School basketball picks, schedule: Predictions for Houston vs. Virginia and extra Prime 25 video games Saturday

Prepare for the very best Saturday we have had to this point and certain can have the remainder of this school basketball season.  That is proper, with 5 video games with each groups ranked within the AP Prime 25, we’ll have have December Insanity as groups prepare for a break over the vacations.

Put in your greatest Jesse Katsopolis voice and say those two magical words with me: Haaaave mercy. As a result of Saturday’s school basketball slate completely deserves it.

We’ve got No. 8 Kansas welcoming in No. 14 Indiana to Allen Fieldhouse early within the day. We’ve got No. 2 Virginia welcoming No. 5 Houston smack in the course of the afternoon. And oh, by the way in which, the CBS Sports activities Traditional doubleheader between No. 23 Ohio State and North Carolina first adopted by No. 13 Kentucky and No. 16 UCLA all inside Madison Sq. Backyard, too. For the evening owls there’s additionally an actual late-night deal with with No. 6 Tennessee — armed with the No. 1 protection in America — taking up No. 9 Arizona — armed with the No. 1 offense in America — contained in the McKale Heart.

So, yeah, have mercy certainly.

Our consultants have picks and predictions for the day’s largest video games right here.

Odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook | All instances Japanese

Featured Sport | Virginia Cavaliers vs. Houston Cougars

2 p.m. | ESPN2,  fuboTV (Attempt without cost) — You may overthink matchups like this one making an attempt to consider venue, dwelling benefit, street efficiency — however I am conserving it easy. I am choosing the very best workforce. That is Houston. So I am going to take the Cougars. They will feast on the offensive glass and I count on Marcus Sasser to search out his All-American kind after some streaky play of late. Prediction: Houston -2 (Boone)

Featured Sport | North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

3 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — This can be a fairly even matchup on paper however I just like the Tar Heels by a smidge. Armando Bacot‘s dimension within the paint and manufacturing on the glass goes to provide Ohio State matches. The Buckeyes do not actually have somebody within the publish who can gradual him. If UNC does what it ought to do — which is feed Bacot and assault within the paint — then I believe the preseason No. 1 Tar Heels can squeak this out in an in depth one. Prediction: UNC Choose’ em (Boone)

Featured Sport | Kentucky Wildcats vs. UCLA Bruins

5:15 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) —  Kentucky star massive man Oscar Tshiebwe goes to be an issue for UCLA. Although five-star freshman middle Adem Bona has proven tons of promise for the Bruins, Tshiebwe ought to be salivating over the possibility to bully a younger participant on the block. Assuming UCLA brings some double groups, this sport may come all the way down to Kentucky’s skill to knock down perimeter photographs. The Wildcats have been strong in that regard to this point this season, capturing 39.2% from past the arc. Even in an unfamiliar setting in London a pair weeks in the past, Kentucky hit 9 of 15 makes an attempt from deep with 4 totally different gamers getting in on the motion throughout an enormous win over Michigan. Search for the UK offense to stay balanced sufficient right here to get the win. Prediction: Kentucky +1.5 (Cobb)

Featured Sport | Arizona Wildcats vs. Tennessee Volunteers

10:30 p.m. | ESPN2,  fuboTV (Attempt without cost) — This can be a difficult one. It pits the No. 1 offense (Arizona) in opposition to the No. 1 protection (Tennessee) contained in the McKale Heart. Which aspect wins? Vegas appears to love the Vols on this one by a smidge, however I just like the Wildcats on this one by lots, so give me the Wildcats to win and canopy. Tennessee’s bought weapons in every single place to gradual Arizona’s prolific scoring assault however between Oumar Ballo, Azuolas Tubelis, Courtney Ramey, Kerr Krissa and Pelle Larson, there’s simply too many scorers to utterly journey up. Prediction: Arizona -2.5 (Boone)

Featured Sport | Kansas Jayhawks vs. Indiana Hoosiers

12 p.m. | ESPN2,  fuboTV (Attempt without cost) — Indiana hasn’t fairly been the identical workforce in its final three video games with star freshman Jalen Hood-Schifino on the shelf with an harm. The offense lacks pop and playmaking. Even when he does return it is cheap to count on some rust. That is one purpose I like KU minus the factors right here. One more reason is extra apparent: KU is nails at dwelling below Invoice Self. It has gained 11 straight inside Allen Fieldhouse and is 297-16 (!) on the venue below Self. A win on the money-line is a close to auto-bet for KU, however I like laying the factors, too. Prediction: Kansas -6 (Boone)

Featured Sport | Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide

1 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Alabama beat Gonzaga 91-82  final in Seattle final season. That Crimson Tide workforce was less-talented and way more erratic than this yr’s model. Gonzaga continues to be making an attempt to determine its collective id past the stardom of Drew Timme. With this yr’s sport being performed in Birmingham, the Crimson Tide ought to have the sting by way of fan assist. Although younger, this Alabama workforce proved final week in a street win over Houston that it will probably deal with stress conditions. Prediction: Alabama -1.5 (Cobb)

Who will win and canopy in each school basketball sport? Visit SportsLine to get picks from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times and is up greater than $1,200 for $100 gamers on its top-rated unfold picks the previous six years.