Thursday was good for bubble teams, unless you were one of those bubble teams. But hey, a new day, a chance to hate a team you have no connection to. Here is what to watch and who to root against while you're watching.
NC State vs Virginia, 2:00 EST, ESPN2: Somehow we live in a world where Virginia is a bubble team. But I'm not here to comment on the ridiculous way we choose our field of 64 68, I'm here to hate. So, if you're a bubble team not named Virginia, then you really want NC State to win this game. Bracket Matrix has the Hoos as the 2nd team out, and Lunardi has them as the 2nd to last team in.
Butler vs La Salle, 2:30: Another huge game for bubble implications. La Salle is the next to last team in at Bracket Matrix, and a win over Butler might be just enough to make their fans feel safe.
Tennessee vs Alabama, 3:00, ESPNU: Uggh, a bubble-off. Who to root for depends on what happens next. A loss and either is probably out. A win puts Bama in the headier position currently occupied by Tennessee. Whichever team you feel cannot win two, root for that one.
UTEP vs Southern Miss, 4:00, CBSS: Southern Miss probably still has a ways to go, but might as well go ahead an nip this one in the bud before they reach the Conference USA finals.
Kent State vs Akron, 6:30, ESPN3: The Zips may be able to sneak in with an at large if they make the MAC Finals and lose. That would be bad. Every bubble team should be huge Zips fans.
Iowa State vs Kansas, 7:30, ESPNU: The Cyclones are probably safe already, but one final loss never hurts.
Vanderbilt vs Kentucky, 7:30, ESPN3: Lunardi and the masses at Bracket Matrix agree: Kentucky is the 3rd to last team in. Losing to an 8-10 SEC team wouldn't be a good look heading into Selection Sunday.
Iowa vs Michigan State, 9:00, BTN: Iowa needs a marquee win to leap a few other bubble teams. Michigan State is a marquee win.
Missouri vs Ole Miss, 10:00, ESPN3: This might be the make or break game for Marshall Henderson and Ole Miss. Bubble fans want to see them break.
