Bracketology: CBS Sports experts predict NCAA Tournament bracket before committee reveals early top 16 seeds

The NCAA Tournament choice committee will provide a bracket preview on Saturday that provides an in-the-moment glimpse on the top-16 seeds as we inch ever nearer to Selection Sunday. While Saturday’s outcomes will instantly affect the image, it will likely be an illuminating train that provides school basketball followers a take a look at the place issues stand.

While the CBS Sports Bracketology mannequin is a powerful believer in Michigan As the No. 1 general seed, there are many fascinating questions that might be answered. Does the committee respect Florida’s sturdy standing in predictive metrics sufficient to make the Gators a No. 2 seed?

What about Texas Tech? Will a season-ending harm to star ahead JT Toppin hold the Red Raiders off the No. 4 seed line? Then there’s the case of Alabama. The Crimson Tide have received 5 consecutive video games and have sturdy resumes. But their predictive metrics counsel they could be nearer to a No. 5 seed. Will the committee embrace Alabama on the No. 4 seed line?

We’ll get solutions to these questions and extra perception from the bracket preview, which might be aired on CBS at 12:30 pm ET on Saturday. For now, our writers are taking their finest guess at how the 1-16 hierarchy will look. Here are our takes:

NCAA March Madness Bracket Preview 2026: Current top 16 seeds unveiled, where to watch, live stream, channel

Cameron Salerno

Gary Parrish

It’s fairly apparent that Michigan, duke and Arizona might be three of the projected No. 1 seeds. I’d give the fourth to Iowa Statethe varsity that is at the moment fourth within the Top 25 And 1. The Cyclones are 14-3 within the first two quadrants with six Q1 wins and nil losses outdoors of the primary quadrant. That’s a comparable resume to the resume Houston possesses, and Houston is the opposite finest candidate for the fourth No. 1 seed. But I’m going to let the tiebreaker be the Cyclones’ 70-67 victory over Houston that occurred simply 4 days in the past, and that is why ISU is a No. 1 seed and Houston is a No. 2.

Matt Norlander

To me, the No. 1 seeds aren’t debatable. Michigan is a lock for No. 1 general, whereas Houston beats out Iowa State (regardless of the head-to-head loss) as a result of it ranks higher than the Cyclones in six of the seven crew sheet metrics. Both groups are 23-3. ISU has two losses to 2 groups that would simply miss the event (CincinnatiTCU). I feel the No. 2 line is straightforward till you get to Purdueand through Thursday’s mock train in Indy, the Boilermakers began as a No. 3 till the case was made they wanted to hop Florida.

I feel there’s a likelihood the Gators are the final No. 2 seed on Saturday, however the full abstract does not actually assist that. If we see UF as a No. 2, it will likely be as a result of predictive metrics put it there (or Purdue misplaced on Friday evening vs. Indiana). Gonzaga is one other one which’s fascinating to me. The abstract metrics undoubtedly put it as a 4-seed, and that Quad 3 loss at portland I feel is the differentiator to get Michigan State a slot above. Alabama is my remaining crew on the road, getting there after successful that epic OT sport at house over Arkansas on Wednesday.

David Cobb

There are good factors to be made on either side of the Houston vs. Iowa State debate for the fourth No. 1 seed. Iowa State has some higher wins, however its losses have been additionally worse. While the Cyclones personal a head-to-head victory in Ames, the Cougars price higher in each abstract and predictive metrics. If they have been lifeless even on choice metrics, Iowa State would get the nod. But Houston’s edge in components like Wins Above Bubble (WAB) and KenPom make it a deserving No. 1 seed at this juncture.

Kyle Boone

I felt the No. 1 seeds have been essentially the most easy when filling out my predictions. Michigan, Duke and Arizona are locks as of now, sure, and with out a lot pushback, however I feel Houston additionally has the sting for the fourth and remaining No. 1 seed by a margin extensive sufficient for now to be ok with. It has a better WAB, it charges higher within the predictive metrics and does not have the ugly losses like Iowa State has on its resume — even when ISU at the moment has a head-to-head win over the Coogs.

Where issues get squirrely for me is the No. 2 line. Iowa State and Illinois have been the primary No. 2 seeds for me, pretty comfortably, rounded out by Florida and Purdue. Not together with UConn or Kansas in that bunch might draw some scrutiny, however Florida and Purdue each have extra Quad 1 wins over UConn and likewise price increased within the NET, KenPom and BartTorvik. This is the place the margins are skinny and the place the subsequent couple of weeks will show to be paramount as groups achieve separation.

Since we’re right here predicting the long run, I’ll shut with one remaining prediction: The present No. 1 seeds I’ve — Michigan, Duke, Arizona, Houston — can even be the No. 1 seeds on Selection Sunday. But by Selection Sunday, UConn and Kansas may have supplanted two present groups on the No. 2 seed line. Virginia and St. John’s can even finally play their method into No. 3 seeds.

Isaac Trotter

Houston or Iowa State was my greatest pivot level for the ultimate No. 1 seed. Both groups are 15-3 in Quad 1 or 2 video games and separated by only a hair in Wins Above Bubble, signaling simply how eerily comparable these resumes are. Iowa State beat Houston at house in a nail-biter, and the Cyclones’ street win over Purdue is healthier than any of Houston’s finest victories, however I gave the Cougars the slight nod as a result of predictive metrics are a contact extra bullish on what’s to return. Houston is second nationally to Bart Torvik; Iowa State is a smidge decrease at seventh, largely as a result of it obtained trucked by Kansas and posted poor offensive showings in losses to 2 groups (TCU and Cincinnati) that would miss the Big Dance.

Cameron Salerno

The No. 1 seeds are simple to predict. Michigan and Duke ought to be on reverse sides of the bracket, and the committee can put Houston and Arizona because the third and fourth No. 1 seeds within the bracket. The hardest determination for me was the place to position Kansas, Florida and Illinois. I strongly thought-about placing Illinois on the No. 2 line, however in the end went with Kansas. There continues to be a protracted approach to go before Selection Sunday, however I really feel assured that Michigan, Duke, Arizona and Houston might be staying on the No. 1 line subsequent month. The remainder of the bracket is up for debate.