Editor’s note: This is one of five posts in a series tackling the seemingly eternal debate in college basketball involving at-large bids: mid-major vs. middling major.

Given the opportunity to go to bat for the so-so power-conference team or the plucky mid-major, I’ve come to the conclusion that I ultimately can’t choose between them.

Why the not-so-bold opinion? Because even when using the subjective eye test among teams I’ve personally seen play, I struggle to tell them apart.

Let’s use two bubble teams that fit the description: Oklahoma State and Utah State.

At the 76 Classic in November, I watched the Cowboys squeak past Big East lightweight DePaul, lose a close one to a healthier Virginia Tech team and race past mid-major Murray State on their way to a 13-2 start to the season.

Three weeks ago, I saw the Aggies go on the road and beat San Jose State by 19 to extend what was at the time the nation’s third-longest winning streak, which ended at 17 games last week at Idaho.

Both teams looked good. Oklahoma State’s Marshall Moses was able to bully his way into the paint for points and rebounds while Keiton Page shot the lights out in the final game against Murray State, as both had career games in the tournament. Quite similarly, I saw Utah State feature skilled big man Tai Wesley while 3-point specialist Brian Green had the hot hand.

Are the two teams really that different? One of them doesn’t have a single signature win. The other is Oklahoma State, which has had opportunities in the Big 12 and managed to knock off ranked teams in Missouri and Kansas State. But the Cowboys have done little else besides beating Alabama back when the Crimson Tide were a non-factor.

Utah State has the higher RPI based on its lack of losses, but the Aggies whiffed in their opportunities against BYU and Georgetown. The WAC doesn’t offer the chance to pick up big wins, so their best victory might have been against Big West leader Long Beach State.

And those are just the positives. After the nice start, Oklahoma State proceeded to lose five of its next six games with the setbacks sandwiching an overtime win against last-place Iowa State. For Utah State, while it’s beaten everyone else in the conference, it also saw its winning streak snapped on the road against Idaho, a middle-of-the-road WAC team at best.

So both teams could be deserving, but maybe the answer is neither gets in depending on how the final weeks of the season go.

Oklahoma State visits Texas tonight, followed by games with Texas A&M and Kansas. The Cowboys have a chance to pick up a résumé-building win or lose by double-digits in each of the showdowns.

For Utah State, coach Stew Morrill would love nothing more than a win on Saturday at Saint Mary’s, if for no other reason than to silence those who believe the Aggies haven’t beaten anybody this season. A victory against the top WCC team would give them some breathing room in case they don’t win the WAC tournament championship.

Would it be enough if the Aggies lose in the WAC tourney? Should it be enough?

That’s for the selection committee to decide, not me. And thank goodness for that.