Preseason Bracketology: 2019 NCAA Tournament Bracket

NCAA Tournament Bracketology

The NCAA basketball season tips off in just [checks notes] zero days, and we can’t wait to get started. To whet your appetite for the upcoming season, let’s check out some bracketology predictions.

Projected #1 Seeds

Here are our projected #1 seeds in the 2019 NCAA tournament:

  • Kansas (32% chance)
  • Duke (32% chance)
  • Gonzaga (31% chance)
  • Virginia (26% chance)

Duke and Kansas at the top of both is to be expected. They are the #1 and #2 ranked teams in our preseason ratings. Kansas is ever so slightly ahead of Duke in the race for the overall #1, probably because of a better-designed non-conference schedule (with several marquee games and no truly bad teams) and an easier path to a conference regular season title.

Gonzaga on the third line is more surprising, as they are only #9 in our preseason ratings. Once you examine their schedule it makes more sense. They are expected to roll through the WCC, and are projected to enter the NCAA tournament with the fewest losses in the country, tied with Nevada. But while Nevada plays a nonconference schedule devoid of top ranked teams, the Zags have a couple chances to notch great wins (at UNC, vs. Tennessee).

Virginia as the fourth 1-seed over North Carolina is also a touch surprising. As we wrote about in our 2018-19 College Basketball Preseason Projected Standings post, UNC’s ACC schedule gives them a leg up over Virginia in the ACC title race because the two teams only play once, in Chapel Hill. It’s tough to say for sure since our model doesn’t produce reasons, only numbers, but what could be happening here is that the potential road win over UNC for Virginia is stronger than the potential home win over Virginia for UNC, and that’s giving them a slight edge.

Of course, we have more than just #1 seeds. On to the bracket!

Preseason Bracketology: 2019 Projected NCAA Tournament Bracket

(click to enlarge)

 

[Note: We’re not worried about following the NCAA’s bracketing rules here. We know that, for example, Florida shouldn’t potentially play Auburn in the second round. Our goal here is to show expected seed lines for each team, and give an idea of the rough quality of opponent they might face in each round. Trying to predict actual bracket matchups at this point is silly.]

[Note #2: Our original projections had incorrect postseason ban info, with some ineligible teams being forecast with non-zero tournament bid odds, and some eligible teams being forecast with 0% odds. We corrected the ban info, and re-ran the projections. For all teams, numbers in the table at the end of the post may have shifted slightly due to random variation in the simulations, and some teams have moved a line up or down in the above bracket.]

For details on how this bracket was created, see our original Madness Strikes November blog post. That post goes into more detail, but the basic idea is:

  1. Simulate the regular season
  2. Seed & play out conference tournaments
  3. Simulate NCAA tournament selection and seeding

Death To The RPI

For that last step above (simulate NCAA tournament selection and seeding), we use a model trained on historical NCAA Selection Committee decisions. Put another way, this model uses relevant historical data not to predict how the NCAA Selection Committee should select and seed teams, but rather to predict how it actually will select and seed teams. Sometimes the Committee emphasizes things that aren’t necessarily tied to team quality, and our model takes that into account.

However, the NCAA has announced a major change for the selection and seeding process this season — they are no longer using the RPI in the selection process. It has been replaced by something called the NET Rating, which is still a bit of a mystery.

We expect that this change will have an impact on the decisions made by the Selection Committee. However, we don’t know what that impact will be.

So for the time being, we are going to continue using our existing selection and seeding models, which feature RPI data as a prominent input. They likely won’t be as accurate this season, compared to past seasons. But we have no past NET Rating data to train a model on, and at this point the NCAA hasn’t released enough info for us to be able to mimic the NET Rating. As more info about the NET Rating becomes available, we hope to update and improve our models.

Preseason Bracketology 2019: Odds For All 353 Teams

Our selection & seeding model doesn’t directly produce the single bracket you see above. Its output is actually a set of odds describing each team’s chance to make the NCAA tournament, and to earn each specific seed (among other info). The bracket is created at the end, based on those odds.

What does that mean for you? It means you get to see lots of juicy data, if you so desire.

