Bubble Teams Worth Following
LAS VEGAS, NV (The Spread) – As we’re headed into the final couple of weeks of the college basketball regular season, it’s not that difficult to find teams with extra motivation.
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When you look over the weekend schedule at this time of the season, you might want to look over teams that are on the NCAA Tournament “bubble”. It’s not that difficult to figure out, but if you need help, there are many articles out there on the internet, showing which teams are locks and which ones are on the bubble. Since there are 68 NCAA Tournament teams and 32 automatic bids, that leaves 36 squads fighting for at-large bids.
The bubble teams are the ones that are usually in the range of 30 to 60 in the RPI (Ratings Percentage Index). The RPI is one of the tools that the NCAA selection committee uses to determine who should be in and who should be out of the “big dance”.
Some teams that areĀ on that bubble are really close to making it and have the numbers, but a fewĀ bad losses can cost them. One of those teams is Colorado, whoĀ is 20-8 straight up, 9-6 in the Pac-12 and they have an RPI of 26. The Pac-12Ā is a tough conference but not as strong as the Big 12, Big 10 and ACC. ArizonaĀ and UCLA are locks to make the tournament, but the Buffaloes are a team thatĀ has a nice profile but something is missing. That missing player is star guardĀ Spencer Dinwiddie, who is out for the season with ACL tear. They are 2-1 sinceĀ his injury but their 27-point home loss to Arizona was disturbing. They face aĀ tough Utah team on the road that is 17-2 at home in Salt Lake City. A lossĀ could hamper their chances although Utah has defeated UCLA and Arizona StateĀ at home, while losing to Arizona by four in overtime. Utah is likely to be aĀ 4-5 point favorite and they are not considered a bubble team at 7-8 in theĀ Pac-12. Take Colorado and the points.
Arkansas improved to 19-9 straightĀ up and 8-7 in the SEC with an RPI of 57 after shocking Kentucky on the road onĀ Thursday, 71-67 in overtime as a 10-point underdog. That was their fourth winĀ in a row and put Mike Anderson’s team back in the discussion. They faceĀ Georgia on Saturday, a team that is 16-11 straight up, but has won six ofĀ their last seven. They lack a quality road win and have an RPI of 80 soĀ they are most likely an NIT team at this point. Even though this is aĀ potential letdown game for Arkansas, they can’t afford one. A loss to GeorgiaĀ at home will diminish the excitement of the win over Kentucky. Georgia beatĀ Arkansas in overtime from Athens in their first meeting in January. ExpectĀ Arkansas to be an 8-9 point favorite. Take Arkansas and lay theĀ points.
One of the moreĀ underrated teams in the Big 10 and in the nation is MinnesotaĀ (19-11 straight up, 7-9 Big 10). The Golden Gophers are sitting on the NCAAĀ Tournament bubble with an RPI of 44. They are coming off one of their bestĀ wins of the season, a 95-89 victory over Iowa on Tuesday at home. They alsoĀ have wins over Wisconsin and Ohio State at home along with a decentĀ non-conference victory over another bubble team in Florida State on Dec.Ā 3. But Minnesota is just 3-6 on the road this season and they lack a strongĀ road win. They take on Michigan on Saturday in a rematch for the GoldenĀ Gophers, who lost to the Wolverines at home on Jan. 2, 63-60. Michigan is oneĀ of those teams that appear to get up for the big games but they can let down.Ā They’ve won two straight but have only covered in two of their last fiveĀ games. They’ll be a heavy favorite in this one and while they are playing forĀ first place in the Big 10, Minnesota is playing for a lot more as a win couldĀ put them in the tournament. They’ll be a 9-10 point underdog on the road. TakeĀ the points in this game and go with Minnesota.
Good luck and keep track of the teams on the bubble this weekend and next week when the conference tournaments begin. You’ll find some good values because teams with motivation have a lot more to play for than squads that are already in the NCAA Tournament.
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