NCAA 2009 Bubble Watch

Chris’ anticipated Bubble Watch is back!! Last year, Chris predicted 64 of the 65 teams on Selection Sunday, only having Villanova out and Arizona St in. He also predicted 26 seeds EXACTLY and another 30 teams within one line of their actual seed. That’s 56 of the 65 teams in the 2008 tournament!! His Bubble Watch incorporates IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY. The next update will be on Sunday, March 8.

ACC (7)
Lock: North Carolina, Duke, Wake Forrest, Florida St, Clemson
Good Shape: BC, Maryland
Need Help: Virginia Tech
With the bubble so weak, Maryland is in the tournament as of today. They cannot afford to lose at Virginia to close the regular season. VT needs a win at Florida St to keep hope alive.

Big East (7)
Lock: Pitt, UCONN, Villanova, Marquette, Louisville, West Virginia, Syracuse
Need Help: Providence
The win against Pitt helped, but the Friars probably need two more wins to feel secure about their chances.

Big Ten (7)
Lock: Michigan St, Purdue, Illinois
Good Shape: Wisconsin, Ohio St, Penn St, Minnesota
Need Help: Michigan, Northwestern
Both UM and Northwestern need to win this weekend or go to the finals of the Big Ten tournament to secure a bid.

Big 12 (6)
Lock: Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri
Good Shape: Oklahoma St, Texas A&M
The Big 12 seems secure on six bids. A&M can lock up a bid by beating Missouri on Saturday.

Pac 10 (5)
Lock: UCLA, Arizona St, Washington, California
Good Shape: Arizona
As long as Arizona doesn’t lose to Stanford and then in the first round of the Pac 10 tournament, they Pac 10 should send 5 to the big dance.

SEC (3)
Lock: LSU, Tennessee
Good Shape: South Carolina
Need Help: Florida, Kentucky
The loser of the Florida/Kentucky game is essentially sent to the NIT, with the winner still having to make a run in the conference tourney to get an at-large berth.

Mountain West (3)
Lock: Utah, BYU
Good Shape: UNLV
Need Help: San Diego St, New Mexico
San Diego St can improve its chances by defeating UNLV this weekend. The conference tournament should help decide how many teams represent the MWC in the NCAA Tournament (few as 2, as many as 5).

A-10 (3)
Lock: Xavier
Good Shape: Dayton, Rhode Island
Dayton should still be in good shape. If RI makes it to the semis and loses a close one to the Flyers, the Rams might also be on the right side of the bubble come Selection Sunday.

WCC (2)
Lock: Gonzaga
Good Shape: St Mary’s
Patty Mills is back and a trip to the finals of the WCC tournament should lock up a bid for St Mary’s.


There are 22 one bid leagues, 9 conferences that will receive multiple bids and 34 at-large berths. The teams listed in Lock or Good Shape status are considered IN the tournament.

Last four in: Maryland, Minnesota, Rhode Island, UNLV
First six out: Virginia Tech, Providence, New Mexico, San Diego St, Michigan, Florida.

Chris Copeland is the #1 ranked College Basketball handicapper here at 10starpicks and has you covered all the way through the Title game for only $179!! Hop on board!!