College basketball expert picks for Saturday’s loaded Top 25 slate
The penultimate weekend of college basketball’s regular season is upon us, filled with pivotal matchups in the Big 12, ACC, and SEC, as well as Gonzaga’s final regular season game as a member of the WCC (in a game that will determine the league champion).
Please prepare your body accordingly.
Saturday’s slate is particularly busy, starting with a noon ET tipoff between No. 1 Duke and No. 11 Virginia. We also have a handful of afternoon tips worth watching, including No. 2 Arizona and No. 14 Kansas in Tucson and No. 4 Iowa State and No. 16 Texas Tech.
In the evening window, No. 7 Florida can assert itself as the king of the SEC as No. 20 Arkansas arrives in Gainesville with the Gators up two games in the conference standings. We also have the aforementioned Gonzaga game to watch – tip off at 10:30 p.m. ET! – as they travel to face Saint Mary’s for a chance to win the league.
Our expert team offers picks for every major game below, both straight and against the spread.
Odds via DraftKings Sports Betting | All times ET
No. 17 Alabama vs. No. 22 Tennessee
6 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): Alabama has won seven straight and faces its toughest test in that stretch with a road trip to Tennessee. The Vols have been up and down in SEC play, but more up and down — and nearly perfect at home. I will take the home team as the big favorite to win a close match. Pick: Alabama +4 (Boone)
No. 20 Arkansas vs. No. 7 Florida
4 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): All but one member of our team takes Arkansas to cover the spread and Florida to win. So we expect the Razorbacks to keep it at a respectable number. Darius Acuff Jr. has looked like one of the biggest stars in sports in recent weeks, and his prolific scoring prowess keeps Arkansas in a tight position that Florida ends up taking. Pick: Arkansas +8 (Boone)
No. 11 Virginia at No. 1 Duke
12 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): Duke is coming off a game in which they beat Notre Dame by 44 points — and they did it just three days removed from defeating then-No. 1 Michigan Wolverines on a neutral field. It’s tough to pick against this Blue Devils team. So I won’t do it. But Virginia, winner of nine straight games, is equipped to keep this one close, even inside Cameron Indoor. I’d take the points here with UVA and expect Ryan Odom’s team to play Duke close in a possible Duke win. Pick: Virginia +9.5 (Boone)
San Diego State vs. New Mexico
2 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App, Paramount+ Premium: The MWC remains wide open with a few games remaining, making SDSU-New Mexico a central event on CBS. The Lobos are favored here by three, and I think rightfully so. The Pit will be packed and ready to put pressure on the visiting Aztecs, with the stakes high. New Mexico and Eric Olen’s team win this one after losing the series opener in January by four. Pick: New Mexico -3 (Boone)
No. 16 Texas Tech vs. No. 4 Iowa State
4 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (try for free): No team has won at Hilton Coliseum this season besides Iowa State, and despite the way Texas Tech has played lately, I don’t think that’s changing. However, I think the Christian Anderson-led Red Raiders can give the Cyclones a real boost. Anderson is coming off 21 and 31 points in TTU’s wins, and he’s positioned to potentially keep this one close against an ISU team that has won two of its last three home games by just one possession. Pick: Texas Tech +7 (Boone)
No. 14 Kansas vs. No. 2 Arizona
4 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (try for free): Kansas beat Arizona three weeks ago in Lawrence and is coming off a 69-56 home victory over top-five Houston. But, in between that, the Jayhawks lost by 18 to Iowa State and Cincinnati and a road win over NIT-bound Oklahoma State. Arizona can make inconsistent teams pay with consistency. I think they’re doing that on Saturday. Pick: Arizona -10 (Boone)
