Friday night’s slate was highlighted by Miami (OH) getting to 17-0, and USC/Minnesota going to OT! From a football stance, Indiana dominated Oregon to roll to the title vs. Miami (fl) in Miami!

Saturday:

Nebraska @ Indiana | Noon, BTN

I don’t think I can overstate how important this game is for IU’s tournament hopes. They really need to get wins over top teams in the Big Ten and especially at home. For Nebraska, they are somehow still not getting the respect they deserve.

Boston College @ Louisville | Noon, The CW Network

Louisville should roll here.

Tennessee @ Florida | Noon, ESPN

Tier 2 of the SEC right now includes both of these teams. Both are fighting on the 4-7 range at the moment and are looking to solidify their resumes a bit. This matchup is going to shape both team’s outlooks SEC play.

Kansas @ West Virginia | Noon, FOX

Kansas should win this one. Getting and staying healthy and working on cohesion as a team is vital right now. KU favored by 5.

VCU @ George Mason | Noon, ESPNU

Battle of tournament hopefuls here in the A-10. This would be a huge boost to VCU’s resume if they could get a win, and while not Q1 for GM, would really help solidify their hopes and help their metrics! This projects as a toss-up.

Georgia Tech @ Miami (FL) | Noon, ESPN2

Miami is finally getting some respect. Now? They need to keep it. This game is a bit trappy and GT has played some close games with top teams this year.

NC State @ Florida State | Noon, ACCN

Wolfpack are desperate to prove they’re a tournament team. Well, tournament teams beat Florida State this year. Duke did that, however, they struggled a ton with them. Could an upset be brewing? NC State favored by 6.

DePaul @ UConn | 12:30 TNT

The Buzzsaw that UConn is shouldn’t struggle at all with the Demons here.

Wisconsin @ Michigan | 1:00, CBS

Beginning of the year, I thought tthis was going to be a monumental national matchup. Now? Another opportunity for Michigan to show they’re the best team in the country… or perhaps, an opportunity for Wisconsin to jump back in? Michigan is favored by a staggering NINETEEN

Houston @ Baylor | 1:00, Peacock

Upset coming in Waco?! Baylor is going to likely knock off a top team at some point this year, especially at home. I think Houston has final four talent but hasn’t gotten it fully together (yet). Houston is favored by 2 points currently.

LSU @ Vanderbilt | 1:00, SECN

Vanderbilt is coming off a massive, program defining win over Alabama this week. Do they have a let-down against an LSU team who is just not impressive this year? Dores favored by 13.

Penn State @ Purdue | 2:00, BTN

Purdue should dominate here. However, the Nittany Lions have proven they can compete with top teams.

SMU @ Duke | 2:00, ESPN

This one is really intriguing. If anyone’s gonna catch Duke this year, someone’s gotta beat them sooner than later. I don’t believe SMU is that team, however, SMU has been very impressive this year and their guards are very good. Duke favored by 7.

Georgia @ South Carolina | 2:00, ESPN2

South Carolina has been competitive at times this year, and while UGA is extremely athletic, they lean into the 3 too much and aren’t necessarily great at it. This one could be close in Columbia.

St. John’s @ Creighton | 2:00, FS1

Big East. Big Moments. Big Bubble Battle! This is one of, if not the most impactful game on the schedule for these two teams the rest of the year. Right now, Creighton is OUT and SJU is IN. That would change quickly if Creighton was able to beat SJU this afternoon. Creighton favored by 1 in a tossup.

Syracuse @ Pittsburgh | 2:00, ACCN

Both teams are likely without a tournament hope. Loser is pretty much completely done.

Stanford @ Virginia | 2:15, The CW

Suddenly, Stanford is looking like a tournament team and creeping towards brackets. However, they could use a Q1 road win to help balance out their Q3 losses. Good thing UVA would qualify! For UVA, they’ve got to be careful to not be looking ahead to Louisville on Tuesday here.

Villanova @ Marquette | 2:30, TNT

Villanova cannot afford to lose this one or their margin for error would be gone. Nova comes in a 5/6 Nova favored by 8.

Kansas State @ Arizona State | 3:00, Peacock

This one is another game that likely sees the loser practically pushed out of the tournament hopeful page altogether. The winner won’t be in a good spot, but the Big 12 is a war and this is one of the few truly winable games on the schedule. Game is a practical tossup.

South Florida @ Tulsa | 3:00, ESPN+

Any Hope Tulsa has of an at-large hinges on this game. Tulsa needs solid wins and this would be exactly that. Tulsa is favored by 5.

New Mexico @ Air Force | 3:00, MWC

Any UNM hopes for a tournament appearance involve a win here.

Oklahoma @ Texas A&M | 3:30, SECN

Oklahoma is squarely on the bubble right now and fading quickly in SEC play. A&M is playing solid ball right now and moving towards the bubble. Big opportunity along bubble teams! A&M favored by 4.

