Is it too early to talk bubble??

At MarchManiacs, we say it is never too early to talk bubble. Furthermore, there are more than a few games that have major bubble implications.

Here is a quick guide to a few of the best:

2pm - Oklahoma State @ Texas A&M - It doesn't get any more "bubble" than this one. Both teams are squarely on it, and it is unlikely both will get tourney bids with Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas looking like locks, and Baylor and Missouri ahead of them. There is no way the Big 12 gets seven bids. The winner here has a valuable chip in their pocket for Selection Sunday.

3pm - South Carolina @ Kentucky - After Jodie Meeks' night at Tennessee the nation seemed willing to crown Kentucky the class of the SEC (I like the Cats, but would give the nod to Florida). South Carolina is an intersting team with some firepower and are 4-2 in SEC play, 15-4 overall. A win today puts the Gamecocks in the tourney mix (and comfortably ahead of Tennessee).

5pm - Baylor at Missouri - Same story as Ok St and A&M, only these two teams are positioned a little better. Baylor has the edge of being more highly regarded entering the season. Missouri has been overlooked all year; perhaps deservedly so after the stinkbomb they put up against Kansas State this week. This game probably means more to Missouri's tourney chances, especially since the game is in Colombia.

8pm - Two great ACC buble games; Virginia Tech travels to Boston College and Miami goes to Maryland. All four teams are still in the at-large mix (Va Tech being in good shape, Maryland teetering, the other two textbook "bubble" teams). The ACC has four clear locks, and VA Tech and FSU look to be #5 & #6. These two games go a long way to seeing which other teams will join the mix. Maryland is all but done with another loss or two, so will be scrappy tonight defending their homecourt.

8pm - Wisconsin @ Northwestern - If the Wildcats are going to end the longest tourney-less streak in the land (it is infinity and counting...) tonight's game HAS to be a win. If you were bracketing today, the Big Ten would get six, maybe seven. These two teams would be 8 & 9 respectively. An absolute must win for Northwestern.

10pm - California @ USC - Both teams enter 5-3 in Pac-10 play and solidly on the bubble. The Pac-10 looks to be one of the more up-for-grabs conferences in the nation, but only UCLA and Arizona State have garnered any national buzz. Washington surged out the conference lead with an upset win over UCLA, but appears to be coming back to the pack. Tonight's Cal/SC winner gets a valuable chip when it comes time to decide which four or five teams get to dance.