NCAA Bracket 2018: Latest Expert Bracketology and Predictions

Conference tournaments offer a last-ditch opportunity for NCAA men's basketball teams in need of earning extra credit before Selection Sunday.

Recency bias can either save or destroy a squad's chances of making the March Madness bracket. Even without winning and earning an automatic bid, teams in power groupings can impress the selection committee with a deep run. A quick exit, meanwhile, will leave a bubble team disappointed in this weekend's bracket reveal.

The completed Big Ten tournament offers a case study in each example, but both teams are still projected to suffer the same undesired outcome. Depending on this week's results, the ACC and Big 12 can occupy over a quarter of the 68-team field.

Let's break down some of the latest expert bracket projections as conference action springs into full force.

ACC

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As of Sunday, ESPN's Joe Lunardi projects a whopping nine ACC squads will receive a March Madness invitation. That's with Notre Dame, who ranks No. 28 in KenPom.com's overall efficiency rating despite an 8-10 conference record, listed as a next-four out team.

Given first- and second-round byes in the conference tournament, Virginia, Duke, Miami and Clemson can rest comfortably knowing a ticket is waiting. Although saddled with the No. 5 seed for suffering seven of its nine losses against conference foes, North Carolina still wields a No. 2 seed in Lunardi's bracket.

Having lost five of its last nine games, Florida State fell to a No. 10 seed in Lunardi's weekend projections. The Seminoles should nonetheless lock up a spot with a win over Louisville, another bubble squad entering Wednesday's tournament bout with much more urgency.

Lunardi gave the Cardinals one of his final four seats, but that bid is in jeopardy following their 76-79 loss to NC State. Yahoo Sports' Jeff Eisenberg said a second-round triumph over Florida State might not be enough to make the March Madness cut. They may also need to slay Virginia days after squandering a late lead over the nation's top-ranked squad in Thursday's crushing 67-66 loss.

"The crux of Louisville's resume is a dearth of bad losses and a trio of wins against Virginia Tech and Florida State," Eisenberg wrote of Louisville. "They lack anything resembling a statement win, a problem they can't solve unless they win a potential ACC quarterfinal game against, you guessed it, Virginia."

CBS Sports' Jerry Palm listed Louisville as one of his first-four cuts, so no ACC squad has more at stake this week. While NC State could use a resume-padder, Lunardi and Palm both have the Wolfpack penciled into a No. 9 seed.

Big Ten

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After narrowly surviving Wisconsin in the quarterfinals, Michigan State lost its 13-game winning streak and got booted by Michigan. Although hardly a major blow, Lunardi and Palm each have the Spartans settling for a No. 2 seed.

On their path to a second straight conference crown, Michigan also burst Nebraska's bubble with a 77-58 rout. Needing a strong showing at Madison Square Garden, the Cornhuskers instead shot 30.2 percent from the floor with five bench points.

"In regards to us losing this game, I still feel like we belong in the tournament," Nebraska forward Isaac Copeland told Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy. "We're still a really good team. You could ask anybody we play: we're a good team. But it's not up to us or who we play."

They now have an entire week to await their fate. Lunardi dispatched them into the first-four out, and Palm wrote that their March Madness aspirations ended after the lopsided defeat.

Purdue also dashed some hopes on its way to the championship clash. After halting Rutgers' Cinderella run, the Boilermakers hindered Penn State's chances with a 78-70 quarterfinals victory.

Although the Nittany Lions previously upset the Big Ten's No. 2-seeded Ohio State, Lunardi still sequestered them from his bracket.

ESPN's Jeff Borzello concurred, pointing to their lacking portfolio leading into the conference tournament:

The Buckeyes' quick exit could also bear some consequences; Palm projects them as a No. 5 seed despite previously boasting a No. 13 national ranking.

Big 12

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As noted by Eisenberg, Iowa State is the only Big 12 school that must win the conference tournament to join the Big Dance. The other nine teams could all net at-large bids.

Lunardi has eight advancing, but that includes Texas playing in the First Four. Palm also inserted the Longhorns into his last four following Saturday's 87-79 overtime win over No. 20 West Virginia.

Per CBS Austin's Jeff Barker, head coach Shaka Smart addressed their updated outlook after the huge win:

Oklahoma avoided calamity by trouncing Iowa State on Friday night. Even though they lost seven of their last nine games, the 18-12 Sooners still rank No. 36 in RPI, per ESPN.com. Trae Young's squad stepped away from the ledge, but their bubble could still pop if they lose to Oklahoma State on Wednesday.

After beating Kansas for the second time, the Cowboys suddenly have an interesting case. Sweeping the Jayhawks keeps them in the mix, but Palm and Lunardi have them outside the pack.

Lunardi responded to Twitter users wondering how the latest upset impacted their standing:

Oklahoma State still ranks No. 85 in RPI with an 8-10 conference record, but it could force the committee's hand by advancing to the quarterfinals and besting Kansas again.