The penultimate weekend of college basketball’s regular season has arrived, and boy does it look like we’re in for quite a slouch on Saturday, with a series of make-or-break games that are either deciders or a big one will contribute to the decision on the conference titles. NCAA tournament seeding and the all-important showoff rights for a number of rivalry games across the country. Raised stakes should be wagered from early afternoon until late at night to make Saturday a mandatory couch day. (I’m not a doctor, but believe me: this is doctor’s orders.)
Conflicts within the state are the topic of the day, with Arizona State versus No. 7 Arizona, Texas No. 8 versus Baylor No. 9 and Indiana No. 17 traveling on the road at Purdue No. 5, with two of those three games involving the conference leaders and another – Arizona – are still chasing the Pac-12 and need to hold serve to keep up with UCLA.
Oh, but wait, there’s more! On CBS Midday, No. 18 UConn seeks to avenge its loss to St. John’s with a game against the Red Storm at Madison Square Garden. There’s also a bubbly Kentucky vs. Auburn in the afternoon window and a regular season finale for the ages at the WCC in the late window with Saint Mary’s en route to the Kennel to face off against longtime eyesore Gonzaga. A win for the Gaels would earn them the full WCC title for the first time since 2011-12.
Our experts have tips and predictions for the biggest games of the day right here.
Odds on Caesars Sportsbook | All times Easter
Arizona State at #7 Arizona
Featured Game | Arizona Wildcats vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
2 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Arizona can be downright deadly at times. But the Wildcats have also suffered surprise losses to Washington State, Oregon and Stanford this season. While they already had a 9-point away win against Arizona State this season, the Wildcats benefited from a terrible shooting performance from the Sun Devils in that game. With the ASU having their backs to the wall regarding any remaining NCAA tournament hopes, Arizona State should play with a sense of desperation and at least cover the spread. Choice: Arizona State +12 — Cobb
No. 8 Texas at No. 9 Baylor
Featured Game | Baylor Bears versus Texas Longhorns
2 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — When I play here, I only take the points with Texas. Baylor hasn’t lost at home in nearly two months, but in two straight road games leading into Saturday, it blew halftime leads — one of which was 13 points in Kansas — and kept losing. As it’s a tight matchup, I tend to take the home side, but Texas are primed to keep this in possession until the end. Choose: Baylor -3 – Boone
Featured Game | Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
2 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (try for free) — Alabama has been one of the most dominant teams in SEC history in recent months, but it has shown signs of slipping lately with a loss to Tennessee and a narrow OT win over South Carolina. I expect the tide will hit home, but it’ll be closer than people expect if an Arkansas team gets on form. Prediction: Arkansas +8.5 – Boone
Featured Game | Kentucky Wildcats vs. Auburn Tigers
4 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Auburn’s only SEC road wins are against Ole Miss, LSU and South Carolina, which are the bottom three teams in the league. The Tigers have lost their last four away and this is the wrong time to play in Kentucky. The Wildcats salvaged their previously faltering season and a win here can move them closer to the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals farewell. Prediction: Kentucky -4 – Cobb
#17 Indiana at #5 Purdue
Featured Game | Purdue Boilermakers vs. Indiana Hoosiers
7:30 p.m. | Fox, fuboTV (try for free) — Trayce Jackson-Davis was the all-time best player in college basketball not named Zach Edey this season. The two face each other for the second time this season after scoring 58 points and 25 rebounds together in the first duel, and I like the same result as the first time: the home team wins a narrow penalty shootout. So give me the boilermakers here. Prediction: Indiana +7.5 – Boone
No. 15 Saint Mary’s at No. 12 Gonzaga
Featured Game | Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels
10 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — Saint Mary’s outlived Gonzaga in the first time these two met in an OT thriller on his home pitch. But with the chance to play a portion of WCC at home at The Kennel, the Zags I’m betting on will be highly motivated to use urgency to pull off a comfortable win. Prognosis: Gonzaga -5 – Boone
No. 18 UConn at St. John’s
Featured Game | St. John’s Red Storm vs. Connecticut Huskies
noon | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — UConn has won six of their last eight, with five of those six wins coming from at least nine points. The only losses came against Big East stars Xavier and Creighton. The Huskies have improved greatly since losing to St John’s earlier this season and should be inspired to cleanse the memory of a lackluster performance against the Red Storm last month. Keep an eye out for the huskies taking cover in Madison Square Garden and head into the final week of the regular season with a bang. Select: UConn -7.5 -David Cobb
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