Here are our official 2019 NCAA Tournament preseason projected bracketology odds for every team. Bookmark this page for later, so you can come back and congratulate us on getting every single team correct. 😉

For a sortable table of similar odds that we update daily, check out our NCAA Bracketology detail page.

And, even cooler, to see projected round by round NCAA Tournament advancement odds based on our simulated brackets, check out our NCAA Tournament Bracket Predictions.

 

TR Bracket SeedTeamBidAutoAt LargeAvg Seed If In1-4 Seed1 Seed
1Duke93%23%70%374%33%
1Kansas94%34%60%3.173%32%
1Gonzaga93%59%35%3.764%30%
1Virginia90%19%71%3.268%26%
2Nevada96%53%43%3.669%21%
2Kentucky87%25%62%3.760%22%
2N Carolina93%20%73%3.664%22%
2Tennessee81%21%60%3.953%19%
3Villanova90%33%57%3.762%20%
3Michigan St76%19%57%4.543%11%
3W Virginia69%14%55%535%9%
3Clemson68%7%61%5.133%8%
4Syracuse71%7%64%5.135%8%
4Miami (FL)66%6%59%5.132%7%
4Auburn72%13%59%5.234%7%
4Michigan60%13%47%5.228%6%
5Purdue65%13%52%5.329%5%
5Florida St69%7%63%5.431%6%
5Florida66%12%54%5.430%6%
5Kansas St61%12%49%5.427%5%
6Texas Tech42%9%33%5.515%4%
6Wisconsin56%12%44%5.622%3%
6Oregon71%24%48%5.730%6%
6Miss State59%9%50%5.824%5%
7Marquette52%12%39%5.721%5%
7Cincinnati73%23%49%5.929%6%
7Iowa State41%8%33%5.914%3%
7Indiana39%7%31%6.113%2%
8VA Tech41%3%38%6.113%2%
8Houston62%22%40%622%6%
8Butler48%10%38%6.216%2%
8St Johns41%10%31%6.512%2%
9Ohio State40%6%34%6.413%2%
9Baylor41%6%35%6.512%2%
9Texas A&M40%5%35%6.513%2%
9Creighton50%10%40%6.317%3%
10Arizona St63%19%44%6.520%3%
10San Diego St60%18%42%7.115%2%
10UCLA54%14%40%6.816%3%
10S Methodist44%13%31%7.310%1%
11Washington44%11%33%7.610%1%
11St Marys63%19%44%7.415%2%
11Central FL43%10%33%87%1%
11Wichita St41%11%30%8.36%1%
11BYU48%15%33%8.66%1%
11W Kentucky60%33%27%8.48%0%
12Davidson53%20%33%8.77%0%
12Northeastrn70%43%27%8.89%0%
12Loyola-Chi47%23%24%9.15%0%
12Buffalo65%37%28%97%0%
13LA Lafayette48%33%16%10.52%0%
13Montana63%50%13%10.62%0%
13S Dakota St53%42%12%10.82%0%
13UC Irvine45%36%9%11.31%0%
14Rider41%30%11%11.71%0%
14Ste F Austin60%57%3%12.40%0%
14Wofford36%30%6%12.40%0%
14N Mex State43%39%5%12.30%0%
15Yale34%29%5%12.80%0%
15Belmont36%30%6%12.90%0%
15Lipscomb41%40%2%13.60%0%
15Vermont45%43%2%13.90%0%
16St Fran (PA)31%31%0%15.10%0%
16TX Southern32%32%0%15.80%0%
16Radford30%29%1%14.40%0%
16Bucknell31%29%2%14.10%0%
