Florida, Duke battle for top overall seed in CBS Sports bracketology

The latest edition of CBS Sports’ bracketology saw Florida basketball dethroned from its top overall seed by the Duke Blue Devils, though the Gators still hold onto a No. 1 seed in the South Region.

“Duke narrowly edged Florida as the No. 1 overall seed in the latest simulation from the CBS Sports Bracketology model following the NBA draft withdrawal deadline,” authors David Cobb and Jacob Fetner offer.

Advertisement

Cobb and Fetner cite the Blue Devils‘ addition of John Blackwell, who was ranked third among all transfer portal candidates, along with the nation’s No. 1 recruiting class, as reasons for the change at the top of the projections. They also note the return of key rotation players Cayden Boozer, Caleb Foster, Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba as contributors to Duke’s ascent.

However, Florida had an impressive offseason as well, with its starting frontcourt — arguably the best in the country last year — all withdrawing from the NBA draft to return for another run with the Orange and Blue.

“The Gators are bringing back four starters, including three in Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon and Rueben Chinyelu, who played key roles on the program’s 2025 title team. There is, however, uncertainty over whether guard Denzel Aberdeen will get an NCAA waiver to play a fifth season.

“Regardless, the Gators are neck and neck with Duke for the No. 1 overall seed in our Bracketology model’s offseason evaluation.”

Advertisement

SEC schools in ESPN’s 2027 bracketology

The Southeastern Conference has 10 schools — down from 11 in the previous update — mentioned in this edition of CBS Sports’ bracketology, which puts it two behind the Big Ten and one behind the Big 12; the ACC has nine to round out the Power Four conferences. The only other leagues with more than two among the 76-team field are the Big East with five, and the Pac-12 and Atlantic 10 with a pair.

Florida remains the highest-seeded team of the bunch at No. 1 in the South, while the Tennessee Volunteers moved up to a No. 3 seed in the East. Following them are the Vanderbilt Commodores (No. 4, Midwest), Texas Longhorns (No. 4, West), Arkansas Razorbacks (No. 5, South), Alabama Crimson Tide (No. 5, West), Kentucky Wildcats (No. 7, Midwest), Auburn Tigers (No. 8, West), Missouri Tigers (No. 9, East) and Texas A&M Aggies (No. 9, Midwest).

The LSU Tigers are listed among the first four out, while the Georgia Bulldogs dropped out of the bracketology after previously being seeded at No. 10 in the Midwest.

Advertisement

CBS Sports’ 2027 NCAA Tournament Bracketology

Last Four In

First Four Out

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida basketball’s seeding in CBS Sports’ bracketology update