Saturday looks like it could be a big day for college basketball. And if so, there’s been a wild day on the hardwood these past few days.
We have already seen ten ranked teams – including five in the top 10 and eight in the top 16 – lose losses in the sport this week. So, with 17 teams ranked on Saturday, high-profile teams are likely to stumble in a similar way.
From the tap for the day, include rankings in the SEC, Big 12 and Big Ten, with real implications for conference title at stake as the regular season slowly comes to a halt.
Our staff has reconvened to lay out our choices for the day ahead, so scroll on to counter the spread and give advice to fade or follow as you wish.
Jonathan Coachman joins Mike McClure to hand out the best bets in the NBA and College Basketball for Saturday on The Early Edge. Download The Early Edge and record it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
11 Tennessee in Kentucky
Last chance:
Tennessee Volunteers -3.5
When: 20:00 | Where: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Between the two striking defensive units and the two struggling offensive units of Kentucky and Tennessee, this game has a real first to 60 wins type vibe. In this context, I actually think the UK has a fighting shot, with its defined struggle aside. It has managed to hang around in good games against good teams several times this season, and Tennessee is 4-3 in games decided by singles figures. So if there was finally a time in the UK – finally – got a breakthrough, maybe it’s against a Vols team that has cooled down after a strong start to SEC play. Forecast: Kentucky 60, Tennessee 59 – Kyle Boone
So who wins every college basketball game today? And what underdogs get beautiful upset? Visit SportsLine now to choose for each match, everything from the unbiased model that simulates 10,000 matches each match, and find out.
No.10 Alabama in Missouri no. 18
When: Dinner | Where: Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Missouri
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Alabama used to be home to Covertown, USA. It has discussed ten of his last 12 and 12 of his 19 games this season. More so, it was tremendous on the road against the spread and covered the number in four of its five away games. So give me Crimson Tide here. They face a Mizzou team that plays two consecutive on-the-wire games and is surely shot. This is a recipe for success for an Alabama team that is going to run up and down at a frenetic pace. Forecast: Alabama 81, Missouri 70 – Kyle Boone
19 Wisconsin at No. 12 in Illinois
When: 14:30 | Where: State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois
TV: Jackals | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
There is nothing about Wisconsin’s recent series of games that suggests it could go down the road and cause a stir here. But there is everything about Wisconsin under Greg Gard in recent history to suggest that it can do just that. The Badgers have been 17-4 in regular games the last three seasons under Gard in February and March. And specifically against Illinois, they have won 15 of their last 16 appearances against the Illini, with the lone loss last season winning a 15-game winning streak against the Illini. Forecast: Wisconsin 69, Illinois 67 – Kyle Boone
No. 23 Kansas at 17 West Virginia
When: 14:00 | Where: WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, West Virginia
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (free)
OTT: CBS Sports App (Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast)
Kansas is struggling along the way, and West Virginia is seeking revenge after a weak defensive effort against the Jayhawks in December. See if the Mountaineers will keep KU under 65 this time around and possibly drop them from the top 25 for the first time since the 2008-’09 season. Forecast: West Virginia 79, Kansas 71 – David Cobb
Washington in Oregon
When: 16:00 | Where: Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon
TV: CBS | Live stream: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (free)
OTT: CBS Sports App (Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast)
Oregon is still finding its groove after having to stand still due to COVID-19 issues, and Washington has shown explosive offensive. The Ducks are the pick to win straight, but don’t be surprised if the Huskies cover the 14-point spread. Forecast: Oregon 75, Washington 68 – David Cobb
North Carolina by Duke
When: 18:00 | Where: Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina
TV: ESPN | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Duke has been playing better basketball lately. The two-point road loss to Miami aside, it looks like it’s starting to take a turn as freshmen Jalen Johnson shows up strong. So with Johnson’s rise and Matthew Hurt’s ongoing All-ACC production, Duke is at home against his rival in the state – in which he has won three times in the series – is my lie here. Maybe this’s the last chance to really fix his NCAA Tournament credentials, and I do not think Duke is going to shut up. Forecast: Duke 70, UNC 64 – Kyle Boone