-FLORIDA AT KENTUCKY (SEC). Florida is playing like a #1 seed, but they need a win like this on the road if they want to end up on the #1 line. Kentucky is solid, but still doesn’t look like a Final Four contender. This would probably be their best win of the season up to this point, though. It should be a good one. On paper, both are fine, but it’s more of a litmus test to see if Florida can win a tough road game and if Kentucky can beat a Final Four caliber team.
-MEMPHIS AT UCONN (American). These are two first ballot teams who could add another big win to their profile.
-SAINT JOSEPH’S AT LA SALLE (Atlantic Ten, Big Five). Saint Joe’s is outside the bubble and needs to put together a string of wins to get themselves into the field. Winning a rivalry game on the road would be a good start. This game has a pivotal feel because a win is a good conference road win, and a loss is another loss to a non-tournament team.
-VIRGINIA AT CLEMSON (ACC). Virginia is playing like they could end up on the #3 line if they can finish 2nd overall in the league. Clemson is still outside the bubble and needs a big push down the stretch.
-IOWA AT PENN STATE (Big Ten). This isn’t the easiest road win in the world, but Iowa is in good shape either way.
-PITTSBURGH AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC). UNC has strung together some wins and appears to be on the right track. This would be another notable win for their profile. Pitt still doesn’t have a win against a team that’s safely inside the bubble.
-TEXAS TECH AT IOWA STATE (Big Twelve). Texas Tech has become one of the more exciting teams in the country, and as far away as they are from making the NCAA Tournament, they can take another big step forward with a win today. Iowa State should be a protected seed so long as they old serve, which means avoiding losses to what appear to be non-tournament teams.
-VCU AT SAINT LOUIS (Atlantic Ten). This is a match-up between what is perhaps the two best teams in the A10. Both are safely in the field, and this would be a quality win for either team.
-OKLAHOMA AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big Twelve). BEDLAM!!!!!! Oklahoma State is not showing any signs of coming out of their tailspin, and I’m sure Oklahoma has no sympathy for them. This is a high stakes rivalry game for both teams, but especially for Okie State.
-SOUTHERN MISS AT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (Conference USA). There is as four way tie for first place in CUSA, and these are two of the four teams. Southern Miss suffered a bad loss earlier in the week, so if they want any chance at all at landing inside the bubble. they need to finish first and pick up notable road wins such as this one.
-DEPAUL AT PROVIDENCE (Big East). Providence is a bubble team that cannot afford to lose this game.
-UMASS AT GEORGE WASHINGTON (Atlantic Ten). Both these teams are inside the bubble, but UMass is falling fans and GW could use another notable win, so the game does have a pivotal feel to it.
-TOLEDO AT EASTERN MICHIGAN (MAC). The more I think about it, the more I believe Toledo will be safely in the field if they win out. Anything less than that and they’re in trouble, though.
-NC STATE AT SYRACUSE (ACC). Syracuse will likely remain unbeaten and continue to be projected as the overall #1 seed.
-HOUSTON AT CINCINNATI (American). Cincinnati shouldn’t have any trouble in this one.
-CALIFORNIA AT WASHINGTON (Pac Twelve). Cal has become very schizophrenic lately and really needs this road win to help stabilize their profile.
-TCU AT KANSAS (Big Twelve). Kansas shouldn’t have too much trouble rebounding from their loss to K State from earlier in the week.
-XAVIER AT MARQUETTE (Big East). This would be Xavier’s best road win of the season, and really do a lot to increase the value of their NCAA Tournament profile.
-TENNESSEE AT MISSOURI (SEC). Both teams are outside the bubble and really can’t afford to lose this one.
-GREEN BAY AT CLEVELAND STATE (Horizon League). Green Bay cannot afford another loss, and even winning out may not be enough.
-INDIANA AT PURDUE (Big Ten). Indiana is now outside the bubble and needs a few wins just to get back in the conversation. Beating their rival on the road would be a good start.
-SFA AT SAM HOUSTON (Southland). SFA will be on the board if they win out. See Chad Sherwood’s SCGD here: https://hoopshd.com/2014/02/15/small-conference-game-of-the-day-february-15-2/
-UTAH AT UCLA (Pac Twelve). UCLA is solid and should be able to hold serve in this one. Utah has just one road win on the season.
-MARYLAND AT DUKE (ACC). This has been a great rivalry in recent years, and this is the last year we’re going to see it. Unfortunately, it appears to be a huge mismatch, so it isn’t likely to go out with a bang. Duke’s team and profile are continuing to improve.
-PRINCETON AT YALE (Ivy League). Yale now controls their own destiny in the Ivy League, and will win the automatic bid if they win out.
-HARVARD AT CORNELL (Ivy League). Harvard is the other team that controls their own destiny. They’re in a first place tie with Yale.
-FORDHAM AT RICHMOND (Atlantic Ten). I thought Richmond was done due to injuries, but they haven’t gone away, and likely won’t have too much trouble winning this one at home.
-NEVADA AT NEW MEXICO (Mountain West). New Mexico will be in good shape so long as they hold serve in games like this.
-STANFORD AT WASHINGTON STATE (Pac Twelve). Stanford is on the bubble and really cannot afford to lose to a team as weak as Wazzu.
-KANSAS STATE AT BAYLOR (Big Twelve). Kansas State appears to be safely in the field, but they have been terrible on the road this year. Baylor’s conference record is really hurting their profile and they need to string together some wins just to secure their inclusion.
-WEST VIRGINIA AT TEXAS (Big Twelve). West Virginia is playing really well right now, and can probably end up inside the bubble if they pull off this win. Texas is still safely in the field, but needs to hold serve if they ‘re going to end up as a protected seed.
-OHIO STATE AT ILLINOIS (Big Ten). It’s a road game for Ohio State against a team that won’t make the field.
-BYU AT SAINT MARY’S (West Coast). Both teams are outside the bubble, and need to win out to have any chance at all of getting in.
-LMU AT GONZAGA (West Coast). Gonzaga needs to win out in order to feel safe.
-AIR FORCE AT SAN DIEGO STATE (Mountain West). San Diego State pretty much has not shot at a #1 seed, but should do no worse than the #3 line so long as they hold serve.
