Busting Brackets
Fansided

Bracketology 2019: Most likely bid thieves heading into March Madness

By Tristan Freeman

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate their overtime win over the Providence Friars during the championship game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 10: The Villanova Wildcats celebrate their overtime win over the Providence Friars during the championship game of the Big East Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 10, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 8
Next
TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 07: Jaylen Nowell #5 and David Crisp #1 of the Washington Huskies react after scoring against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the NCAAB game at McKale Center on February 07, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. The Huskies defeated the Wildcats 67-60. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 07: Jaylen Nowell #5 and David Crisp #1 of the Washington Huskies react after scoring against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half of the NCAAB game at McKale Center on February 07, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. The Huskies defeated the Wildcats 67-60. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

2. Pac-12

Safe at-large teams: Washington

Team right on the bubble: Arizona State

Most likely bid thieves: Everyone else except Cal and Washington State

After a disastrous non-conference campaign, the Pac-12 was put on “one-bid alert”, as it wasn’t known which teams were going to be able to build a good enough resume. Washington quelled those fears, starting off 10-0 in conference play. Of course, an awful loss to bottom dweller Cal made people start to take a hard look at their resume. But beating Oregon and Oregon State at home this week should clinch their ticket.

Arizona State is right on the bubble and what happens to them will be interesting. If they make a solid run in the conference tournament, they won’t be needing an at-large bid. However, an early exit not only takes them out the discussion but opens the door for another middle-of-the-road team to sneak in themselves.

The win-loss records say otherwise but teams such as Oregon, UCLA and USC do have the collective talent to make a run. Oregon State has looked really good at times, while Arizona still has the coaching of Sean Miller. Even Utah has looked impressive away from home. There are eight legitimate teams sandwiched between the top and bottom two not only can beat Washington in a one-game scenario but grab an unexpected win.

Bubble teams everywhere need to be rooting for either the Huskies or the Sun Devils to win the Pac-12 Tournament title this time around. They’re the favorites but dangerous talent awaits.

Home/Bracketology