With lower than six weeks till Choice Sunday and convention races heating up throughout the school basketball panorama, Saturday is about to supply a platform for spectacular theater as the game kicks into excessive gear close to the homestretch of the common season. On faucet we’ve got 21 ranked groups in motion, three ranked vs. ranked matchups and one top-10 vs. top-10 showdown within the Large 12.
On the heart of most individuals’s consideration shall be a night epic as No. 4 Duke travels to No. 14 North Carolina in faculty basketball’s greatest rivalry. Duke is gunning for a fourth consecutive win over UNC, which it isn’t completed in additional than a decade. And it’s making an attempt to take action behind enemy traces vs. a Tar Heels group that — do not look now! — has received fourth straight and located a groove behind stars Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar.
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Within the Large 12, No. 8 Houston travels to face No. 16 BYU in Provo in a recreation that has Large 12 title and NCAA Event seeding implications. Houston has received the league yearly since becoming a member of — however BYU has misplaced simply as soon as all season at residence.
Within the Large Ten there may be an equally massive showdown as No. 5 Illinois, winners of 12 straight, travels to East Lansing to face No. 10 Michigan State. The Illini are tied for first place within the Large Ten standings with Michigan. With eight video games remaining, a win in certainly one of faculty basketball’s greatest environments would do wonders for that group’s convention title hopes.
With a lot at stake and so many super video games on faucet, our group has picks beneath for among the greatest we’ll be watching intently. These picks are beneath.
Odds by way of DraftKings Sportsbook | All occasions ET
No. 5 Illinois at No. 10 Michigan State
8 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (strive at no cost): Illinois has received 12 straight whereas Michigan State, whereas coping with drama surrounding Jeremy Fears, is strolling into this one on a two-game skid. I do know which facet I lean. Maybe it is a entice with the Illini right here — MSU is basically unshakeable at residence underneath Tom Izzo — however the Spartans are 5-5 as residence favorites towards the unfold this season. I will take the Illini. Decide: Illinois +1.5 (Boone)
No. 17 Florida at Texas A&M
8:30 p.m. on SEC Community, fuboTV (strive at no cost): The battle between the No. 1 groups within the present SEC standings ought to be a very good one in Aggieland. I am laying the 4 with Florida right here if I’ve to make a choose, although this one seems like a stay-away. A&M has only one loss all season at residence, and that is maybe the largest residence recreation in School Station because it was within the Large 12. Decide: Florida -6.5 (Boone)
No. 25 Tennessee at Kentucky
8:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (strive at no cost): I do know I’m going to get a pesky and bodily Tennessee protection to indicate up in Lexington. I do not know which model of Kentucky we’ll get Saturday; they’ve received seven of eight however have not been constant regardless of a comparatively smooth schedule in that stretch. I am taking the Vols to get revenge after falling to the Wildcats in Knoxville final month by two. Decide: Tennessee +1.5 —Boone
No. 8 Houston at No. 16 BYU
10:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (strive at no cost): I will lay the purpose right here with Houston. BYU has misplaced three straight and 4 of 5 coming into Saturday’s recreation. This can be a spot Kelvin Sampson-coached groups sometimes pounce on, and an opportunity to stay in Large 12 title competition for his Cougars is greater than sufficient ammo to get Houston up and prepared for a possible shootout. Decide: Houston -1.5 (Boone)
Oregon at No. 12 Purdue
1 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App, Paramount+ Premium: Oregon is 0-13 towards Quad 1 and a couple of opponents this season. The Geese have the longest shedding streak within the convention and have gone from a preseason match group to a gaggle hoping to not end final within the Large Ten. For Oregon to drag the upset, this must be a low-scoring recreation. I do not see that taking place, even when Bittle returns to the lineup. Purdue cruises to a simple win and will get again on observe for good. Decide: Purdue -19 (Salerno)
No. 4 Duke at No. 14 North Carolina
6:30 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (strive at no cost): One further layer is North Carolina’s potent, quick-strike transition assault towards a Duke transition protection that has been shaky a number of occasions this yr. Duke’s halfcourt protection can drive UNC into some hiccups, but when the Tar Heels can get out within the open ground, there are buckets available. Finally, these frontcourts look near a draw. Is Duke’s backcourt this a lot better than UNC’s? I am unable to fairly get there. Decide: North Carolina +5.5 (Trotter)
Who will win and canopy in each faculty basketball recreation? Go to SportsLine to get picks from the mannequin that simulates every recreation 10,000 occasions and is up greater than $1,200 for $100 gamers on its top-rated unfold picks the previous six years.
