Joe Lunardi has updated his bracketology projection following Tuesday night’s action in college basketball.
The longtime ESPN analyst is currently projecting a record-smashing 13 SEC teams to reach the field of 68. The current high-water mark is 11, but the SEC seems destined to break — or at least match — that record in 2025.
Lunardi broke down the SEC into 4 categories: teams who are locks to make the tournament, likely to make the tournament, currently projected in the field and teams who are on the bubble. He projects the SEC already has 6 locks to go Dancing: Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M and Kentucky. The first 3 schools on that list are currently projected as No. 1 seeds
In the ‘likely’ category, Missouri, Ole Miss and Mississippi State made the cut. The Tigers and Rebels seem the most safe of that group, as they’re currently projected as No. 5 seeds. The Bulldogs aren’t too far behind, though, as a No. 7 seed.
As for the teams currently in the field, it’s a bit murky. Texas, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt and Georgia are all currently in that category. Finally, there’s Arkansas on the bubble — but currently in Lunardi’s ‘first 4 out’ section.
Things will continue to change in the coming weeks — or perhaps as early as Wednesday night. Tennessee is set to host Mizzou in a game that has seeding implications for both teams, per Lunardi. Arkansas could also potentially move off the bubble with a win against Texas.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
