School soccer is on a short hiatus till the School Soccer Playoff semifinals start subsequent week, which implies faculty basketball will take middle stage this weekend with marquee convention showdowns on the slate. All three undefeated groups remaining within the sport (Tennessee, Florida and Oklahoma) are in motion this weekend.
The enjoyable begins when No. 10 Kentucky hosts No. 6 Florida. Kentucky is off an 11-2 begin beneath first-year coach Mark Pope and options one of many top-scoring offenses in faculty basketball.
Later within the day, No. 1 Tennessee will host John Calipari and No. 23 Arkansas in its SEC opener. The Volunteers are off to their greatest begin in over a century and would match the very best begin in program historical past (throughout the 1922-23 season) with a win over the Razorbacks.
No. 12 Oklahoma will play its first SEC convention recreation on the street when coach Porter Moser and firm face No. 5 Alabama to cap off an thrilling day on the school basketball calendar.
Right here is every little thing you might want to know forward of this weekend’s marquee matchups.
Odds through SportsLine consensus | All occasions Japanese
No. 6 Florida at No. 10 Kentucky
11 a.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Strive free of charge) — Offense. Offense. Offense. That would be the theme of Kentucky’s showdown towards Florida this weekend. Kentucky ranks No. 3 within the nation in scoring offense (89 factors per recreation), whereas Florida is not far behind at 87.4. Kentucky begins 2025 with a press release win and fingers Florida its first loss. Prediction: Kentucky -3 — Cameron Salerno
12 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App and Paramount+ with Showtime (strive it free) — Vegas is projecting this recreation to be so shut that it is successfully a toss-up. I anticipate that to be the case as properly. And given how shut it ought to be, I virtually at all times are likely to tilt towards the house staff. Notre Dame’s been removed from excellent on its residence flooring this season (that loss to Elon goes to age like milk, I concern), however UNC shouldn’t be with out its flaws, both, and its already-bad protection is getting progressively worse. Prediction: Notre Dame +6 — Kyle Boone
No. 23 Arkansas at No. 1 Tennessee
1 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Strive free of charge) — Tennessee is considered one of three undefeated groups remaining heading into the weekend. Arkansas has been pink scorching and has gained their final six video games beneath Calipari. Tennessee has held on to its No. 1 rating, and a win over the Razorbacks would go a great distance in widening the hole between them and No. 2 Auburn within the polls. Arkansas retains it shut, however Tennessee wins. Prediction: Arkansas +11.5
2 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App and Paramount+ with Showtime (strive it free) — Iowa State’s solely loss is a 2-point defeat towards a juggernaut Auburn staff on a impartial flooring. The Cyclones are working on the game’s high tier and could have the backing of an elite home-court benefit. Baylor is 0-2 in true street video games this season and has been a bit shaky defensively in video games towards high quality competitors. That might be an issue towards an Iowa State staff that ranks among the many top-10 nationally in factors scored and offensive effectivity. The Bears have been an ideal 3-point taking pictures staff, however preserving that up in a hostile setting towards opponent is probably not sensible. Choose: Iowa State -8.5 — David Cobb
4 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App and Paramount+ with Showtime (strive it free) — Each matchups between San Diego State and Boise State went all the way down to the wire final season. Boise State knocked off San Diego State at residence 67-66 within the first assembly and defeated the Aztecs once more lower than two months later after Cam Martin knocked down a pair of free throws in extra time. This recreation ought to go all the way down to the wire once more, however do not be stunned if the street staff delivers an upset. Choose: San Diego State +3.5 — Salerno
No. 12 Oklahoma at No. 5 Alabama
6 p.m. | SEC Community, fuboTV (Strive free of charge) — Oklahoma will play its first SEC convention recreation this weekend in a brutal street setting. Alabama has gained its final 5 video games since dropping to Oregon within the Gamers Period Pageant in Las Vegas throughout Thanksgiving week. Oklahoma has been top-of-the-line tales and largest surprises of the season, however Alabama will win this recreation by double-digits in its convention opener at residence. Prediction: Alabama -12.5 — Salerno
Who will win and canopy in each faculty basketball recreation? Go to SportsLine to get picks from the mannequin that simulates every recreation 10,000 occasions and is up greater than $1,200 for $100 gamers on its top-rated unfold picks the previous six years.