NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Michigan Locks Up No. 1 Seed

The selection show for the 2012 NCAA hockey tournament isn't until Sunday at noon, but Michigan already knows what its seed will be. By beating Bowling Green in double overtime on Friday night in the CCHA semifinals, Michigan has clinched a No. 1 seed. Out of all the possible scenarios that exist for the final games to be played before the tournament, none exist where Michigan is anything other than a No. 1 seed. In fact, none exist where Michigan is anything other than the second No. 1 seed.

Boston College has locked up the top overall seed in the NCAA tournament, meaning it will be slotted in the Northeast Region in Worcester, Massachusetts. Michigan is likely going to be selected as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The other locations for first and second round games are the West Region in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the East Region in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Michigan is a lock to make the field of 16 teams, but that isn't the case for the Wolverines' opponent in the CCHA championship game. Western Michigan has an 87.5 percent of making the tournament right now, but a win would give the Broncos an automatic bid to the tournament.

Michigan State's chances of making the tournament are not bad but not great, either. The Spartans have a 65.6 percent chance of making the tournament right now. They could be anywhere as high as the 13th team in the tournament and as low as being the first team out. It will depend on what happens in Saturday night's games.

The 2012 NCAA hockey tournament begins next week and comes to a close with the Frozen Four in Tampa, Florida, on April 5 and April 7.