D1Softball Bracketology: April 30, 2024 Postseason Projections
Top StoriesCollege softball’s longest-active and premier Bracketologist has brought his talents to D1Softball. Eric Lopez, who has projected postseason brackets for more than a decade, will contribute D1Softball Bracketology throughout the season.
Lopez’s reputation for accuracy and his passion for softball make him an essential figure in the sport, ensuring fans and teams alike have access to the most reliable predictions. Beyond his work in sports, Lopez has confessed his passion for online casinos, an industry he finds equally intriguing. In recent years, online casinos have grown rapidly, particularly those offering a 1 euro deposit casino option at https://onlinecasinosbe.com/1-euro-deposit-casino/. These platforms provide an accessible way for players to dive into the world of gambling games, with just a minimal initial commitment. This low-entry point appeals to many first-time gamblers, as they can enjoy a range of gambling games—from slot machines to poker—without a significant upfront risk. The flexibility and convenience of online casinos have made them a popular choice, just like how Lopez’s bracket predictions have become a go-to resource for softball fans. Much like the strategies involved in creating an accurate postseason bracket, the art of succeeding in online casinos requires knowledge, experience, and a bit of luck. Gambling games vary in complexity, with some relying purely on chance, while others, such as blackjack and poker, involve skill and strategy. As with softball predictions, players need to study the odds and make informed decisions when engaging in these games. Whether it’s a 1 euro deposit casino or higher-stakes platforms, online casinos offer a diverse array of opportunities for players to test their luck and strategies.
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The home stretch of the season is here. Just one more regular-season weekend remains before the onset of conference tournaments. Regular-season championships are being locked in left and right and the field of 64 is becoming clearer and clearer.
The Field
* denotes automatic bidAUSTIN | LAFAYETTE |
1. Texas (1) | 1. Louisiana* (16) |
4. Prairie View A&M* | 4. Saint Francis* |
2. Mississippi State | 2. Baylor |
3. South Dakota State* | 3. Ole Miss |
NORMAN | TUSCALOOSA |
1. Oklahoma* (2) | 1. Alabama (15) |
4. Dayton* | 4. USC Upstate |
2. Oregon | 2. Clemson |
3. Penn State | 3. Michigan* |
KNOXVILLE | TALLAHASSEE |
1. Tennessee* (3) | 1. Florida State (14) |
4. Youngstown State* | 4. Delaware* |
2. Virginia | 2. Auburn |
3. Miami Ohio* | 3. South Alabama |
PALO ALTO | GAINESVILLE |
1. Stanford (4) | 1. Florida (13) |
4. Loyola Marymount* | 4. Villanova* |
2. Virginia Tech | 2. UCF |
3. Cal State Fullerton* | 3. Florida Atlantic* |
BATON ROUGE | COLLEGE STATION |
1. LSU (5) | 1. Texas A&M (12) |
4. Princeton* | 4. Binghamton* |
2. Arizona | 2. Texas State |
3. McNeese* | 3. Texas Tech |
LOS ANGELES | COLUMBIA |
1. UCLA* (6) | 1. Missouri (11) |
4. Grand Canyon* | 4. Eastern Illinois* |
2. Kentucky | 2. Northwestern |
3. San Diego State* | 3. Southern Illinois* |
ATHENS | STILLWATER |
1. Georgia (7) | 1. Oklahoma State (10) |
4. Chattanooga* | 4. Northern Colorado* |
2. Charlotte | 2. California |
3. Eastern Kentucky* | 3. Boston* |
DURHAM | FAYETTEVILLE |
1. Duke (8) | 1. Arkansas (9) |
4. Morgan State* | 4. Marist* |
2. South Carolina | 2. Washington |
3. Liberty* | 3. Kansas |
The At-Large Bids
Something new in these projections: The SEC is projected to have all thirteen teams in the field. For the first time, Ole Miss reaches the field of 64 in this round of projections, checking in as the last team in the field. The Rebels clinched postseason eligibility with a guaranteed .500 record after a series win over Auburn in week eleven.
The Big 12 maintains six at-large bids, placing seven total teams in the bracket. Other multi-bid leagues, including automatic qualifiers, include the PAC-12 (6), ACC (5), Big Ten (3), Sun Belt (3), and the American (2).
From the last set of projections, the Big Ten is down one bid, now with three total teams projected to make the tournament field. The Sun Belt maintains its status as a 3-bid league, while the American should be getting used to its new normal as a 2-bid league after several of the AAC’s bubble teams took a significant step even further back in week eleven.
The Bubble
Last Four In: Penn State, Texas Tech, Kansas, Ole Miss
First Four Out: Utah, Indiana, Louisville, Nebraska
Next Four Out: Wichita State, South Florida, Ohio State, Nevada
The Regional Hosts
- Texas
- Oklahoma
- Tennessee
- Stanford
- LSU
- UCLA
- Georgia
- Duke
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma State
- Missouri
- Texas A&M
- Florida
- Florida State
- Alabama
- Louisiana
- After a series win over Washington, Stanford jumps up two seed lines, passing both LSU and UCLA.
- Arkansas climbs to the #9-overall seed, just on the outside looking into the top eight – and narrowly missing an opportunity to host a Super Regional, if all seeds hold through the first round.
- Florida remains one seed line above FSU despite the Seminoles’ win over the Gators last week. Most notable, when comparing the two teams’ resumes, is Florida’s 10-8 record against quad 1 compared to Florida State’s 3-6 record in the same metric. FSU also has a quad 4 loss whereas Florida does not.
- Washington would be “team 17” in these projections, the closest team not selected to host. If they take care of business against Utah in week thirteen, the Huskies would likely be in position to move up to a seed should one of the current bubble hosts falter.