16Norfolk St27%27%0%15.80%0%
16Wright State29%28%1%14.10%0%
Harvard48%28%20%10.71%0%
Georgia St44%28%16%10.62%0%
Illinois St42%22%20%9.63%0%
Iowa38%8%30%5.813%3%
Maryland37%6%31%6.411%2%
U Penn37%26%11%111%0%
Nebraska36%7%30%6.411%1%
Texas36%6%31%6.511%2%
TX Christian36%5%31%6.610%1%
Xavier36%7%28%6.810%1%
Oklahoma35%5%30%7.47%1%
Alabama35%3%31%7.66%0%
VCU35%11%24%9.73%0%
Middle Tenn34%15%19%10.32%0%
Valparaiso34%17%17%10.32%0%
Richmond33%14%19%9.14%0%
Temple33%8%25%8.93%0%
NC-Grnsboro33%28%5%12.60%0%
Fresno St32%8%24%8.74%0%
South Dakota32%27%6%12.30%0%
Arizona31%8%23%8.25%0%
LSU30%3%27%7.46%1%
Rhode Island30%10%20%10.12%0%
Old Dominion30%16%14%10.21%0%
Notre Dame29%2%27%6.58%1%
USC29%8%21%8.25%0%
Murray St29%25%4%13.20%0%
Georgetown28%5%23%7.26%1%
Providence28%5%23%7.36%1%
New Mexico28%6%23%9.72%0%
Grd Canyon28%26%2%13.40%0%
NC State27%3%24%6.27%2%
Louisville27%1%26%7.95%0%
Seton Hall27%5%22%7.75%0%
Dayton27%12%16%9.72%0%
N Kentucky27%26%1%14.10%0%
St Bonavent26%9%17%10.51%0%
Iona26%20%6%12.50%0%
Winthrop26%25%1%14.60%0%
Penn State25%3%22%7.55%0%
Furman25%20%5%130%0%
Fla Gulf Cst24%24%0%14.60%0%
Boise State23%5%17%9.91%0%
Toledo23%14%9%11.31%0%
Utah Val St23%20%3%13.60%0%
S Carolina22%2%20%83%0%
N Iowa22%10%12%11.11%0%
Oregon St21%5%16%92%0%
Saint Louis21%9%12%10.31%0%
Ball State21%13%9%11.80%0%
Wm & Mary21%12%9%12.20%0%
NC Central20%20%0%15.90%0%
UC Davis20%17%2%13.10%0%
Canisius19%15%4%13.20%0%
CS Fullerton19%15%4%13.10%0%
E Michigan19%10%9%12.10%0%
Lehigh19%18%1%14.70%0%
Marshall19%10%9%11.20%0%
Connecticut18%5%13%9.12%0%
Colorado18%4%14%9.21%0%
Stony Brook18%17%0%14.90%0%
Wagner18%18%0%15.50%0%
Georgia17%2%15%7.73%0%
Northwestern17%3%14%73%0%
Utah17%5%12%9.11%0%
Grambling St17%17%0%15.90%0%
Hofstra17%11%6%12.20%0%
Howard17%17%0%15.90%0%
S Illinois17%9%8%11.50%0%
Col Charlestn16%12%4%12.50%0%
Liberty16%16%0%14.70%0%
Monmouth16%13%4%13.50%0%
Rob Morris16%16%0%15.50%0%
S Alabama16%13%3%12.50%0%
Jksnville St15%14%1%14.40%0%
LA Tech15%7%7%11.60%0%
Prairie View15%15%0%160%0%
Weber State15%14%1%13.80%0%
Missouri14%2%12%7.62%0%
E Tenn St14%13%1%13.90%0%
Princeton14%10%5%12.80%0%
St Josephs14%4%9%11.50%0%
UCSB14%13%1%13.50%0%
Beth-Cook13%13%0%15.90%0%
E Washingtn13%11%2%14.10%0%
Hartford13%13%0%15.10%0%
IPFW13%11%2%13.60%0%
LIU-Brooklyn13%13%0%15.60%0%
UNLV13%7%6%11.20%0%
Vanderbilt12%1%11%8.32%0%
Memphis12%3%9%101%0%
Army12%12%0%150%0%
