NCAAB · 9 months ago

College Basketball This Weekend: 10 Biggest Must-See Matchups

Grant White

Host · Writer

UConn Huskies vs (10) St. John's Red Storm
While bettors have their sights honed in on another busy Saturday schedule, one of the most exciting matchups of the weekend awaits on Sunday afternoon. The St. John's Red Storm have asserted themselves as a National Championship contender. They can bolster their position with a pivotal win over the UConn Huskies at Madison Square Garden. The Johnnies will have to be on their best defensive footing if they hope to contain a dangerous if not methodical, Huskies attack.
Dayton Flyers vs Loyola (IL) Ramblers
Level up your college hoops bets with SportsGrid’s free CBB Picks & CBB Player Props.

We're kicking things off with some A10 love. Two conference foes take to the court for a pivotal showdown just weeks ahead of conference tournaments. The Dayton Flyers travel to the Windy City for a battle against the Loyola (IL) Ramblers. Both teams are battling for crucial ground in the standings, looking to secure an unobstructed path to the A10 Championship Game. Dayton escaped with an 83-81 nailbiting victory when these teams met in January. A similar contest is expected on Friday night.
(16) Marquette Golden Eagles vs Villanova Wildcats
Have all the intel you need? Free actionable info is one click away! Sign up for our daily newsletter.

Bettors and college basketball enthusiasts are licking their chops ahead of this Big East clash in Philadelphia. The 16th-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles are installed as short -1.5 chalk as they try to get past the Villanova Wildcats. Villanova's tournament hopes are on life support, meaning they'll need an immaculate run to earn an invite to the big dance. They're not off to a good start, as the Wildcats have dropped two straight and five of their last eight. Still, expect their best on Friday night.
(14) Michigan State Spartans vs (12) Michigan Wolverines
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.

State matchups always bring the heat. Friday's grudge match between the Michigan State Spartans and Michigan Wolverines will undoubtedly live up to the hype. These Big Ten rivals are both ranked in the top 14, maximizing efficiency on both sides of the ball. This is the first time Michigan and Michigan State have lined up against each other since last year, ensuring all the bad blood boils to the surface.
(6) Tennessee Volunteers vs (7) Texas A&M Aggies
Wooden Award Betting Trends

All of a sudden the SEC has become the most dominant conference in college basketball. The Tennessee Volunteers and Texas A&M Aggies are two pristine examples of that. Both programs have built their success on efficient defensive performances without compromising offensive integrity. Pace won't be an issue for either team, as the Vols and Aggies both play a methodical brand of basketball. That should result in a defensive slog in College Station.
(17) Kentucky Wildcats vs (4) Alabama Crimson Tide
Ranking Top 40 Final Four Teams

Conversely, the Kentucky Wildcats and Alabama Crimson Tide will be happy to go shot-for-shot in Saturday's tussle in Tuscaloosa. These SEC opponents play with tempo. Bama averages more possessions per game (74.8) than any other team in the country, with Kentucky close behind at 70.4. More importantly, that doesn't interfere with effectiveness, as both teams sit inside the top 34 in field goal percentage. This is a mirror image of the Tennessee vs Texas A&M matchup, but it should be equally entertaining.
(8) Iowa State Cyclones vs (5) Houston Cougars
Top 10 Teams in Running or No. 1 Seed

While they've fallen behind in terms of popularity following some of the other conference realignments, the Big 12 has remained one of the most competitive conferences in the NCAA ranks. The Big 12's quality basketball will be on full display as the eighth-ranked Iowa State Cyclones take on the fifth-ranked Houston Cougars. As usual, Houston's systems are premised on suffocating defensive play, which is the standard it'll need to maintain versus the offensively gifted Cyclones.
Saint Mary's Gaels vs Gonzaga Bulldogs
We're taking a break from the premier conferences to highlight two of the best mid-major programs in the country. The Saint Mary's Gaels put their four-game winning streak on the line against the surging Gonzaga Bulldogs. As it stands, these teams sit 1-2 in the West Coast standings. Gonzaga needs to make up a couple of victories if they hope to catch the Gaels. A win on Saturday night puts the top seed in the conference within reach.
Illinois Fighting Illini vs (3) Duke Blue Devils
It's not very often that teams line up non-conference opponents this time of year, but the Illinois Fighting Illini and Duke Blue Devils couldn't help themselves. Illinois is falling apart at the worst time of year, losing three of five while looking flat defensively in all those contests. That strategy won't pay off at this neutral site battle at Madison Square Garden. The Blue Devils rank as the pre-eminent offensive power, averaging 88.0 points per game across their modest three-game winning streak. Keep an eye on the spread, but taking the over might be the play in this one.
BYU Cougars vs (19) Arizona Wildcats
Another Big 12 clash punctuates the evening slate when the Arizona Wildcats host the BYU Cougars. BYU is doing its best to crack the Top 25, dismantling the 23rd-ranked Kansas Jayhawks with its most recent effort. The Cougars will need a similar effort on Saturday if they hope to contend with perennial-contending Arizona.
UConn Huskies vs (10) St. John's Red Storm
While bettors have their sights honed in on another busy Saturday schedule, one of the most exciting matchups of the weekend awaits on Sunday afternoon. The St. John's Red Storm have asserted themselves as a National Championship contender. They can bolster their position with a pivotal win over the UConn Huskies at Madison Square Garden. The Johnnies will have to be on their best defensive footing if they hope to contain a dangerous if not methodical, Huskies attack.
Dayton Flyers vs Loyola (IL) Ramblers
Level up your college hoops bets with SportsGrid’s free CBB Picks & CBB Player Props.

We're kicking things off with some A10 love. Two conference foes take to the court for a pivotal showdown just weeks ahead of conference tournaments. The Dayton Flyers travel to the Windy City for a battle against the Loyola (IL) Ramblers. Both teams are battling for crucial ground in the standings, looking to secure an unobstructed path to the A10 Championship Game. Dayton escaped with an 83-81 nailbiting victory when these teams met in January. A similar contest is expected on Friday night.

College Basketball This Weekend: 10 Biggest Must-See Matchups

Sports Betting

Sportsbook Promos

Social Casinos