Bracketology: Updated Bubble Watch and another mailbag

Big 12

Lead-Pipe Lock: Baylor, Kansas, West Virginia

Some Perspiration: None.

Better Double-Up on the Deodorant: Iowa State, Kansas State, TCU, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State

Iowa State Cyclones, 14-9 (6-5): What are we to make of Iowa State? They are losers in three of their last four games, including a loss to Texas, but also took down Kansas in that stretch. The Cyclones are an extremely puzzling team that can beat anyone in the country or lose to anybody. They have an easier stretch of games, or as easy as it gets in the Big 12, coming up, and they should be able to go around 3-1 in their next four games.

Quality wins: vs. Miami, @ Oklahoma State, vs. Kansas State, vs. Texas Tech, @ Kansas

Bad losses: @ Iowa, @ Vanderbilt, @ Texas

Missed opportunities: vs. Gonzaga, vs. Cincinnati, @ Baylor, vs. Kansas, @ TCU, vs. West Virginia

Up next: @ Texas (2/7), vs. Oklahoma (2/11)

Kansas State Wildcats, 16-7 (4-4): K-State played two games this week, and went 1-1, although it was probably a more positive week than negative for the Wildcats. In their first game, they took down the Baylor Bears by two points on the road. This was a major positive, and they followed it up by putting forth well-fought effort against rival Kansas. Kansas State was the last team in as of Monday, and still have plenty of time to move further up the seed lines.

Quality wins: vs. West Virginia, @ Oklahoma State, @ Baylor

Bad losses: None.

Missed opportunities: vs. Maryland, vs. Baylor, @ Kansas, @ Tennessee, @ Iowa State, @ Texas Tech, vs. TCU, vs. Kansas

Up next: @ West Virginia (2/11), vs. Iowa State (2/15)

TCU Horned Frogs, 17-7 (6-5): A home win over Texas Tech isn’t exactly a resume booster, but it does help their record and gives them another quality win. TCU has been a pretty big surprise this year, even if their resume isn’t the greatest in the country. They are missing the one signature win, but maybe that could come against Baylor in their next game. If that happens, they could find themselves shooting back into the field.

Quality wins: vs. Illinois State, vs. Iowa State, vs. Texas Tech

Bad losses: vs. Auburn

Missed opportunities: @ SMU, vs. Baylor, vs. Kansas, @ West Virginia, @ Oklahoma State, @ Texas Tech, @ Kansas State

Up next: @ Baylor (2/11), vs. Oklahoma State (2/15)

Texas Tech Red Raiders, 16-8 (4-7): After a loss on the road against TCU, the Red Raiders split the season series with the Horned Frogs. Going 2-0 would have been a bubble boost, but Texas Tech remains firmly on the cut line. The West Virginia win is their crowning jewel, but I’m not sure they can afford to lose both of their next three games against Kansas, Baylor, and West Virginia. Taking one or two would be huge.

Quality wins: vs. West Virginia, vs. Kansas State, vs. TCU

Bad losses: vs. Auburn, @ Oklahoma, @ Texas

Missed opportunities: @ Baylor, @ Kansas, vs. Oklahoma State, @ Iowa State

Up next: vs. Kansas (2/11), vs. Baylor (2/13)

Oklahoma State Cowboys, 15-8 (4-6): In their only game this week, the Cowboys took advantage of a very tough game, knocking off West Virginia on the road. This added a signature win to their resume that already consists of several quality wins. They are currently sitting solidly on the bubble, but are in the tournament as of now. Oklahoma State has another big chance coming up on Wednesday against Baylor, who beat them by four points in their last meeting.

Quality wins: @ Wichita State, vs. Georgetown, vs. Arkansas, vs. TCU, @ West Virginia

Bad losses: @ Texas

Missed opportunities: vs. North Carolina, @ Maryland, @ Baylor, @ Kansas, vs. West Virginia, vs. Kansas State, vs. Iowa State

Up next: vs. Baylor (2/8), vs. Texas (2/11)