the Spartans. Despite not having played a single game, the consensus among most “bracketology experts,” whatever that may mean, is that Michigan State is primed for a three-seed, and not in an ideal location.

Michigan State appears to have been most hurt by two things – one team they beat by 18 points (North Carolina Tar Heels) has gotten better, and one team that Michigan State beat on the road got worse (Maryland). The Tar Heels appear locked for at least a two-seed, if not one, after their ACC Tournament run. While the Terrapins RPI dropped, despite having not played either, turning MSU’s January win at Maryland from a Q1 win to a Q2. Because... math.

But, whatever their reasons, here is where some of the top minds in college basketball have the Spartans heading into Selection Sunday.

CBS Sports

Seed: #3

Region: East

Location: Wichita

Opponent: Montana Grizzlies

Rest of region: 1. Villanova, 2. Duke, 4. Texas Tech, 5. Gonzaga, 6. Florida, 7. Seton Hall, 8. Missouri, 9. Florida State, 10. St. Bonaventure, 11. Oklahoma/Syracuse, 12. Western Kentucky, 13. Murray St. 15. Lipscomb, 16. Radford/NC Central

ESPN

Seed: #3

Region: Midwest

Location: Wichita

Opponent: Montana Grizzlies

Rest of region: 1. Kansas, 2. Duke, 4. Wichita St., 5. Clemson, 6. Arkansas, 7. Seton Hall, 8. Butler, 9. St. Bonaventure, 10. USC, 11. Arizona St./Texas, 12. Louisiana, 13. South Dakota St. 15. Lipscomb, 16. Radford

SB Nation

Seed: #3

Region: East

Location: Wichita

Opponent: Bucknell Bison

Rest of region: 1. Villanova, 2. North Carolina, 4. Auburn, 5. Texas Tech, 6. Florida, 7. Rhode Island, 8. Virginia Tech, 9. St. Bonaventure, 10. USC, 11. UCLA, 12. Western Kentucky, 13. Buffalo, 15. Lipscomb, 16. LIU Brooklyn/Hampton

Fox Sports

Seed: #3

Region: Midwest

Location: N/A

Opponent: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns

Rest of region: 1. Kansas, 2. North Carolina, 4. Wichita State, 5. Texas Tech, 6. Florida, 7. Providence, 8. Texas A&M, 9. Florida State, 10. Alabama, 11. Oklahoma State, 12. Loyola Chicago, 13. Murray State, 15. Stephen F. Austin, 16. Radford/LIU Brooklyn

Sports Illustrated

Seed: #3

Region: East

Location: N/A

Opponent: UNC Greensboro Spartans

Rest of region: 1. Villanova, 2. Duke, 4. Auburn, 5. Wichita State, 6. Florida, 7. Seton Hall, 8. Virginia Tech, 9. Missouri, 10. Kansas State, 11. Oklahoma, 12. Western Kentucky, 13. Montana, 15. Wright State, 16. LIU Brooklyn/Texas Southern