Happy Saturday! As I’m trapped in my house with all the snow coming in, it’s time to make some picks! We have a great slate of college basketball, including a battle of two blue blood programs! Get some hot chocolate, turn the fireplace on, and get ready for another Saturday of college basketball with my picks:
#19 LSU (16-4) (-3.5) at TCU (13-4)
TCU is 4-4 in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and trails LSU 1-3 in the all-time series between the two schools. LSU has a better scoring offense and defense, but it’s a battle of two top-25 defenses. Expect LSU to win this one on the road.
Tune into LSU at TCU at 12 PM ET on ESPN2.
Michigan (10-7) at #10 Michigan State (15-4) (-4)
After starting off to a horrific start, Michigan has won three straight to give them a 10-7 record heading into their toughest game of the season. Michigan State is one of the toughest places to play in college basketball, and they have only lost once at home this season (against Northwestern). Michigan has found themselves on the bubble and they need this game more than Michigan State does. However, Michigan State needs to bounce back after losing on the road against an Illinois team that was without Kofi Cockburn. Michigan State has won four of the last six meetings, give me the Spartans.
Tune into Michigan at Michigan State at 12:30 PM ET on CBS.
Oklahoma (13-7) at #1 Auburn (19-1) (-9.5)
Auburn had a close call earlier this week when Missouri barely lost in Columbia, 55-54. Had this game been in Norman, I think this could have been a great game. However, it’s in Auburn, so the home-court advantage will be a huge factor in the Tigers’ win today.
Tune into Oklahoma at Auburn at 2 PM ET on ESPN.
#21 Xavier (14-5) (-1.5) at Creighton (12-6)
I was going to pick Xavier, but the home team has won in the past four meetings, and Creighton holds a 7-5 lead against Xavier. Creighton has only lost once at home (to Iowa State), and I don’t think they’ll lose today.
Tune into Xavier at Creighton at 2 PM ET on FS1.
#4 Baylor (18-2) (-3.5) at Alabama (13-7)
Alabama just lost to Georgia. The worst team in the SEC. That is awful for the Tide, who needed some sort of momentum coming into a huge game against defending national champion Baylor. Alabama leads the series against Baylor 7-2, but I think you will see a dominating performance out of Baylor, who hasn’t lost on the road this season.
Tune into Baylor at Alabama at 4 PM ET on ESPN.
#12 Kentucky (16-4) at #5 Kansas (17-2) (-5.5)
This is the game of the day, as two blue blood programs battle in the Allen Fieldhouse. Kentucky is one of the few teams who actually succeeds in Lawrence, with a 7-5 record. However, the home-court advantage, along with Ochai Agbaji, will be too much for Oscar Tshiebwe and the Wildcats to handle. Kansas wins by 1.
Tune into Kentucky at Kansas at 6 PM ET on ESPN.
#18 Tennessee (14-5) at Texas (15-5) (-3.5)
Texas and Tennessee haven’t met since 2007, where Texas won to make the series tied at 3 apiece. Texas at home is a tough team to beat, where they are 12-1 at home. Even though I have bashed and criticized Texas all season because they have scheduled so poorly, I’ll take the Longhorns in a close one.
Tune into Tennessee at Texas at 8 PM ET on ESPN.
Calhoun's Corner 