Saturday’s college basketball chalkboard is going to be a sucker with potential for fireworks throughout the day. With 14 ranked teams on the road, most of whom are either narrow favorites or narrow underdogs, we could be in for a rowdy day in esports that could shake things up again just a week after a Saturday dinner that saw 11 ranked teams stumble – most in a single day since 2011.
In the ACC, No. 10 Virginia and No. 17 Miami are in Wake Forest and Duke, respectively. In the Big 12, No. 7 Texas pulls a tough roadie in West Virginia, while No. 12 Iowa State and No. 21 Baylor travel to the Sooner State to face Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, respectively. In the SEC, No. 4 Alabama is in Missouri, No. 9 Tennessee travels to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to face LSU, and No. 16 Auburn draws a talented team from South Carolina to Colonial Life Arena.
Chaos abounds, so prepare accordingly.
Below, our experts have tips and predictions for the biggest games of the day in arguably one of the best standalone tables of the season so far.
Odds on Caesars Sportsbook | All times Easter
No. 17 Miami at Duke
12 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — With Cameron Indoor Stadium and a loss to Clemson with a week of preparation left, Duke looks like a slight favorite here to defend his home field advantage. But a few of us, myself included, like Miami at this point to pull the W straight up. With Jeremy Roach still out, the Blue Devils’ backcourt is still a sore spot and Miami’s guard game, which is among the best in the ACC, is well positioned to take advantage. Prediction: Miami +5.5 – Boone
1 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Those teams split their streak last season, and TCU nearly clinched their first-ever win in Kansas before the Jayhawks got a late defensive stop in a tight game. The Horned Frogs are an experienced team who are undeterred by the raw atmosphere of Allen Fieldhouse. They already have a Big 12 away win at Baylor and will think they can win another. The Jayhawks are a better bet to win straight because they are so dominant at home, but it would be a surprise if TCU folded easily in this top-15 fight. Prediction: TCU +7.5 – David Cobb
2 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV (free trial) — That has the chance to be the best game in the table on Saturday. UCLA, winners of 14 straight behind a top-five defense, heads into the desert to face off against an Arizona team that, when correct, has arguably the most explosive offense in the sport. Zona has looked mortal on points this season, even at home, so I’m riding with the road team while the Bruins try to stay hot. Prediction: UCLA -1 – Boone
#7 Texas in West Virginia
6 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — West Virginia is a tight-fisted team to play in Morgantown, West Virginia, but that line seems out of whack. Texas has more talent, a better overall roster and a lot of work to match WVU, which has lost five of their last six outside of a win against TCU this week. Texas +1.5
No. 4 Alabama in Missouri
6 p.m. | SEC Network, fuboTV (try for free) — My favorite angry pick of the week here. Bama is 16-2 and has won 11 of 12, while Mizzou has fallen off after a 12-1 start lately with three losses in their last five. The Tigers, who blasted them at home outside of Kansas earlier this season, were nails at home. I like it when they give Bama a big nudge at this point. Missouri +6 – Boone
Who will win and cover in every college basketball game? Visit SportsLine to get tips from the model that has simulated every game 10,000 times and has made more than $1,200 for $100 players on its top spread picks over the past six years.