San Diego12%3%9%11.20%0%
Tulsa11%3%8%9.91%0%
Austin Peay11%10%1%14.60%0%
Colgate11%11%0%15.10%0%
Geo Mason11%4%7%11.20%0%
IL-Chicago11%11%0%150%0%
NC-Wilmgton11%7%4%12.80%0%
Arkansas10%1%9%8.61%0%
Albany10%10%0%15.30%0%
GA Southern10%7%3%12.90%0%
High Point10%10%0%15.30%0%
Kent State10%7%3%12.70%0%
N Colorado10%9%1%14.20%0%
N Dakota St10%8%2%140%0%
Southern10%10%0%160%0%
Boston Col9%0%9%8.41%0%
Oklahoma St9%1%8%8.81%0%
Alabama St9%9%0%160%0%
Bradley9%5%3%12.10%0%
F Dickinson9%9%0%15.70%0%
Holy Cross9%8%0%15.20%0%
Lamar9%9%0%150%0%
Maryland BC9%9%0%15.30%0%
Nicholls St9%8%0%15.20%0%
NJIT9%9%0%15.20%0%
Oakland9%8%0%15.30%0%
UAB9%6%3%11.80%0%
Minnesota8%1%7%7.81%0%
Campbell8%8%0%15.40%0%
CS Bakersfld8%8%1%14.70%0%
Hampton8%8%0%15.40%0%
Hawaii8%7%0%14.30%0%
Lg Beach St8%8%1%14.30%0%
Morehead St8%7%1%14.60%0%
N Florida8%8%0%15.10%0%
Ohio8%5%3%130%0%
St Peters8%8%1%14.30%0%
Stanford8%2%6%10.40%0%
WI-Grn Bay8%8%0%15.30%0%
DePaul7%2%5%8.21%0%
Illinois7%1%6%8.51%0%
App State7%5%2%13.30%0%
Boston U7%7%0%15.30%0%
Gard-Webb7%7%0%15.60%0%
Indiana St7%4%3%12.50%0%
IUPUI7%7%0%15.40%0%
Jackson St7%7%0%160%0%
Missouri St7%5%3%12.50%0%
North Texas7%5%2%12.30%0%
San Fransco7%2%5%11.10%0%
Ark Pine Bl6%6%0%160%0%
Charl South6%6%0%15.50%0%
Evansville6%3%2%12.80%0%
James Mad6%5%1%13.50%0%
Mississippi6%1%6%9.10%0%
Morgan St6%6%0%160%0%
NC-Asheville6%6%0%15.60%0%
Sam Hous St6%5%0%15.30%0%
Towson6%4%2%13.60%0%
WI-Milwkee6%6%0%15.50%0%
Akron5%4%1%13.60%0%
Central Mich5%4%1%13.50%0%
Delaware5%3%1%13.90%0%
Denver5%5%0%14.90%0%
Navy5%5%0%15.40%0%
Siena5%5%0%15.50%0%
U Mass5%2%3%11.90%0%
Utah State5%1%4%11.90%0%
Abl Christian4%4%0%15.40%0%
American4%4%0%15.50%0%
Brown4%3%1%140%0%
Cleveland St4%4%0%15.60%0%
Geo Wshgtn4%2%3%12.30%0%
Idaho State4%3%0%15.10%0%
LA Monroe4%4%1%140%0%
Maryland ES4%4%0%160%0%
Mercer4%4%0%15.10%0%
N Illinois4%3%1%13.80%0%
Portland St4%4%0%14.90%0%
S Mississippi4%2%2%13.20%0%
SE Louisiana4%4%0%15.50%0%
Seattle4%4%0%15.30%0%
TN State4%4%0%15.10%0%
Troy4%4%1%13.70%0%
Wake Forest4%0%4%9.30%0%
Binghamton3%3%0%15.70%0%
Bowling Grn3%2%1%14.10%0%
Central Conn3%3%0%15.90%0%
Columbia3%3%0%14.30%0%
Drake3%2%1%13.20%0%
Elon3%3%1%14.20%0%
Fairfield3%3%0%15.10%0%
Idaho3%3%0%15.30%0%
Jacksonville3%3%0%15.60%0%
La Salle3%1%2%12.60%0%
Lafayette3%3%0%15.50%0%
Loyola Mymt3%1%2%12.30%0%
McNeese St3%3%0%15.60%0%
Miami (OH)3%2%1%13.60%0%
