NCAA Tournament 2018: Predictions for Top Seeds Ahead of Bracket Reveal

The fight for the top seeds in the 2018 NCAA men's basketball tournament isn't as contentious as the one we've seen on the bubble in the last week.

The four No. 1 seeds appeared to be locked up heading into Selection Sunday, but results at conference tournaments Friday threw a new wrinkle into that discussion.

Beneath the top-seed line is a group of teams from power conferences that at one point in the season were considered No. 1 seeds or have the potential to make deep runs in the Big Dance.

The majority of the teams who earn a No. 1 through No. 4 seed come from power conferences, but there's a chance one or two mid-major programs could swoop in to earn a high seed.

Predictions for Top Seeds

No. 1 Seeds

Virginia (No. 1 overall), Villanova, Kansas, Xavier

It's hard to debate Virginia's claim as the No. 1 overall seed, as the Cavaliers went 17-1 in the ACC, which many consider the toughest conference in men's basketball.

In a season where every big-name program seemed susceptible to upsets, the Cavaliers were a model of consistency and slipped up just once since the calendar flipped to 2018.

Villanova sits comfortably on the projected top-seed line thanks to a pair of victories over Xavier in Big East action.

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The Wildcats are No. 2 in RPI and rank 20th in strength of schedule. With nonconference victories against Tennessee, Gonzaga and Western Kentucky, Villanova earned the No. 1 nonconference RPI ranking.

Kansas once again survived the rigors of the Big 12 to earn its 14th consecutive regular-season title, and it attempts to win the Big 12 tournament title Saturday against West Virginia.

The Jayhawks leapfrogged Xavier in the overall seed rankings Friday after the Musketeers fell to Providence in the Big East tournament semifinals.

Despite two losses to Villanova, the Musketeers are in contention for a No. 1 seed, but they could face a threat from North Carolina if the Tar Heels knock off Virginia in the ACC tournament final.

No. 2 Seeds

North Carolina, Duke, Purdue, Cincinnati

If they don't end up on the top-seed line, the Tar Heels will be a No. 2 seed on Selection Sunday.

Roy Williams' team is competing for a No. 1 seed because of its remarkable resume that includes 11 victories over teams in the top 50 of the RPI.

The only thing missing from North Carolina's resume is a win over Virginia, and if it earns that Saturday, it makes a compelling case to knock Xavier down to a No. 2 seed.

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Despite losing to North Carolina in the ACC tournament semifinals, Duke should end up as a No. 2, as the strength of the ACC shows at the top end of the bracket.

Purdue was once considered a No. 1 seed during the front end of Big Ten play, but the Boilermakers didn't do enough to impress in February and March to remain in that position.

A three-game losing streak in the middle of February exposed some of the Boilermakers' flaws, but they responded with five straight wins before falling to Michigan in the Big Ten tournament final.

Cincinnati is a team that won't get a ton of respect entering the Big Dance because of its place in the American Athletic Conference and the teams around it on the top-two seed lines.

However, the Bearcats are no slouch with a top-10 AP Top 25 and RPI ranking to go along with six Quadrant 1 victories over teams in the top 50 in the RPI.

No. 3 Seeds

Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, West Virginia

The competition for the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds is fiercer than the ones for the top eight overall seeds. 

Michigan's fantastic close to the season that ended in a Big Ten tournament title earned it a high seed, while Michigan State contains a Big Ten regular-season title on its resume. 

Although the Big Ten is weaker than usual, the Wolverines and Spartans have stood out alongside Purdue when it mattered most.

The intriguing discussion regarding the programs ranked from ninth to 16th overall comes when you bring up the top-two teams from the SEC: Tennessee and Auburn.

Tennessee's success at the SEC tournament, combined with Auburn's quarterfinal exit in St. Louis, gives the Volunteers the upper hand.

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Rick Barnes' team contains two wins over Kentucky, a nonconference victory over Purdue and the eighth-best RPI on its resume.

Joining the Wolverines, Spartans and Volunteers as No. 3 seeds is West Virginia, who advanced to its third consecutive Big 12 tournament final with a victory over Texas Tech Friday.

The Mountaineers are poised to pounce on Auburn's misfortune during Championship Week, and if they beat Kansas Saturday night, there should be little debate about their status as a No. 3 seed.

No. 4 Seeds

Texas Tech, Auburn, Arizona, Gonzaga

The collection of No. 4 seeds experienced a mixed bag of results in their respective conference tournaments.

Texas Tech got bounced from the Big 12 tournament by West Virginia, while Auburn was upset by Alabama in the SEC tournament Friday.

The Red Raiders have a case for a top-four seed due to Quadrant 1 wins over Kansas, Nevada and West Virginia among others, but losses in five of their last seven games could drop them to a No. 5 seed.

Auburn experienced a similar slide at the end of SEC play, as it enters the NCAA tournament with losses in four of its last six games.

Arizona's resume took a hit due to the weak Pac-12, but that shouldn't discount its potential to make a deep run in the Big Dance.

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier are one of the best one-two combinations in men's basketball, and they've proved hard to stop over the last few weeks.

Gonzaga is once again the best mid-major team entering March Madness, but it doesn't have an impressive resume like past years, which is why it is sitting at a No. 4 seed.

Mark Few's Bulldogs defeated Ohio State, Texas and Creighton in nonconference play, but they lost to Florida, Villanova and San Diego State.

If Gonzaga beat either Villanova or Florida, we might have been talking about its potential to be a No. 2 or No. 3 seed.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from ESPN.com.