Bracketology Bubble Watch: Arizona State, Stanford trending oppositely

TEMPE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Remy Martin #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils reacts against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half of the NCAAB game at Desert Financial Arena on December 14, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Bulldogs 79-59. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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TEMPE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 14: Martin of ASU reacts. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Lead-Pipe Locks: Oregon, Colorado, Arizona

Safely in the field: None.

Some perspiration: None.

Double the deodorant: USC, Stanford, Arizona State.

USC Trojans (17-7, 6-5 P12)

NET: 47 | KPI: 31 | SOR: 36 | BPI: 61 | KP: 58 | Sag: 65

Q1: 3-6 | Q2: 5-0 | Q3: 4-1 | Q4: 5-0

USC has dropped three consecutive games and is in pretty big trouble as a result. While the Trojans have a solid record and good metrics, it is reasonable to be a little worried. With that said, though, it is important to mention that each of their three losses recently has come against a team either in or on the fringe of making the Big Dance. None of them were bad defeats but it would have been nice to take one or two. With five of their last seven games at home, the Trojans should be in good shape but they need to handle their business. Matchups with Colorado, Arizona, and Arizona State still loom. Current Bracketology Placement: No. 10 seed.

Stanford Cardinal (16-7, 5-5 P12)

NET: 30 | KPI: 53 | SOR: 66 | BPI: 56 | KP: 40 | Sag: 68

Q1: 2-5 | Q2: 2-1 | Q3: 5-1 | Q4: 7-0

Stanford has been falling apart over the last month. The team has dropped five of its last six games and has dropped dangerously close to the projected cutline at this moment. The Cardinal’s lack of quality wins is starting to catch with them and they are losing games (such as at Cal and at Utah) that it couldn’t afford to drop. This upcoming homestand against Arizona State and Arizona is arguably the biggest two-game stretch of any bubble team during this coming week. Winning both would go a very long way. Current Bracketology Placement: No. 11 seed.

Arizona State Sun Devils (15-8, 6-4 P12)

NET: 53 | KPI: 33 | SOR: 45 | BPI: 67 | KP: 62 | Sag: 55

Q1: 3-6 | Q2: 4-2 | Q3: 3-0 | Q4: 5-0

While just about every other bubble team in the country has struggled, Arizona State has won five of its last six games and that includes defending its home court against Arizona and USC. The Sun Devils have come out of nowhere to emerge as a bubble team and they are hitting their stride at the right time. A critical road trip to Stanford and Cal approaches during this coming week. Winning one is all that is necessary to stay in the hunt but taking both might push this squad onto the right side of the bubble. ASU’s last eight games feature exactly four at home and four on the road. Current Bracketology Placement: OUT.

Lots of work to do: Oregon State and Washington.

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