With all but one real football game left to be played (the Super Bowl), America will soon be looking for ways to scratch their sports itch. For many fans, that means college basketball will start to take center stage, especially as people begin to look forward to March Madness. Thus, Bracketology projections are starting to pick up steam.
There was a time when the Texas Tech basketball team was not solidly in every projection of the field of 68. A weak non-conference schedule and no signature wins before the start of Big 12 play had Tech squarely on the bubble at the start of the calendar year.
Fortunately, a 6-2 start to Big 12 play has pushed the Red Raiders into everyone's projected NCAA Tournament bracket. What's more, thanks to a 5-4 mark in Quad 1 and Quad 2 games, the Red Raiders are starting to climb up the seeding line.
Texas Tech as a No. 8 seed
FOX Sports and CBS Sports put the Red Raiders in the precarious spot of being a No. 8 seed. The reason teams want to avoid that fate is that even if you win your first-round game, you have to play a No. 1 seed in the second round (barring a historic upset).
FOX Sports has Tech currently slated to square off with No. 9 seed Saint Mary's. In the second round, Tech would then likely take on No. 1 seed Alabama.
CBS Sports' projection puts Tech up against No. 9 seed Gonzaga, a conference mate of Saint Mary's. That bracket has Tech set to meet the No. 1 team in the nation at this time, Auburn, in the second round.
Texas Tech as a No. 6 seed
ESPN and USA Today have a better situation in mind for head coach Grant McCasland and his squad. They both currently list Texas Tech as a No. 6 seed.
ESPN puts Tech up against No. 11 VCU in the first round. A win there and Tech would then likely meet No. 3 seed Michigan State in the second round in what would be a rematch of the 2019 Final Four game that the Red Raiders won in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
USA Today matches Tech up with the winner of a first-four game between No. 11 seeds North Carolina and San Diego State. In the second round, the Red Raiders would face either No. 3 seed Purdue (a rematch of the 2018 Sweet 16 game that Tech won) or No. 14 seed Bryant.
Texas Tech as a No. 5 seed
On3 Sports thinks the most highly of the Red Raiders. They have Tech sitting as a No. 5 seed.
In their field, Tech would take on No. 12 McNeese. Of course, it seems as if every year there is a 12-5 upset so that would be a game Tech wouldn't be able to take for granted.
What's fascinating, though, is that On3's bracket sets up to have Tech potentially meet No. 4 seed Texas A&M in round two. That would be a welcome rematch for Tech given that when those two teams met earlier this year, the Red Raiders were without JT Toppin who was injured when the Aggies beat the Red Raiders in Fort Worth.
The best news for the Red Raiders is that Tech still has ten Quad-1 or Quad-2 games left in the regular season. Thus, there are plenty of opportunities to enhance their NCAA Tournament resume. Hopefully, the Red Raiders will continue to rack up Big 12 wins and move up the seeding line.