UNC Basketball bracketology: Tar Heels battling for last No. 1 seed

It's March. Not only is it March, it's the final weekend before the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee reveals the full bracket on Sunday, March 17th and the UNC Basketball program has positioned themselves to be in the hunt for a No. 1 overall seed in this year's tournament.

It is a consensus at this point amongst all bracketologist that the top three No. 1 seeds are set in stone, their order is just the debate at this point. Purude, Connecticut, and Houston will own No. 1 overall seeds. The last No. 1 seed? That is a little more tricky, however it seems to be a two team race for the last top spot.

Tennessee versus.... North Carolina.

Heading into the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, the Tar Heels were projected by ESPN Bracketologist Joe Lunardi as the 5th overall team and the first No. 2 seed in the bracket. Meanwhile, the Volunteers are getting the nod over North Carolina.

Part of that is the media perception that the ACC is "weak". However, in the NET (a key metric used by the NCAA Selection Committee), the numbers are actually in favor of the Tar Heels.

The Volunteers are a combined 13-7 versus Q1 and Q2 opponents this season. North Carolina against Q1 and Q2 opponents is 15-6.

Following the Tar Heels dominant victory over Florida State on Thursday in the ACC Quarterfinal round, Lunardi switched North Carolina and Tennessee, giving the Tar Heels the final No. 1 seed.

Tennessee begins their post-season tournament in the SEC today at 1:00 PM ET versus Mississippi State. That will be a Q1 opportunity for the Volunteers, and there is a high chance as long as the Volunteers advance, every game in Nashville will be a Q1 game.

For the Tar Heels, the Pittsburgh Panthers await in the ACC Tournament Semifinals and will be a Q1 opportunity as the Panthers moved up to No. 40 in the NET following their victory over Wake Forest. If North Carolina can win that game, they'll face the winner of Virginia and NC State for the ACC Championship.

These resumes are super close, and if both teams win their respective conference tournament titles, who should get the final No. 1 seed?

Well we aren't biased or anything, but shouldn't head-to-head matter? The Tar Heels beat the Volunteers in late November in the ACC/SEC Challenge. Many bracketologist aren't addressing that factor.

It's also worth noting that when the NCAA Selection Committee did the early reveal a month ago, the Tar Heels were the top No. 2 seed. Since then, North Carolina is 7-0 while Tennessee is 6-1.

What ifs and potential scenarios are fun for fans to debate, but there is still plenty of basketball left with a potential 5 games remaining between the two teams over the next 48 hours. One thing is almost guaranteed, both programs will be playing their first (and potential) second round games of the NCAA Tournament next weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.