With solely two faculty soccer video games on the Saturday slate, faculty basketball will take heart stage this weekend with a handful of marquee nonconference matchups. The enjoyable begins in Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon when No. 17 Texas A&M faces No. 11 Purdue within the Indy Classic on CBS.
Texas A&M’s matchup towards Purdue will not be the one impartial website recreation that attracts eyeballs. No. 2 Auburn faces Ohio State at State Farm Center in Atlanta, and previous Pac-12 foes Arizona and UCLA will renew their West Coast rivalry in Phoenix. To shut out the night time, No. 8 Gonzaga faces No. 8 UConn in New York.
One of the perfect rivalries in faculty basketball will write its newest chapter when No. 5 Kentucky hosts Louisville. For the primary time in over 15 years, somebody apart from John Calipari will probably be roaming the sidelines for the house group after the previous Kentucky coach left for the vacant job at Arkansas this previous offseason. Kentucky has received 5 of the final six conferences towards Louisville.
Odds by way of SportsLine consensus | All instances Eastern
No. 17 Texas A&M vs. No. 11 Purdue in Indianapolis
12 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App and Paramount+ with Showtime (attempt it free) — The magic quantity for Purdue is 25. The Boilermakers are 25-1 when Braden Smith and fellow guard Fletcher Loyer mix to attain at the very least 25 factors. On the opposite aspect, Texas A&M has a star guard in Wade Taylor lV. Taylor is one 3-pointer away from becoming a member of Josh Carter as the one participant in program historical past with at the very least 250 pictures made out of past the arc. Purdue wins a detailed one. Pick: Purdue -2.5
1 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (Try totally free) — Auburn appeared like the perfect group within the nation earlier than shedding to Duke earlier this month at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Tigers responded with a blowout win over Richmond and will problem for the No. 1 spot within the rankings relying on how the remainder of the weekend shakes out. The Buckeyes will make this recreation fascinating and canopy the unfold. Prediction: Ohio State +11.5
No. 24 UCLA vs. Arizona in Phoenix
3 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (Try totally free) — If you grew up a fan of Pac-12 basketball, this recreation is for you. Although UCLA and Arizona aren’t members of the identical convention, the applications have agreed to maintain this rivalry going till at the very least 2027. Arizona is off to a sluggish begin, whereas UCLA has received its final seven video games after shedding to New Mexico within the opening week. UCLA covers and wins outright. Prediction: UCLA +3
3:15 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try totally free) — NC State will play its first true street recreation of the season in some of the hostile environments within the nation. Kansas is coming off back-to-back losses after beginning 7-0 however returns to Allen Fieldhouse with a chance to choose up a win towards a program contemporary off an look within the Final Four. Kansas wins, however NC State covers. Prediction: NC State +14.5
5:15 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try totally free) — The traditional “throw the data out the window” line each time rivals face off could not be more true on this state of affairs. Kentucky is a double-digit favourite at residence over Louisville, however this recreation ought to be shut. Kentucky has appeared rejuvenated beneath Mark Pope, whereas Louisville coach Pat Kelsey has introduced a glimmer of hope right into a as soon as proud program. The Wildcats ought to defend residence court docket, however the Cardinals will preserve it fascinating down the stretch. Pick: Louisville +12
5:30 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV (Try totally free) — Illinois can create some chaos within the rankings with a win over No. 1 Tennessee. The Volunteers are off to a 9-0 begin, however it will mark solely the second time they’ve performed a real street recreation this season. Tennessee defeated Louisville 77-55 final month on the street, however that is its greatest check. Illinois pulls off the upset and wins outright. Side be aware: If you have not watched Illinois guard Kasparas Jakučionis play but, that is the time to begin. Prediction: Illinois
No. 8 Gonzaga vs. No. 18 UConn in New York
8 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV (Try totally free) — Dan Hurley’s UConn squad has appeared weak at instances this season, however this could possibly be an opportunity to get again on observe. Gonzaga has appeared elite throughout elements of the season, and a win over UConn would additional enhance its résumé and solidify itself as a top-five group. Prediction: Gonzaga -3
Who will win and canopy in each faculty basketball recreation? Visit SportsLine to get picks from the mannequin that simulates every recreation 10,000 instances and is up greater than $1,200 for $100 gamers on its top-rated unfold picks the previous six years.