Arizona @ TCU | 4:00, ESPN

Arizona is going into Schollmaier Arena favored by 9. TCU, while solid, is coming off a horrible collapse in Lawrence Kansas and a loss they shouldn’t have taken. Arizona has looked borderline unbeatable this year. Wildcats should roll.

Oklahoma State @ Iowa State | 4:00, ESPN2

Oklahoma State has a really solid record. However, no marquee wins. Iowa State is undefeated and has one of the toughest arenas to win in in the country. ISU is favored by 20. The clones should roll!

Valparaiso @ Murray State | 4:00, ESPN+

Murray State is on one of the longest winning streaks in the country right now! Valpo isn’t great overall, and this should be a Racer win!

Saint Louis @ La Salle

SLU cannot afford a loss here.

California @ Virginia Tech

California has been around the bubble, but has faded a bit in recent weeks. This is a chance to grab a huge Q1 road win on their east coast trip. However, Virginia Tech, especially at home is very tough and I’d expect the Hokies to win here.

Saint Francis @ LIU

LIU is 3-0 in the NEC… when Will they lose? SFPA is really solid, and this should be a good one.

Washington State @ Saint Mary’s | 5:00, CBSSN

SMC should roll here, but these are the kinds of landmines SMC will face all year.

Montana State @ Idaho | 5:00, ESPN+

This is a really important Big Sky matchup. Montana will likely go to 4-0 today vs. Eastern Washington. Can Montana State keep pace?

Arkansas @ Auburn | 6:00, ESPN

We have a toss-up in Auburn, AL tonight! This is a really fun matchup and while I think Auburn is a tournament team, they haven’t proven it yet. They remind me a ton of UNC from last year. For Arkansas, like I’ve mentioned, I really think this team is built to consistently win and feels like the construction I’ve seen from Cal’s best teams. This will be fun!

Wake Forest @ North Carolina | 6:00, ACCN

Rivalry matchup, with key tournament implications? THIS is college basketball! Now, Wake Forest is coming in as 9 point road dogs and I don’t trust a Forbes team to be able to win @ UNC with Wilson. This would, however, push Wake towards being in the tournament. UNC is in a fabulous spot right now and profiles as a 3/4.

UNI @ Bradley | 6:00, ESPNU

More MVC action as the conference continues to be awesome!

Seton Hall @ Georgetown | 6:00, FS1

These two have flipped roles to start the year. We all expected Georgetown to be much better than they have been. The Pirates weren’t supposed to be good, however, they look like one of the top Big East teams this year. Currently, the Pirates profile along the bubble, 10 seed or so. Pirates favored by 4.

Clemson @ Notre Dame | 6:00, ESPN2

Going to South Bend is never easy, and this year is no different; however, tournament teams should win this one. Clemson favored by 1.

Missouri @ Ole Miss | 6:00, SECN

Missouri needs to carry the momentum from Lexington to Oxford. Chance to jump into the bracket on Monday with a win here.

Texas Tech @ Colorado | 7:00, CBSSN

Tech can’t afford a loss here in the overall Big 12 race.

Texas @ Alabama | 8:00, ESPN

How does Texas respond to Miller calling them out after the ugly loss in Knoxville? Is Alabama fully healthy? Both questions shape this one. Right now, Texas is clearly out, and Alabama is fighting for a 2/3 seed.

Maryland @ UCLA | 8:00, FOX

What did Mick Cronin do to have to go over to the East Coast to play, then back for 1 game vs. Maryland at home and then turn around and leave? Either way, that’s what’s happening today. UCLA needs to win this one, and do so convincingly.

Mississippi State @ Kentucky | 8:30. SECN

Mississippi State is one of the hottest teams in the SEC right now, with Hubbard leading the way. UK is in a tailspin and now without JQ. This game will have a ton of eyes on it as we continue to see how these two progress this year. UK favored by 9.

Utah State @ Boise State | 9:00, CBSSN

Mid-major game of the day!! USU is going into the night favored by 2. However, Boise is scrappy and this will be a fun one. I expect to see this one come down to the final posessions. Boise needs a win like this to have a shot at the NCAAT and these opportunities aren’t frequent.

BYU @ Utah | 10:00, ESPN

BYU should dominate the holy war this year. Favored by 14.

Wyoming @ Nevada | 10:00, MWCN

Key MWC matchup!

Loyola Marymount @ Santa Clara | 10:00, ESPN+

This will be an entertaining matchup in the middle tier of the WCC.

UC Irvine @ Hawai’i | 11:59, ESPN+

Hawai’i test, basketball edition!! This is a massive matchup in Honolulu on what will be Sunday morning for me. Hawaii is favored by 5 right now, but this is a key Big West matchup.