At this point, Boston College largely controls its own NCAA Tournament destiny. Win its next three games and acquit themselves well down in Greensboro, and the Eagles are probably Dancing. But it never hurts to get some help from other teams on the bubble.
Here's a run down of Saturday's college basketball action and who you should be rooting for in each of them.
Boston College at Virginia (Noon, Raycom): Duh.
Nebraska at Iowa State (1:45 PM, ESPN3.com): One win -- at home against No. 4 Texas -- catapulted the Huskers onto the NCAA Tournament bubble. Nebraska got knocked down a bit, falling to K-State, and a few more losses would definitely deflate Nebraska's hopes for an at-large bid. Nebraska has some decent conference wins, but plenty of losses and an extremely weak SOS. Any game result that knocks Nebraska down off the bubble is a WIN for BC. Rooting interest: Iowa State.
Miami at Florida State (2:00 PM, ESPN3.com): This is a tough one. A win by the 'Canes here does two things -- puts Miami back in the NCAA Tournament discussion and also likely puts the Seminoles back on the bubble. A Miami win also makes BC's two losses to the 'Canes look a bit better, but I don't think BC wants to see Miami as another ACC team on the bubble. We don't look that great when compared head-to-head with Miami. Rooting interest: Florida State.
No. 5 Texas at Colorado (4:00 PM, ESPN3.com): At 17-11, Colorado is hanging onto its NCAA Tournament hopes by a thread. A loss here probably all but seals its NIT fate. Texas is already in and is making a push for a No. 1 overall seed. Rooting interest: Texas.
Wake Forest at Clemson (4:00 PM): A guy can dream, can't he? Rooting interest: Wake Forest.
Michigan at Minnesota (4:30 PM): Minnesota is currently grouped with BC in the First Four Out category, while Michigan's NCAA Tournament hopes are on life support. Lesser of two evils = Go Blue! Rooting interest: Michigan.
South Carolina at Georgia (7:00 PM, ESPN3.com): Lunardi currently has Georgia as one of his Last Four In, while he has the Eagles as one of his First Four Out. A loss to the Gamecocks probably puts the Bulldogs on the wrong side of the bubble come Monday, and helps BC's tournament numbers since they blitzed the 'Cocks down in Columbia. If I had my way, the SEC would get no more than three teams into the Tournament (Six?! Seriously?!), but I digress. Rooting interest: 'Cocks.
Richmond at Charlotte (7:00 PM): Like Georgia, Richmond is one of ESPN's Last Four In teams this week. A Richmond loss is the play here, and that's about as much as I want to say about a late Feb. C-USA game. Rooting interest: the Shamari Spears-less 49ers.
No. 1 Duke at Virginia Tech (9:00 PM, ESPN): If you look up "bubble" in the dictionary, you see Seth Greenberg's mug. The Hokies seem to find themselves on the bubble every ... single ... season since last making the 2007 Tournament. Despite a poor SOS, a win over Duke here on National TV probably punches the Hokies' dancing ticket. A loss, and the Hokies fall further back onto the wrong side of the bubble. Rooting interest: Duke.
No. 17 Texas A&M at Baylor (9:00 PM, ESPNU): This game has the potential to be BIG for BC's Tournament hopes. At 17-10 (6-7 Big 12), Baylor's NCAA Tournament hopes are on life support. The Bears have a tough three game stretch to finish out the regular season -- Texas A&M, at Oklahoma State, Texas -- and desperately need a win tonight to stay in contention. After losing four of five in conference play, the Aggies have rattled off five straight wins in conference and are starting to put some shine back on BC's lone win against an RPI Top 50 opponent. Rooting interest: aTm.
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