Bracketology 2020 Bubble Watch: Breaking down at-large contenders

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 08: Trevion Williams #50 of the Purdue Boilermakers takes a shot over Trayce Jackson-Davis #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the second half at Assembly Hall on February 08, 2020 in Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

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EUGENE, OREGON – JANUARY 11: Coach Hurley of the Sun Devils reacts. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Lead-Pipe Locks: Oregon, Colorado, Arizona

Safely in the field: None.

Some perspiration: USC, Arizona State

Double the deodorant: Stanford.

USC Trojans (19-7, 8-5 P12)

NET: 47 | KPI: 32 | SOR: 34 | BPI: 59 | KP: 55 | Sag: 62

Q1: 2-6 | Q2: 6-0 | Q3: 6-1 | Q4: 5-0

USC won back-to-back games during this past week to move to 19-7 (8-5 P12) on the season. While home victories over Washington and Washington State were expected, they did help push the Trojans resume into a bit safer positioning. Having only secured two Q1 wins so far this season, USC belongs right on the bubble but its winning percentage is great and the metrics have been steadily rising of late as well. A two-game road trip to face Colorado and Utah comes next – winning one would be huge before returning home for three straight to end the regular season. Current Bracketology Placement: No. 10 seed.

Arizona State Sun Devils (17-8, 8-4 P12)

NET: 49 | KPI: 24 | SOR: 41 | BPI: 67 | KP: 57 | Sag: 50

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

Arizona State went on the road and secured wins over Stanford and California during this past week. This pushed the Sun Devils’ winning streak to five games heading into a two-game homestand against Oregon and Oregon State. It really feels like this team has hit its stride at the right time and is quickly rising up seed lines. ASU remains firmly on the bubble at this moment but is trending up while everyone else appears to be on the way down. Current Bracketology Placement: No. 10 seed.

Stanford Cardinal (16-9, 5-7 P12)

NET: 37 | KPI: 58 | SOR: 79 | BPI: 62 | KP: 44 | Sag: 83

Q1: 2-5 | Q2: 2-3 | Q3: 5-1 | Q4: 7-0

Stanford is falling apart. It’s that simple. The Cardinal have lost four consecutive games and seven of their last eight. Their 15-1 start to the season is now in the past and it is impossible to keep them in the projected field at this moment. Stanford’s NET is still solid but all of its other metrics have flat-out tanked during this losing streak. Stanford will finish with four of six on the road and it needs a massive finish to get back on the right side of the cutline. Sweeping their upcoming road trip to Washington and Washington State is practically mandatory. Current Bracketology Placement: OUT.

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