Week Of: Feb. 11-Feb. 17

#3 Virginia @ #8 North Carolina

Monday, February 11, 7:00 p.m.

What a way to start off the college basketball week! As a Carolina fan, I am excited about this one. The Tar Heels are playing very good ball and are winners of seven straight. They are off to the best start in ACC play they have ever been under Roy Williams. Their last game against Miami wasn’t their best game, but Coby White played exceptional and they proved they have a toughness to hang in there and win those type of games. Virginia is one of the best teams in the country with only two losses on the season (both to Duke). They are coming off one of those losses from Saturday night and will be looking to get back on track. It is very tough to imagine the Cavaliers losing two in a row, being as solid of a team as they are. I expect a low scoring game, as I think Virginia asserts their style of play, but ultimately I think a few clutch shots at the end will keep the Tar Heels in the win column.

Predicted Winner: North Carolina

#21 LSU @ #5 Kentucky

Tuesday, February 12, 7:00 p.m.

This one is a top-3 SEC battle, with Kentucky, LSU, and Tennessee separating themselves from the rest of the conference. Kentucky and LSU both have just one conference loss and sit behind Tennessee who is undefeated in the SEC. With so much talent on both teams, this game should be a high-flying, fast-paced game which will be a blast to watch. The Tigers have won 12 of their last 13 games and the Wildcats have won 13 of their last 14. Both teams are coming in with plenty of confidence and I believe this game will go down to the wire. With the game being played in Rupp Arena however, I think that will give the edge to Kentucky, and set up a very fun matchup on Saturday with Tennessee for first place in the conference.

Predicted Winner: Kentucky

#9 Michigan State @ #19 Wisconsin

Tuesday, February 12, 7:00 p.m.

We’ve got two good Big Ten teams in this one. The Spartans are 10-3 in the conference, while the Badgers are 9-4. Michigan State is the more consistent team, while Wisconsin is like a wild card team…you don’t know what you’ll get from them from game to game. But if they come to play they are a very dangerous team. The Badgers will also be looking to rebound after losing to Michigan on the road. I’ve stated before how much of a fan I am of Wisconsin forward Ethan Happ and his old-school style of play. I think he will be a major factor in this game on the boards and will have at least 20 points. Michigan State has been in a funk as of late, losing three of their last four. They are coming off a very convincing win against Minnesota, however. Expect this game to be the ultimate Big Ten game; very slow, defensive, and low scoring. I think the Badgers will grind out a win here and pull themselves a little closer to the top of the Big Ten.

Predicted Winner: Wisconsin

#2 Duke @ #16 Louisville

Tuesday, February 12, 9:00 p.m.

No one expected Louisville to do what they’ve been doing this year. They were picked to finish 11th in the ACC, and here they are at 4th in the conference with the ability to knock off a very good Duke team. The Cardinals are currently in their toughest stretch in their schedule with UNC, Virginia Tech, Florida State, and Duke all in a row. A win here would give them a 2-2 record during that stretch. That will be a tough task though, playing the Blue Devils who are one of the best teams in the country and who are coming off their second win this season against Virginia. Duke just couldn’t miss in that game, so it will be interesting to see if they come out on fire once again. The freshmen scored all but seven of their 81 points against Virginia, so Louisville will know who to focus on. Realistically, they just have to contain Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett because they won’t shut them down. If they keep them from hitting too many threes they’ll have a chance, but I don’t think that will happen.

Predicted Winner: Duke

Liberty @ Lipscomb

Wednesday, February 13, 7:30 p.m.

Here we have an Atlantic Sun Conference showdown, as these two teams headline the conference. Lipscomb is 11-0 in conference play, while Liberty is 10-1. Liberty’s only conference loss came at the hands of Lipscomb who handed them a 79-59 thrashing on their home court. The Flames have definitely kept that game in the back of their minds and will be seeking revenge from it. Lipscomb has other plans though, which include staying at the top of the Atlantic Sun. The Bisons haven’t had too many close games this year in conference play, as they consistently beat teams by 15+ points. Guard Garrison Matthews leads the team with 19.8 points/game and can get hot in a hurry behind the three-point line. I expect it to be a much better game this time around between the two teams, but with the same team ending up in the win column.

Predicted Winner: Lipscomb

South Dakota State @ Omaha

Thursday, February 14, 8:00 p.m.

These two teams currently lead the Summit league, with South Dakota State 10-1 in conference play and Omaha 8-2. The last time these two faced off, the Jackrabbits got the best of the Mavericks with an 83-73 victory. Both teams like to score a lot of points, so there’s a good chance this one will be a quick-paced, high scoring affair. Speaking of scoring a lot of points, that’s exactly what South Dakota State forward Mike Daum likes to do, averaging 25 points per game this season. The Jackrabbits have won nine straight games, and I expect them to go into the great city of Omaha and extend their win streak to double-digits.

Predicted Winner: South Dakota State

#17 Iowa State @ Kansas State

Saturday, February 16, 4:00 p.m.

As I type this, Iowa State is the only ranked team in this matchup, even though Kansas State sits atop the Big 12. They Cyclones are tied with two other teams for 2nd in the conference, trying to chase down the Wildcats. A win here would be very big towards that, but they’ll have to go into Kansas State territory and get it. An ESPN announcer stated the other day that he thinks Kansas State will win the Big 12 this year, ending a 14-year streak from Kansas. Even though I think Kansas will emerge and win the conference yet again, I do think Kansas State is a very good team, and will continue to prove that with a win here against the Cyclones. The last time they met up Kansas State won by just a point, but I think they’ll get a W with a little more ease this time.

Predicted Winner: Kansas State

#1 Tennessee @ #5 Kentucky

Saturday, February 16, 8:00 p.m.

This game has been chosen for College Gameday on Saturday and for very good reason. These are not only two top SEC teams, but two of the top teams in the country. I’ve already predicted a Kentucky win for their matchup against LSU earlier in the week to set up this gem of a game. Kentucky is very athletic, like always, but so is Tennessee. The Vols only have one loss on the entire season (coming to Kansas) and are the #1 team in the country and will do anything to not get knocked off their perch to conference-rival Kentucky. This is the first time these two teams are meeting up this season, with a rematch early in March. It is always extremely tough to go into Rupp Arena and get a win in that atmosphere and that’s what the Volunteers will have to do this Saturday. I think this game will be high-scoring and could go either way. If I just go with my gut instinct, I have a feeling that Kentucky will pull it out at home.

Predicted Winner: Kentucky

Garett

College Basketball: Weekly Games to Keep an Eye On

Week Of: Feb. 11-Feb. 17