You probably turned the page for February on your faithful calendar on the wall and that means that we are now one step closer to the month of March and the madness of March. It also means that the conference races are heating up, tournament summaries are being compared and, as a result, games from now on in the regular season have a high level of significance.
At Big 12 on Monday, this seems to be especially true, as No. 2 Baylor – one of the three remaining undefeated teams – faces his best-ranked opponent of the year when he faces sixth Texas Longhorns. It is a game with spreading implications and implications for the conference title, as Baylor and Texas are 1-2 in the league standings.
There are a number of important games on main Tuesday and our college hoop panel has choices for each game – Baylor-Texas among them – so dive in and fade or go as you please.
No. 2 Baylor at No. 6 Texas
When: 19h | Where: Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: fuboTV (try for free)
Baylor has won every game this season, except for two double digits and is in the middle of one of the great 12 races of all time, although he has not yet faced a team as talented and experienced as Texas. But – and without disrespect for Texas here – will it matter? The concern here is that UT has been reduced recently to deal with the problems of COVID and, although it should be at full strength, it is fair to predict that the team will not be fully synchronized from the start. I’m also a little concerned that Baylor might look the best team in the sport on any given night, regardless of the competition. I’m relying on Texas coverage, despite all these circumstances – it’s 3-1 against the number like a dog this season – but I feel that betting against Baylor to lose is a risky proposition, regardless of location or competition. Prediction: Baylor 76, Texas 71 – Kyle Boone
When: 19h | Where: Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa
TV: FS1 | Live broadcast: fuboTV (try for free)
Iowa is 8-2 against the number as the home favorite this season, while Michigan State is 1-2 against the number as an underdog. Iowa is 12-4 in the season with the second most efficient attack on college hoops, while the state of Michigan – losing six of the last eight – is 8-6 and falling quickly to irrelevance. Putting the points with Iowa and trusting that offense is back to form after two consecutive defeats. Prediction: Iowa 90, Michigan State 75. – Kyle Boone
When: 19h | Where: The Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi
TV: ESPN2 | Live broadcast: fuboTV (try for free)
Tennessee is a total puzzle, with a sweeping victory over Kansas on Saturday culminating in a month in which it lost to Florida by 26 and to Missouri at home by nine. And the big question surrounding the Vols revolves around their offense. That’s why I’m on the Tennessee side here, after Ole Miss was easily defeated in consecutive games against Arkansas and Georgia. If Tennessee reaches 70, it will win by the way its defense has played this season. I like my chances with the recent fights that Ole Miss had at both ends of the ground. Prediction: Tennessee 70, Ole Miss 64 – Kyle Boone
When: 19h | Where: Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina
TV: ACC network | Live broadcast: fuboTV (try for free)
North Carolina has won six of the last eight and, meanwhile, Clemson has lost four of the last five. These teams are changing in two very different directions. Add UNC mastery to this series – it’s 133-22 of all time – and I feel that the only choice here is to take the UNC and establish the points, even on the road. This Clemson team is not right and after Duke beat like a drum by 26 points on Saturday, I’m not sure if a two-day wait will solve his problems. Prediction: North Carolina 74, Clemson 64. – Kyle Boone
Most recent odds:
Illinois Fighting Illini -3
When: 9 pm | Where: Bloomington, Indiana City Council
TV: ESPN | Live broadcast: fuboTV (try for free)
Illinois comes from a big win over Iowa and won twice in a row after losing two in a row. But sometimes this season there have been great performances with failures, and I bet this will be one of those moments. In addition, Indiana needs a win to boost its resume and really solidify its position as a tournament team. I’m spreading this line of money a little bit as an underdog bet. Prediction: Indiana 73, Illinois 71 – Kyle Boone
So, who wins all the college basketball games today? And which underdogs cause impressive surprises? Visit SportsLine now to get choices for each game, all from the unbiased model that simulates each game 10,000 times, and find out.