Bracketology 2024: Bubble Watch Updates of key teams in late February

Virginia Tech (15-12) (NET: 56)
3-8 (Q1), 2-2 (Q2), 4-2 (Q3), 6-0 (Q4)

Before the calendar even hit December, Virginia Tech already had a pair of Quad 1 wins, beating Boise State and Iowa State for wins that have aged fantastically. In ACC play, the Hokies picked up a Quad 1 win over Clemson and blew the doors off rival Virginia last week in a 34-point win.

Two Quad 3 losses have tainted their resume in ACC play. Virginia Tech lost at home to Miami in the middle of January and had a rough performance at Notre Dame just a few weeks later. They’ve actually been swept by the Hurricanes and have won just one of their nine road games this year.

The Hokies are sort of flailing right now. That big win over the Cavaliers was awesome, but wasn’t even a Quad 1 win. They’ve won just two of their last seven games and clearly that’s a trend that can’t continue. There’s still a home game with Wake Forest that could push the needle in their favor, but the Hokies are running out of chances.

Wake Forest (18-9) (NET: 25)
2-4 (Q1), 4-5 (Q2), 6-0 (Q3), 6-0 (Q4)

The Demon Deacons haven’t had a ton of chances this season, what with the down year the ACC is having. One of those Quad 1 wins came over Florida more than three months ago and the other came this past weekend famously against Duke; a game that was quite overshadowed by other things.

What helps Wake Forest is that none of their losses have been really bad, though having five against Quad 2 foes isn’t exactly the best. Among those the most notable were tough ones against Georgia and LSU back in November and a stinker against Florida State in early January.

A week that featured quality wins over Pittsburgh and Duke has Wake Forest’s NET up to 25. They’re trending in a fantastic direction for inclusion in the NCAA Tournament but the work isn’t done yet. They’re sitting pretty now, but can’t afford to slip up in the next three weeks. Quad 1 opportunities await against Virginia Tech and Clemson and winning either of those would be immense.

We’re now less than three weeks away from having the NCAA Tournament bracket; which of these teams will be included in the field? Which won’t do enough to secure their place in the Big Dance?