Get ready for the best Saturday we’ve had so far and we’ll probably have the rest of this college basketball season. That’s right, with five games with both teams ranked in the AP Top 25, we’ll have December Madness as teams prepare for a holiday break.
Put on your best Jesse Katsopolis voice and say these two magic words with me: Haaaaave pity. Because Saturday’s college basketball slate absolutely deserves it.
We do not have. 8 Kansas hosting at No. 14 Indiana at Allen Fieldhouse early in the day. We do not have. 2 Virginia hosting No. 5 Houston in the middle of the afternoon. And oh, by the way, the CBS Sports Classic doubleheader between No. 23 ohio state and North Carolina first followed by No. 13 Kentucky and No. 16 UCLA all inside Madison Square Garden, too. For night owls, there’s also a real late-night treat with No. 6 Tennessee — armed with the No. 1 defense in America — taking on the No. 1 defense in America. 9 Arizona – armed with the No. 1 offense in America — inside the McKale Center.
So here is, have mercy In effect.
Our experts have picks and predictions for the biggest matches of the day here.
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern
Featured Game | Virginia Cavaliers vs. Houston Cougars
2 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) — You can overthink games like this trying to factor in venue, home advantage, performance on the road – but I keep it simple. I choose the best team. It’s Houston. Then I’ll take the Cougars. They’re gonna feast on the offensive glass and I’m waiting Marcus Sasser to regain his All-American form after some streaky play lately. Prediction: Houston -2 (Boone)
Featured Game | North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
3 p.m. | SCS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (To free) — It’s a pretty even match on paper, but I kind of like the Tar Heels. Armand BacotThe size of the painting and the production on the glass will give adjustments to the state of Ohio. The Buckeyes don’t really have anyone in the position who can slow him down. If UNC does what it needs to do – which is feed Bacot and attack in the paint – then I think the No. 1 Tar Heels preseason can squeak that in the near. Prediction: UNC Pick ’em (Boone)
Featured Game | Kentucky Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins
5:15 p.m. | SCS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (To free) — Kentucky’s Big Man Star Oscar Tshiebwe going to be a problem for UCLA. Although the five-star freshman center Adam Bona Showed tons of promise for the Bruins, Tshiebwe should be salivating at the thought of bullying a young player on the block. Assuming UCLA brings in double teams, this game could come down to Kentucky’s ability to knock down perimeter shots. The Wildcats have been solid in that regard so far this season, shooting 39.2 percent from beyond the arc. Even in an unfamiliar setting in London a few weeks ago, Kentucky went 9 of 15 from deep with four different players getting in on the action in a big win. Michigan. Look for the British attack to remain balanced enough here to claim victory. Prediction: Kentucky +1.5 (Cobb)
Featured Game | Arizona Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers
10:30 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) — It’s delicate. It pits the No. 1 offense (Arizona) against the No. 1 defense (Tennessee) inside the McKale Center. Which side wins? Vegas seems to like the Vols in this one a bit, but I like the Wildcats a lot in this one, so give me the Wildcats to win and cover. Tennessee has guns everywhere to slow Arizona’s prolific offense, but between Oumar Ballo, Azuolas tubelis, Courtney RameyKerr Krissa and Pelle Larson, there are simply too many scorers to stumble completely. Prediction: Arizona -2.5 (Boone)
12 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) — Indiana hasn’t been quite the same team in its last three games with the star freshman Jalen Hood Schifino on the shelf with a wound. The attack lacks pop and play. Even if it comes back, it’s reasonable to expect some rust. That’s one of the reasons I like KU minus the points here. Another reason is more obvious: KU is home nails under Bill Self. He’s won 11 straight inside Allen Fieldhouse and is 297-16(!) at the site under Self. A win on the money line is an almost automatic bet for KU, but I also like to score points. Prediction: Kansas -6 (Boone)
Featured Game | Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
1 p.m. | SCS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (To free) — Alabama beat Gonzaga 91-82 in Seattle last season. This Crimson Tide team was less talented and much more erratic than this year’s version. Gonzaga is still trying to figure out his collective identity beyond the stardom of Drew Timme. With this year’s game being played in Birmingham, the Crimson Tide should have the edge in terms of fan support. Though young, this Alabama team proved last week in a road win over Houston that they can handle pressure situations. Prediction: Alabama -1.5 (Cob)
Who will win and cover in every college basketball game? Visit SportsLine for picks of the model that simulates every game 10,000 times and is up over $1,200 for $100 players on his top spread picks over the past six years.
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