N Hampshire3%3%0%15.70%0%
NC A&T3%3%0%160%0%
Neb Omaha3%3%0%15.20%0%
New Orleans3%3%0%15.50%0%
Niagara3%2%0%15.10%0%
Pacific3%1%2%12.40%0%
S Car State3%3%0%160%0%
Sacred Hrt3%3%0%15.90%0%
St Fran (NY)3%3%0%15.90%0%
Texas State3%2%0%14.50%0%
TN Martin3%3%0%15.10%0%
TX A&M-CC3%3%0%15.60%0%
TX El Paso3%2%1%130%0%
TX-San Ant3%2%1%13.20%0%
UMKC3%3%0%15.50%0%
Alcorn State2%2%0%160%0%
Bryant2%2%0%15.90%0%
Cal Poly2%2%0%15.40%0%
California2%1%1%11.30%0%
Central Ark2%2%0%15.60%0%
Coastal Car2%1%0%14.40%0%
Coppin State2%2%0%160%0%
Duquesne2%1%1%12.30%0%
E Kentucky2%2%0%15.20%0%
Florida Intl2%1%1%13.50%0%
Loyola-MD2%2%0%15.80%0%
Mass Lowell2%2%0%15.80%0%
Miss Val St2%2%0%160%0%
Montana St2%2%0%15.50%0%
North Dakota2%2%0%15.40%0%
Oral Roberts2%2%0%15.40%0%
Quinnipiac2%2%0%15.20%0%
Sac State2%2%0%15.40%0%
Savannah St2%2%0%160%0%
TN Tech2%2%0%15.30%0%
TX-Arlington2%2%0%14.50%0%
UC Riverside2%2%0%15.40%0%
W Michigan2%2%0%14.50%0%
Wyoming2%1%1%12.40%0%
AR Lit Rock1%1%0%14.80%0%
Arkansas St1%0%0%14.80%0%
Chattanooga1%1%0%15.70%0%
Citadel1%1%0%15.60%0%
Colorado St1%0%1%12.20%0%
Cornell1%1%0%14.70%0%
Dartmouth1%1%0%150%0%
Delaware St1%1%0%160%0%
Detroit1%1%0%15.90%0%
E Illinois1%1%0%15.70%0%
Florida A&M1%1%0%160%0%
GA Tech1%0%1%9.40%0%
Houston Bap1%1%0%15.80%0%
Kennesaw St1%1%0%15.90%0%
Maine1%1%0%15.90%0%
Manhattan1%1%0%15.60%0%
Marist1%1%0%15.40%0%
Mt St Marys1%1%0%15.90%0%
Pittsburgh1%0%1%9.60%0%
Presbyterian1%1%0%15.90%0%
Rutgers1%0%1%9.70%0%
S Utah1%1%0%15.70%0%
Samford1%1%0%15.70%0%
SC Upstate1%1%0%160%0%
SE Missouri1%1%0%15.30%0%
SIU Edward1%1%0%15.60%0%
Tulane1%0%1%12.20%0%
TX-Pan Am1%1%0%15.80%0%
VA Military1%1%0%15.80%0%
W Carolina1%1%0%15.70%0%
W Illinois1%1%0%15.70%0%
Youngs St1%1%0%15.80%0%
Air Force0%0%0%13.60%0%
Alab A&M0%0%0%00%0%
Cal St Nrdge0%0%0%160%0%
California Baptist0%0%0%00%0%
Charlotte0%0%0%14.70%0%
Chicago St0%0%0%160%0%
Drexel0%0%0%15.40%0%
E Carolina0%0%0%11.60%0%
Fla Atlantic0%0%0%14.20%0%
Fordham0%0%0%13.50%0%
Incar Word0%0%0%15.90%0%
Longwood0%0%0%160%0%
N Arizona0%0%0%15.90%0%
North Alabama0%0%0%00%0%
NW State0%0%0%15.90%0%
Pepperdine0%0%0%13.80%0%
Portland0%0%0%14.50%0%
Rice0%0%0%15.20%0%
S Florida0%0%0%12.90%0%
San Jose St0%0%0%15.60%0%
Santa Clara0%0%0%13.70%0%
Stetson0%0%0%15.90%0%
Wash State0%0%0%11.90%0%

Finally, here’s a quick reminder. If you haven’t checked out the rest of our projections, please do! They include: