I will repost the Super Bowl Preview Tomorrow, but as promised here is the latest spec, hot off the presses 
The movin and shaking is going on in earnest barely a week into February a few teams have solidified their status while others have seen their chances take serious hits. 

Atlantic Coast 
(Conference Class-Power) 
Solid: Duke, Maryland, Virginia 
Work to do: North Carolina, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Georgia Tech 
Skinny on the ACC: No one but Duke is doing anything here to improve their standing, and Georgia Tech needs to get above .500 to get back on the Solid line. Carolina is in serious trouble. 
Key Game: Duke at Boston College Saturday 2p The Golden Eagles can get a serious look if they knock off the Dukies in Chestnut Hill 
Projected Bids: 5 

Atlantic Ten 
Conference Class-Mid Major 
Solid: Temple, Xavier 
Work to do: Dayton, Rhode Island, Charlotte, Richmond 
The A-10 Spec is: Temple is nationally ranked and looking like it, Xavier pounded through a softer part of the schedule and after a tricky roadie at UMass, have a pair of much tougher road dates at Dayton and an intriguing non-con at Florida. The working teams can improve their status with wins this week 
Key Games: Xavier at Dayton Saturday Noon This is a heated rivalry with the schools less than 45 mins from one another, the Flyers are super tough at home and the Muskies are a big target at 8-1 in the A-10 
Temple at Richmond Saturday 2p The Spiders could get a huge boost if they knock off the nationally ranked Owls 
Projected Bids: 3 

Big East 
Conference Class-Power 
Solid: Syracuse, Villanova, West Virginia, Georgetown, Pitt 
Work to do: Cincy, South Florida Louisville, Notre Dame, UConn 
Big East Skinny: Of the Solids, Pitts 4 losses in 5 games is troubling, but they are still safe for now a loss to Seton Hall puts them off the solid list. UConn is in all kinds of trouble as its frightening slide is getting them close to being booted off the list all together, South Florida added its name to the growing list of Big East teams that are doing the kind of work to solidify their chances. Their Wednesday upset of top ten G’Town is proving that their defeat of Pitt was no fluke. Notre Dame gets closer to being safe barring a late slide. Louisville is far from safe as beating UConn doesn’t carry the weight its used to. Cincy is getting itself in trouble with getting housed in South Bend and Syracuse will do them worse if they arent careful 
Key Game: Seton Hall at Pitt Saturday 6p After a rough road stretch, the Panthers return to the Oakland Zoo but the Hall can be problematic. 
Projected bids: 8 

Big Ten 
Conference Class-Power 
Solid: Michigan State, Purdue, Wisconsin, Ohio State 
Work to do: Illinois, Minnesota 
The word on the Big Ten is: What ever doubts the critics had on Wisconsin, they quieted them by housing Michigan State in front of a deliriously happy home crowd in Madison, but there still is a 3 team log jam at 7-3 with Purdue a ½ game back of that group. Minnesota is teetering on the verge of being out 
Key Game: Michigan State at Illinois Saturday 9p (ESPN) The Illini keep yelling “What about us?” Catching a Michigan State team coming off a loss might not be an easy task but if done will get them more consideration 
Projected Bids: 5 

Big 12 
Conference Class-Power 
Solid: Kansas, Texas, Kansas State, Baylor 
Work to do: Oklahoma State, Missouri, Texas A&M, 
Skinny from the heartland: Much ado was made about Kansas getting taken to OT by a middling Colorado, the fact will remain that Kansas will be the prize buck to bolster a teams tourney hopes from now till selection Sunday. New to the solid neighborhood is Baylor whose national ranking make them good candidates as long as they maintain their solid pace. 
Key Game: Texas A&M at Baylor Saturday 4p The Aggies want to be included on the solid line and Baylor wants to prove that they belong, a win is big for either. 
Projected Bids: 5 

Conference USA 
Conference Class-Major 
Solid: None 
Work to do: Tulsa, UAB, UTEP, Memphis 
Oh Say Can You C-USA Spec: Memphis upended UAB and knocked the Blazers from the top C-USA spot, this sets up a showdown between UTEP and Tulsa in El Paso with the winner solidifying their tourney chances. Memphis is still a dangerous dark horse here. 
Key Game: Tulsa at UTEP Saturday 10p A critical game for the C-USA lead, both teams are 7-1 in conference 
Projected Bids: 1 


Horizon 
Conference Class-Mid Major 
Solid: Butler 
Work to do: Wright State, Cleveland State 
Spec on The Horizon: Butler toyed with Detroit and this league is starting to look like a one-bid 
Key Game: Wright State at Butler Saturday 8:05p (ESPN2) Its win now to bring Butler back to the pack or have to go through Hinkle for a NCAA bid, the Raiders are trying to slow down the Bulldogs who if they win here are virtually bulletproof. 
Projected Bids: 1 

IVY 
Conference Class-Small 
Solid: Cornell 
Work To Do: Princeton 
Spec on the Ivy Vine: Cornell is getting that bulletproof look about them, Princeton has two cellar dweller to keep from tripping over before a potential battle of unbeatens next week with ranked Cornell 
Key Game: Princeton at Darmouth Saturday 7p Princeton has a super short turnaround from a tough battle with Harvard last night 
Projected Bids: 1 


Missouri Valley 
Conference Class-Mid Major 
Solid: Northern Iowa 
Work to do: Wichita State, Illinois State 
Missouri Valley Skinny: Northern Iowa continues to be the class of this league, holding off a tough Shockers squad and strengthening its hold on the MVC lead. Wichita State must bounce back from this loss 
Key Game: Drake at Illinois State Saturday 8p If Illinois State wants to get clear of a three team morass in 4th they need to beat the Bulldogs 
Projected Bids: 2 


Mountain West 
Conference Class-Major 
Solid: BYU, New Mexico 
Work to do: UNLV 
Spec from the Mountains: UNLV is edging close to solid status and a win against BYU at the Thomas & Mack will aid that endeavor. New Mexico for the most part is pretty safe though a potential pitfall against a decent but unremarkable San Diego State team looms. 
Key Game: BYU at UNLV Saturday 4p The Rebels look to really stamp their tourney worthiness against the MWC leading & ranked Cougars 
Projected Bids: 2 


Pacific 10 
Conference Class-Power 
Solid: Arizona State 
Work to do: Cal, Arizona, UCLA, Washington, 
Spec from the left coast: Someones has got to take control of this conference! Arizona State has the best overall record here and have moved to the Solid line but its shaky at best. There are 4 teams at 6-4 and all of them have warts. 
Key Games: Cal at UCLA 4p Saturday (CBS) A battle of so-so Bears & Bruins is for a share of the Pac-10 lead Arizona State at Washington Saturday 10:30p (FoxSports) The Sun Devils are right now the king of a very small hill and the Huskies are trying to make a late run 
Projected Bids: 3 



Southeastern 
Conference Class-Power 
Solid: Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Mississippi State 
Work to do: South Carolina, Florida, Ole Miss, 
Spec is Down South: The Wildcats looked almost bored in thumping Ole Miss and the Rebels now fall to the working column. Vandy & Tennessee look pretty safe and Mississippi State is ok for now but they need continue winning to quiet doubters 
Key Game: Mississippi State at Florida Saturday 1:30p Both these teams need a resume building win 
Projected Bids: 6 


Western Athletic 
Conference Class- Major 
Solid: None 
Work to do: La. Tech, New Mexico State, Utah State 
Spec on the WAC: Utah State roared out to a big lead and coasted home to a big win Wednesday, now they need to prove that they are ready to hold on to the top WAC slot. Both La. Tech and New Mexico State are eyeing one another past dates with San Jose State 
Key Game: Nevada at Utah State 10:05 Saturday (ESPNU) The Aggies are atop the WAC and the Wolfpack are trying to get in a quality win. 
Projected Bids: 2 

West Coast 
Conference Class- Mid Major 
Solid: Gonzaga 
Work to do: St. Mary’s, Portland 
West Coast Spec: The Bulldogs (I refuse to call them the Zags) thrashed the Pilots and are prepping for a deep March run. St. Mary’s has hit 20 wins, but had better not get the lookaheads to Gonzaga or lest they trip over a San Francisco team that has already knocked off Gonzaga. 
Key Game: Gonzaga at Memphis Saturday 4p (ESPN2) This is more a trap game for Gonzaga than a resume builder now. 
Projected Bids: 1 

There are others in the mix to be sure. Teams from the always dangerous Colonial and Big South always are in the mix and can send multiple teams. Of course the champions from the following conferences get an automatic bid: Amer. East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big West, MAC, MAAC, MEAC, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Sun Belt, Summit, and SWAC 

Since this is still early spec, nothing here is solid and we haven't even brought up the possibility of upsets. But those never happen, right? 

Next Spec Sheet 2/8 Cheers from the Cheap Seats!