If all you need for Christmas this vacation weekend is your two entrance enamel an unimaginable faculty basketball slate, then boy do I’ve some information for you: Santa (spoiler alert!) picked you for his good listing. As a result of Saturday presents an unimaginable day of motion on the hardwood headlined by the annual CBS Sports activities Basic in Atlanta, which options ranked groups in every matchup and alternatives for each Kentucky and Ohio State to show themselves after current stumbles.
All through the day and into the evening, 12 ranked groups are in motion Saturday — amongst them No. 22 St. John’s and No. 12 North Carolina — and there are three ranked-vs.-ranked matchups besides. A kind of is maybe the sport of the day on CBS at 5:30 p.m. ET between No. 8 Houston and No. 14 Arkansas. However we even have No. 6 Purdue vs. No. 21 Auburn and No. 3 Duke vs. No. 19 Texas Tech as a part of the nightcap. And for individuals who are staying up late No. 1 Arizona suggestions at 11:30 p.m. ET (!!) vs. San Diego State.
Like I mentioned: a loaded slate.
Bracketology: The place Kentucky, North Carolina stand earlier than CBS Sports activities Basic; convention champions projected
David Cobb
The faculty basketball consultants made picks straight up and in opposition to the unfold for a few of the greatest video games of the day Saturday. These picks are beneath.
Odds by way of DraftKings Sportsbook | All instances ET
12:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App, Paramount+ Premium: Rick Pitino is 1-0 this season dealing with groups he beforehand coached (St. John’s beat Iona 91-64 final week) and I anticipate that file strikes to 2-0 Saturday. This Kentucky group has seemed listless on offense for a lot of the final month, and the Johnnies are beginning to determine issues out defensively at an opportune time. This St. John’s group has whiffed on most of its possibilities to attain a signature win out of the gate — it’s 0-3 vs. ranked groups up to now — however the worm turns vs. the Wildcats right here. Decide: St. John’s -2.5
3 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App, Paramount+ Premium: A welcome take a look at within the CBS Sports activities Basic each for UNC and Ohio State — and one I anticipate ends in favor of the Tar Heels. UNC is 3-0 vs. the Buckeyes within the CBS Sports activities Basic and it has performed very nicely vs. high-major opponents up to now with wins over Kansas, Kentucky and Georgetown on its resume. The size and protection from the Tar Heels will get them the win. Decide: UNC -4.5
5:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports activities App, Paramount+ Premium: Arkansas is the actual deal and has confirmed as a lot on a number of events this season with wins over Louisville and Texas Tech. That is to not say Houston’s not the actual deal as nicely — I believe Houston wins this recreation — but when I had been to play it it would be by taking the factors with the Razorbacks. They’ve an amazing protection, they’re getting nice guard play from their backcourt and so they have the personnel to match, or no less than probably sustain with, the physicality Houston will carry into this one. Decide: Arkansas +4.5
No. 6 Purdue vs. No. 21 Auburn
6:30 p.m. on Peacock: Purdue wins however this one may very well be nearer than individuals anticipate. Auburn almost downed Houston in November and has notched wins over St. John’s and NC State in the previous few weeks because it beneficial properties confidence in its personnel below first-year coach Steven Pearl. Tigers can rating nearly in addition to any group within the nation — however Purdue shouldn’t be amongst them. Decide: Auburn +8.5
8 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (strive without spending a dime): The 8-3 file would not fairly inform the story of how good Texas Tech is and the way good it may be. I am additionally a staunch JT Toppin stan and assume that matchup with Cameron Boozer may very well be terrific. That mentioned, this Duke group is working at one other stage proper now: its protection is No. 10 defending 3-pointers, No. 2 by 2-point proportion and No. 1 accounting for efficient field-goal proportion. A win can be a heavy raise for a Tech group that has been good, not nice, on offense up to now even with the star flip of Christian Anderson. I am taking the factors with the canine however Duke wins this one by a number of possessions. Decide: Texas Tech +8.5 — Boone
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 instances and is up greater than $1,200 for $100 gamers on its top-rated unfold picks the previous six years.