CBS Sports Bracketology: Duke retains top seed as Kentucky rises in 2027 projection

CBS Sports has released its 2027 NCAA Tournament Bracketology projection, simulating a 76-team field following the NBA Draft withdrawal deadline. The model positions Duke as the No. 1 overall seed, narrowly ahead of Florida, with both programmes vying for a third consecutive top seed. UConn and Houston are projected as the other two No. 1 seeds in the simulation.

Duke’s positioning is bolstered by the arrival of the nation’s No. 1 freshman class and the addition of No. 3-ranked transfer John Blackwell. The Blue Devils also retain key rotation players Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr, and Patrick Ngongba from a squad that earned the No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 tournament. Florida remains in close contention, returning four starters including Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyelu, who played pivotal roles in the program’s 2025 title run. Uncertainty surrounds guard Denzel Aberdeen, who may seek an NCAA waiver to play a fifth season.

The projection identifies UConn and Houston as the remaining No. 1 seeds. UConn is expected to challenge for the Big East title and national supremacy, retaining guards Silas Demary Jr. and Braylon Mullins, alongside top-40 transfers Nik Khamenia and Najai Hines. Jayden Ross is poised for a significant senior role, with freshmen Colben Andrew and Junior County expected to contribute. Houston’s placement is attributed to elite defensive anchor JoJo Tugler and offensive reinforcements, most notably LSU transfer Dedan Thomas Jr., who ranked as the No. 17 overall player in the portal.

Kentucky has risen to a No. 7 seed, an improvement from an earlier No. 9 projection, driven by the commitment of No. 2-ranked transfer Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State. Momcilovic joins point guard duo Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins to form a backcourt capable of capitalising on opportunities. The Wildcats’ standing improved significantly after rising sophomore centre Malachi Moreno elected to remain in the draft and Momcilovic committed to the programme.

The simulation outlines multi-bid league allocations for the 76-team field. The Big Ten leads with 12 bids, followed by the Big 12 with 11 and the SEC with 10. The ACC receives nine bids, the Big East five, and both the Pac-12 and Atlantic 10 receive two bids each. The Big Ten’s projected participants include Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Nebraska, UCLA, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana, USC, Maryland, and Oregon.