ESPNU Bracketbusters matchups are being announced Monday evening. By the time you finish dinner–unless you frequent the Sinatra Booth at the K&W–we’ll all know who plays whom on Feb. 19 and Feb. 20.

A couple data points for you: ESPNU will televise five games and ESPN2 will televise six games. The 11 teevee matchups are being announced Monday; specific game times and networks next Monday.

What’s more, contrary to some published reports, there is a return game. The difference is that the return is NOT next season; rather, the return is during the 2011-12 season.

Here is the entire Bracketbusters graphic, laid out by RPI and home/away. Scroll down and you’ll see conflicts. (Credit to Rick C., who is one of the better and smarter fans in the conference. Outstanding work Rick.)

Of the 11 teevee games, and you have to think the Association gets at least four, if not five. Old Dominion is the #2 RPI visitor, William & Mary #4, and Drexel #11. On the home side, Northeastern is #4, VCU #5, and Mason #11.

We all know the matchup process is an interesting one. Many harried negotiations for matchups are based more on travel and personal desire than RPI suitability. Nobody believes VCU wanted to play Delaware last year on Wednesday night, hop a plane for Nevada, and play again on Friday. But the lure of prime time teevee ran the show. So “predicting” them is a waste of time. That said, here’s what I’d like to see.

TeeVee
ODU at N. Iowa or Butler. I don’t care which, it will be a great game, and in prime time. Siena can have the other team.

Nevada and Utah State cannot play each other, and since (reminder to committee) Northeastern already defeated Utah State it would seem Wichita State and Utah State are destined to square off  in a late (east coast-wise) prime time game. Unfortunate, considering Wichita State’s Bracketbusters place in CAA history.

We’re more likely to get Nevada headed to NU, Western Carolina at VCU, and The Pugs at Mo State. Good enough, I guess, and three games the CAA can win.

Hope for TeeVee
Drexel at Creighton (again) would be fun, but probably a matchup against Bradley is in the offing. And Mason hosting College of Cremins would carry swagger.

NoTeeVee
Hofstra/Niagara makes sense. JMU matched up against Eastern Michigan last year, so we’ll give them Central Michigan. We’ll give Eastern Michigan to Delaware this year. Georgia State/Elon makes geographical sense. UNCW already played Appy State, so we’ll give them Loyola (MD). Though Towson’s seed line is close to Hawaii, I’m guessing Manhattan is their matchup.

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Keep an eye out on conference performance. This could be the most important BracketBusters performance yet. The conference is on the verge of you know what.

VCU, Northeastern, and The Pugs are knocking on the door of the RPI top 50, and Drexel and Mason the top 100. If you don’t think getting to the correct side of those numbers is doggone important, you’re not paying attention.