The busiest Saturday of the college basketball season is just around the corner. On the docket, we have 20 ranked teams in action all day, highlighted by a huge Big 12 showdown between No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Arizona, and a rare non-conference treat between No. 1 Michigan and No. 3 Duke.
Conference racing will continue to take shape as the big games take place, but more illuminating will be the form of the sport’s top title contenders. Rarely do we get ranked between highly ranked teams, but we get #2 vs. #4 and #1 vs. #3 in a few hours.
We also get #10 Illinois vs. UCLA in a pivotal Big Ten showdown, No. 6 Iowa State at No. 23 BYU in a meaningful Big 12 matchup, and the Darryn Peterson-led Kansas Jayhawks welcome Cincinnati to Lawrence, Kansas.
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Isaac Trotter
Our team of experts has the best picks for the biggest games of the day below.
Chance via DraftKings Sportsbook | All times ET
Cincinnati at No. 8 Kansas
1 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App, Paramount+ Premium: KU is 6-3 at home against the spread this season and has been playing its best basketball for most of the past month — save for a confusing no-show loss at Iowa State last Saturday. With this pick, I’m putting the points on the Jayhawks. The The noise from Darryn Peterson has reached deafening levels in recent days after another early exit, and I think he will be out to prove that he is the undisputed No. 1 prospect in this year’s NBA Draft class. Choice: KU -11.5(Boone)
No. 4 Arizona at No. 2 Houston
3pm on ABC, fuboTV (try for free): It’s hard to imagine a world in which Arizona goes from zero to three losses in less than two weeks. But that’s a reality I choose here. Facing this Houston team anywhere, let alone at home, is a tough task, much less without the services of Koa Peat. Tommy Lloyd’s team is able to stay this close, but the Coogs have too many weapons. Choice: Houston -5.5 (Boone)
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 3 Duke
6:30 PM on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): I believe an opinion that may very well age badly: this Michigan line is too low. I would have guessed this would be Michigan -6 or -7. It leads in scoring margins, has the No. 1 defense in adjusted efficiency at KenPom and, at least on paper, is well equipped to match what Duke does best. I’ll give the points to the Wolverines. Choice: Michigan -2.5 (Boone)
No. 10 Illinois at UCLA
9pm on Fox, fuboTV (try for free): Things quickly went sideways for UCLA after an advance to Michigan this week resulted in two losses to Michigan and Michigan State by 30 and 23 points, respectively. Mick Cronin will have his Bruins playing for pride, if nothing else, as they return home to take on Illinois. Whether that will be enough remains to be seen — I think Illinois wins this one, say, 75-70 — but the Bruins manage to put together a respectable performance after a loss. Pick: UCLA +6.5 (Boone)
No. 6 Iowa State at No. 23 BYU
10:30 PM on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): It’s hard to feel good about BYU right now after it lost sharpshooter Richie Saunders to a season-ending ACL injury. So I’m going with my gut here with Iowa State to get a win. This Cyclones team is dangerous defensively and is playing with all their might after picking up wins over Kansas and Houston this past week. A short-handed Cougars team can still put up a fight, but I don’t think they have the horses to pull it off against this ISU team. Choice: ISU -3.5 (Boone)
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