Bracketology: Where Arkansas stands entering the SEC Tournament

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The Razorbacks are in Nashville for the SEC Tournament, kicking off their postseason run.

Arkansas opens the SEC Tournament on Wednesday as the nine-seed and takes on 16-seed South Carolina, 11 days after the Gamecocks routed the Razorbacks by 19 in Columbia.

Bracketologists have Arkansas squarely in the NCAA Tournament field, but some say a win or two in Nashville would be much needed to avoid playing in the First Four in Dayton.

WATCH: Sights and sounds from Arkansas’ open practice at the SEC Tournament

Here’s where Arkansas stands before Wednesday’s game against the Gamecocks:

On3.com projects a March Madness 11-seed for Arkansas in the West region against 6-seed Gonzaga in Wichita.

TeamRankings.com also projects Arkansas as a 10-seed.

ESPN‘s Joe Lunardi projects an 11-seed in the East region against 6-seed UCLA in Milwaukee.

CBS Sports projects a 10-seed in the East region against 7-seed BYU in Lexington.

FOX Sports projects Arkansas as a 10-seed.

USA Today projects 10-seed Arkansas in the West region against 7-seed Kansas in Denver.

Could Arkansas play in the First Four?

Analytics say if Arkansas lost to South Carolina in the first round of the SEC Tournament, the Razorbacks would play in the First Four in Dayton. A win, on the other hand, would keep the Razorbacks in the tournament without having to play in Dayton.

Since the NCAA Tournament field was expanded from 64 to 68 in 2011, just five teams that played a First Four game made the Sweet 16.

WATCH: Pat Bradley talks Arkansas and the SEC Tournament | PTN Digital Extra

Arkansas’s NCAA Tournament chances are still not 100%

ESPN writer Neil Paine says Arkansas has a 71-percent chance of making the NCAA Tournament.

The Razorbacks are one of the 12 teams from the SEC projected to make the field of 68.

Paine says having wins over other teams on the bubble, Texas (twice), Georgia and Vanderbilt helps Arkansas’s case.

“The Hogs will probably present the selection committee with a very tough decision, but their case continues to grow as they enter the SEC tournament,” Paine wrote.

The Razorbacks will officially learn the NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday on March 16.

Arkansas’s first-round game against South Carolina tips off at noon on the SEC Network.