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Bracketology Bubble Watch: UCLA, Texas trending upward

By Lukas Harkins

ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 6: Soap bubbles are seen in front of St. Peter's Basilica at sunset on February 6, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY - FEBRUARY 6: Soap bubbles are seen in front of St. Peter's Basilica at sunset on February 6, 2019 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 20: Johnson of the Wolfpack shoots. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – JANUARY 20: Johnson of the Wolfpack shoots. (Photo by Ryan M. Kelly/Getty Images) /

Lead-Pipe Locks: Duke, Florida State, Louisville

Safely in the field: Virginia.

Some perspiration: None.

Double the deodorant: NC State, Notre Dame, Clemson

Virginia Cavaliers (21-7, NET: 48)

Bracketology Average: IN (134/136 brackets) – 7.84 seed.

Virginia is safe. Even if it loses its next three games, I would find it hard to believe that the committee would leave this team out of the tournament. The Cavaliers are not rated very high by the NET but all of their other metrics are pretty solid. This team should dance with ease and is also trending in the right direction to land a high-quality seed. No need to be nervous in Charlottesville, in my opinion.

NC State Wolfpack (18-12, NET: 58)

Bracketology Average: OUT (49/136 brackets)

NC State has dropped three of its last four games and currently sits on the outside-looking-in for most bracketologists (myself included). The Wolfpack still have the potential to make a run and reach the Big Dance, though, considering they are 9-9 in Q1+2 games are all of their metrics rank in the Top 60. NC State finishes its regular-season schedule at home against Wake Forest and that will be a must-win game. NC State will likely need a couple of wins in the ACC Tournament as well and that would mean taking down one of the powerhouses.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish (18-11, NET: 59)

Bracketology Average: OUT (0/136 brackets)

Notre Dame is not included in any bracketology projections at the moment following its road loss to Wake Forest. The Fighting Irish are not quite out of the at-large picture, though, as they finish with home games against Florida State and Virginia Tech. They would likely need to win both of those games and then two in the ACC Tournament, including one over the “Big 3”, in order to make the NCAA Tournament. They are a longshot but a four-game winning streak isn’t totally out of the frame of possibility.

Clemson Tigers (15-13, NET: 72)

Bracketology Average: OUT (0/136 brackets)

Clemson has quietly won four of its last five games and that includes two home wins over Louisville and Florida State. The Tigers are not included in any current bracketology projected fields, though, as they clearly still have a lot of work to do. Clemson will face Virginia Tech (away) and Georgia Tech (home) before the ACC Tournament. The team will need to win both and then make a decent run in that event in order to move closer to the projected cutline.

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