Bracket-Science 1/31

Okay, so I promised my next post wouldn't be sports, but this time I mean it. Here are this week's rankings, with conference leaders in BOLD and First Four participants in ITALICS.

1: Kansas
2: Connecticut
3: Brigham Young (MWC)
4: Notre Dame
5: Georgetown
6: Texas (Big 12)
7: Pittsburgh (Big East)
8: Ohio State (Big 10)
9: Purdue
10: Kentucky
11: San Diego State
12: Villanova
13: West Virginia
14: North Carolina
15: Louisville
16: Duke (ACC)
17: Minnesota
18: Florida
19: Syracuse
20: Tennessee
21: Texas A&M
22: Xavier (A-10)
23: Washington
24: Vanderbilt
25: Wisconsin
26: Arizona (Pac 10)
27: Illinois
28: St. John's
29: Missouri
30: UNLV
31: Penn State
32: Michigan State
33: Marquette
34: Kansas State
35: Boston College
36: Old Dominion
37: Butler
38: Memphis (C-USA)
39: Temple
40: Florida State
41: Georgia
42: St. Mary's (WCC)
43: Colorado State
44: George Mason
45: UAB
46: UCLA
47: Utah State (WAC)
48: Cleveland State (Horizon)
49: Missouri State (MVC)
50: VCU (Colonial)
51: Kent State (MAC)
52: Oakland (Summit)
53: Long Beach State (Big West)
54: Harvard (Ivy)
55: Bucknell (Patriot)
56: Austin Peay (OVC)
57: Alabama (SEC)
58: Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt)
59: Coastal Carolina (Big South)
60: Belmont (A-Sun)
61: Wofford (Southern)
62: Montana (Big Sky)
63: Maine (Amer. East)
64: McNeese State (Southland)
65: Fairfield (MAAC)
66: Long Island (NEC)
67: Jackson State (SWAC)
68: Bethune Cookman (MEAC)

First 4 Out: Cincinnati, Wichita State, Valparaiso, Northern Iowa
Next 4 Out: Washington State, Baylor, UTEP, Duquesne

Football is Over; Now Basketball Can Start

I know, there's still the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl; and basketball season started over 2 months ago, but as far as where my focus has been, now is the time my brain shifts over.
The Chiefs were eliminated (much later than expected) and I have little vested interest in the Super Bowl. That being said, I'd rather have the Packers win, but I'm leaning towards the Steelers (and a ring for Ziggy Hood). Also, I'll take the AFC in the Pro Bowl.

So, not that were here, it's time to start my own "Bracketology" for college basketball. As before, each team is ranked by averaging their AP, ESPN, RPI and SOS ranks. Each conference leader (automatic bid) is in BOLD, and the teams in the First Four are in ITALIC.

1: Kansas
2: Connecticut
3: Pittsburgh (Big East)
4: Brigham Young (MWC)
5: Syracuse
6: Notre Dame
7: San Diego State
8: Georgetown
9: Villanova
10: Texas (Big 12)
11: Ohio State (Big 10)
12: Kentucky
13: Purdue
14: Duke (ACC)
15: Michigan State
16: Florida (SEC)
17: West Virginia
18: Illinois
19: Vanderbilt
20: Minnesota
21: Texas A&M
22: Washington (Pac 10)
23: Tennessee
24: Wisconsin
25: St. John's
26: Xavier (A-10)
27: North Carolina
28: Arizona
29: UNLV
30: Louisville
31: Missouri
32: Penn State
33: Boston College
34: Kansas State
35: California
36: Florida State
37: Old Dominion
38: Butler
39: Temple
40: George Mason
41: Georgia
42: UCLA
43: Miami (FL)
44: Memphis (C-USA)
45: Oklahoma State
46: Colorado State
47: Missouri State (MVC)
48: St. Mary's (WCC)
49: Oakland (Summit)
50: Cleveland State (Horizon)
51: VCU (Colonial)
52: Long Beach State (Big West)
53: Utah State (WAC)
54: Harvard (Ivy)
55: Bucknell (Patriot)
56: Charleston (Southern)
57: Florida Atlantic (Sun Belt)
58: Coastal Carolina (A-Sun)
59: Austin Peay (OVC)
60: Northern Colorado (Big Sky)
61: Belmont (Big South)
62: Maine (Am. East)
63: Bethune-Cookman (MEAC)
64: Ball State (MAC)
65: Fairfield (MAAC)
66: Long Island (NEC)
67: Jackson State (SWAC)
68: Lamar (Southland)

First 4 Out: Wichita State, Virginia Tech, Portland, Valparaiso
Next 4 Out: Cincinnati, UAB, Baylor, Duquesne

So, this would mean, under the new formula, Fairfield would play Lamar and Long Island would play Jackson State for the right to be 16-seed fodder for Kansas and Connecticut. Also, UCLA would play Colorado State and Miami (FL) would play Oklahoma Stae for basically 11- or 12-seeds.

I promise, my next blog will be non-sports related.