NCAAB · 1 year ago

March Madness Bubble Report: 7 Must-Watch Games Tonight!

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

7. Indiana (+3.5) vs. Nebraska
The Indiana Hoosiers are not on the bubble yet, but this game makes the list because it could set up an exciting semifinal showdown between a pair of desperate teams. Ohio State plays Illinois, and if the Buckeyes win, they will be in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament and on the verge of securing an improbable at-large berth. The Indiana Hoosiers avenged a pair of regular season losses to Penn State with a dramatic late win over the Nittany Lions and have won five straight contests. They now play another team that has beaten them twice this season: the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Indiana’s early-season close wins over bad teams tanked their metrics, and their candidacy is a long shot. Still, if Indiana beats Nebraska (adding a fourth Quad One win) and then wins the semifinal matchup (a fifth Quad One win), they would be in the Big Ten Championship Game with 21 wins, 11 wins in Quad One and Quad Two and would be riding a seven-game winning streak. It’s something to at least keep an eye on.
1. Ohio State (+4.5) vs. Illinois
The Ohio State Buckeyes knocked out the Iowa Hawkeyes, likely ending Iowa’s hopes of an at-large bid. With that win, OSU’s tourney dreams remain alive, and they enter Friday’s contest against Illinois as slight underdogs but with real momentum under interim head coach Jake Diebler. The Buckeyes have now won six of seven games, and a win over Illinois would add another Quad One victory to the resume and make an at-large bid a genuine possibility.

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2. Virginia (-3.5) vs. North Carolina State
The Virginia Cavaliers likely secured an at-large bid as they won in overtime and escaped a bad loss to Boston College. Virginia is 50th in the NET, with only two Quad One wins. This game makes the bubble list because NC State upset Duke. Instead of having a chance at a quality win and no chance of a bad loss, UVA now faces the prospect of a bad loss against the Wolfpack. Virginia has no losses in Quad Three or Quad Four and is 8-3 in Quad Two. They are likely safe, but a win over NC State would remove all doubt.
3. Providence (+4.5) vs. Marquette
Providence likely secured a bid with their massive win over the Creighton Bluejays last night in Madison Square Garden. The Friars are still only 57th in the NET, and backing up the win with another Quad One victory over Marquette would erase doubt and likely keep them out of Dayton. They now have six Quad One victories and no losses in Quad Three or Quad Four. That’s a better resume than most bubble teams can offer. Kim English deserves a lot of credit for his work this season.

College Basketball Links: March Madness Bracketology | Bubble Watch
4. Pittsburgh (+7.5) vs. North Carolina
The Pitt Panthers squared off against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a game many felt was a defacto play-in game for the NCAA Tournament. Pittsburgh prevailed and probably doomed Wake Forest to the NIT. Was the win enough to seal the deal for the Panthers? They now have four Quad One victories and are 9-8 combined in Quads One and Two. The NET ranking has moved up to 40, and they don’t have the prospect of a bad loss today as they square off against North Carolina. A victory over the Tar Heels would erase any doubt.
5. St. John's (+9.5) vs. Connecticut
St. John’s almost certainly secured an at-large berth with their resounding win over the Seton Hall Pirates in the Big East Tournament yesterday. The Red Storm have been on fire since Rick Pitino publicly blasted his squad, and the win yesterday gives them ten between Quad One and Quad Two. St. John’s would be wise to avoid getting blasted by UConn, which could tank their efficiency numbers. Anything short of a complete blowout likely leaves St. John’s somewhat comfortably dancing.

College Basketball Links: March Madness Bracketology | Bubble Watch
6. Colorado (-2.5) vs. Washington State
Colorado needed to knock off Utah to feel good about their chances on Selection Sunday, and they did so on Thursday night to advance to a matchup with Washington State. So many other bubble teams were victorious, which makes today’s game against the Cougars feel crucial. Washington State is comfortably in the field as a likely seven-seed, but the Buffaloes are projected as one of the last four teams by most bracketologists. A win today over Washington State would likely move out of Dayton and into a ten-seed, while a loss would make Selection Sunday a very nervous wait.
7. Indiana (+3.5) vs. Nebraska
The Indiana Hoosiers are not on the bubble yet, but this game makes the list because it could set up an exciting semifinal showdown between a pair of desperate teams. Ohio State plays Illinois, and if the Buckeyes win, they will be in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament and on the verge of securing an improbable at-large berth. The Indiana Hoosiers avenged a pair of regular season losses to Penn State with a dramatic late win over the Nittany Lions and have won five straight contests. They now play another team that has beaten them twice this season: the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Indiana’s early-season close wins over bad teams tanked their metrics, and their candidacy is a long shot. Still, if Indiana beats Nebraska (adding a fourth Quad One win) and then wins the semifinal matchup (a fifth Quad One win), they would be in the Big Ten Championship Game with 21 wins, 11 wins in Quad One and Quad Two and would be riding a seven-game winning streak. It’s something to at least keep an eye on.
1. Ohio State (+4.5) vs. Illinois
The Ohio State Buckeyes knocked out the Iowa Hawkeyes, likely ending Iowa’s hopes of an at-large bid. With that win, OSU’s tourney dreams remain alive, and they enter Friday’s contest against Illinois as slight underdogs but with real momentum under interim head coach Jake Diebler. The Buckeyes have now won six of seven games, and a win over Illinois would add another Quad One victory to the resume and make an at-large bid a genuine possibility.

Level up your college hoops bets with SportsGrid’s free CBB Picks & CBB Player Props.

March Madness Bubble Report: 7 Must-Watch Games Tonight!

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