Bracketology 2022: 6 most likely bid thieves heading into conference tournaments

3. Potential March Madness bid thieves – Belmont Bruins

The Ohio Valley Conference usually isn’t a multi-bid league but there is significant potential for that to happen if someone can topple Murray State. A 28-2 record combined with a perfect 18-0 mark in conference play means that the Racers will go dancing even if they lose in Evansville, which is a frightening scenario for the bubble.

The good news for potential bubblers is that the Racers have looked dominant against their league, which has enabled them to enter the polls over the past several weeks. A tight win over 13-17 Southeast Missouri State over the weekend is proof that Murray State can be beaten on a bad night, which offers hope to a team like Belmont.

The Bruins have been flirting with the bubble all year long after a solid non-conference performance that saw them get to the final of the ESPN Events Invitational and win at Saint Louis. The problem is that the Bruins lost to Ohio in non-conference play and dropped three games in OVC play, leaving them in an auto-bid or bust scenario this week.

That kind of desperation could give them an edge against the Racers, who may take a foot off the gas if they don’t feel as much pressure to win as Belmont does. If the Bruins can find a way to knock off Murray State their ticket will cost someone else a spot in the NCAA Tournament.