Bracketology in August? ESPN gives Michigan an early No. 2 seed in Auburn Hills

What's more interesting, though, is where Lunardi believes the Wolverines will be playing their opening-round game.

That'd be Auburn Hills.

Oakland University is hosting a second and third round pod this season at The Palace of Auburn Hills, which sits roughly 53 miles from Ann Arbor. Lunardi's early projection has Michigan taking on No. 15 Vermont in the opening game for a chance to play the winner of Iowa State and Virginia Commonwealth in the Midwest Region.

Who else does he see in Auburn Hills? Michigan State, of course.

Lunardi pegs Michigan State as a No. 2 seed as well, but in the West Regional. He's got the Spartans going against Bucknell in the second round, with a shot at either Texas or Temple awaiting in the third round.

Lunardi's ESPN cohort, Andy Katz, ranks Michigan No. 5 in his preseason poll. Katz has the Spartans at No. 9.

In total, Lunardi has seven Big Ten teams in his initial projection: No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Michigan, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 7 Minnesota and No. 12 Purdue.