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Saturday’s college basketball schedule is loaded, with 22 teams in The Associated Press Top 25 in action as the sport moves forward with a smaller-than-usual Sunday schedule with the Super Bowl taking center stage. While the day is light on marquee matchups (No. 4 Kansas against No. 13 Baylor is the only game between two ranked teams), there is ample potential for upsets and big results.
At 12:30 p.m. ET, four ranked teams will be in action on the road against league foes in a window ripe for at least one upset. Then the afternoon brings a massive doubleheader on CBS as No. 10 Illinois heads to Michigan State, followed by Gonzaga’s trip to No. 17 Kentucky in a rare nonconference game in February.
The Spartans and Zags trail only Kansas in consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, but both live in the bubble and need to pad their resumes. Both games should feature raucous atmospheres and plenty of drama as we approach five weeks until Selection Sunday.
Our experts have picks for those games and Saturday’s other big matchups.
Odds via SportsLine consensus | All Eastern Time
No. 10 Illinois in the state of Michigan
14:00 | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — This comes down to place. Illinois is 1-5 in actual road games this season, with the only victory being a 2-point win over a struggling Maryland team. Michigan State wants to avenge an earlier 71-68 loss at Illinois and needs this game for its NCAA tournament hopes. Additionally, the Spartans have not lost a home game since December 5. Every home win in that span has been by at least nine points for Michigan State. Prediction: Michigan State -2.5
4pm | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Kentucky has lost two straight at Rupp Arena and three home games total this season. This is a point of pride for the Wildcats, who got back on track Tuesday by scoring 109 points in a win at Vanderbilt. Gonzaga desperately needs a win in Quad 1, but expecting the Zags to travel across the country and defeat an offensive juggernaut like UK is a tall order. Prediction: Kentucky -4
6pm | ESPN, fuboTV (Free Trial) — Kansas reminded us why Allen Fieldhouse is considered one of the best home-field advantages of all time last week when it routed Houston by 13 after coming in as an underdog. The Jayhawks have their flaws, but good luck beating them instead. Baylor has a penchant for playing close games, but KU is the right side to pick in this big Big 12 battle. Prediction: Kansas -6.5
8:00 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Free Trial) — Every Tennessee win this season has been by six or more points. When the Volunteers win, which happens often, they tend to win big. With Dalton Knecht’s supporting cast offering substantial contributions as of late, look for Tennessee to get some breathing room late against a Texas A&M team that has lost three games at home this season. Prediction: Tennessee -3.5
8:00 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV (Free Trial) — Indiana showed some grit by rallying from a late deficit to win at Ohio State on Tuesday. After losing by 21 at home to Purdue on Jan. 16, the Hoosiers will be motivated to redeem themselves. Purdue will win, but expect Indiana to put up a fight in one of its last chances to make a big statement. Prediction: Indiana +18.5
Who will win and cover in every college basketball game? Visit SportsLine for picks from the model that simulates every game 10,000 times and is up more than $1,200 for $100 players on its top-rated spread picks over the past six years.