A Huge Big East Clash Highlights Final Saturday of 2023
The NCAAB Weekend Preview Is Highlighted By the Marquette-Creighton Showdown
Houston, James Madison Look To Remain Undefeated on Saturday
There is one weekend left of major college men’s basketball in 2023, with 12 ranked teams in action on either Saturday or Sunday, making for some intriguing NCAAB weekend matchups.
Houston, Ole Miss, and James Madison are the last undefeated Division I men’s teams, while Detroit Mercy, Georgia Southern, and Mississippi Valley State are still looking for their first win of the season.
Minnesota leads the way with an 11-1 record against the spread.
When looking at the odds of winning March Madness, Houston (+1000), Kansas (+1200), and Marquette (+1400) are among the teams with the best odds of winning the national title in action on Saturday.
A quick peek at the college basketball rankings shows that No. 1 Purdue got 70 of the 92 first-place votes, with No. 2 Kansas getting six No. 1 votes and third-ranked Houston picking up the other 16.
Here’s a look at five games of note on Saturday.
Blue Jays vs Golden Eagles 
Day/Time:
Streaming: CBS
The final matchup of 2023 between ranked teams features of clash of Big East title contenders in what could be a holiday treat as part of the NCAAB weekend matchups.
No. 22 Creighton has turned the tide in the series with a stretch of seven wins in eight games against Marquette. However, the 10th-ranked Golden Eagles swept the two games last season with a 69-58 win at home as a four-point favorite and a 73-71 road victory when listed as the six-point underdog.
The last three games between these NCAAB teams and five of the previous six finished under the total.
Seniors Baylor Scheierman and Ryan Kalkbrenner and junior Trey Alexander are all averaging more than 15 points per game for No. 22 Creighton (9-3, 0-1 in the Big East).
Tyler Kolek leads 10th-ranked Marquette (10-3, 1-1 in the Big East) in scoring (15.3 points per game) and with an average of 6.2 assists per game that ranks among the top 15 nationally when analyzing the NCAAB stats.
Marquette is 7-0 at home, with Creighton winning both of its true road games this season.
Creighton is 7-5-1 against the spread (2-0 on the road), while Marquette has covered in four of its first seven home games.
Bobcats vs Dukes 
Day/Time:
Streaming: ESPN+
What a year it has been for James Madison, with the football team winning its first 10 games as the Dukes are in the second year of transitioning from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
The basketball team is one of two undefeated teams and that included a season-opening win over Michigan State.
Terrence Edwards leads the 12-0 Dukes in scoring with an average of 17.2 points per game, while Boston College transfer T.J. Bickerstaff is averaging 15.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Keep that in mind when looking at the NCAAB weekend matchups.
Texas State (6-6) is facing its second straight ranked opponent after falling to Houston 72-37. The Bobcats are 4-2 when leading scorer Jordan Mason is in the lineup.
The Dukes are 7-3-1 against the spread.
Shockers vs Jayhawks 
Day/Time:
Streaming: ESPN2
The two schools, separated by less than 200 miles, will meet for the first time in nearly a decade in a neutral-site game at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Wichita State won the most recent meeting 78-65 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
The Shockers (8-4) have dropped three of their last four games, with Colby Rogers leading the way with an average of 17.5 points in those games.
National Player of the Year candidate Hunter Dickinson is putting up 18.3 points and 12.5 rebounds, while Kevin McCullar is averaging a team-leading 20.4 points for Kansas (11-1), winners of seven games in a row.
The Jayhawks rank near the bottom of the Big 12 with a 4-7-1 record against the college basketball betting lines, with Wichita State just 4-7 ATS.
Quakers vs Cougars 
Day/Time:
Streaming: Watch Live Sports
Penn hasn’t shied away from challenging non-conference games, as the Quakers have split two games against ranked teams.
Penn (8-5) topped Villanova 76-72 in a Big Five Classic game behind 22 points from freshman Tyler Perkins and fellow to Kentucky 81-66 despite 17 points from Clark Slajchert.
Undefeated Houston has won 10 of its first 12 games by double digits, with the toughest NCAAB matchups coming against Xavier and Texas A&M.
Houston is 4-2-1 against the spread at home this college basketball season and is 23-2 in its last 25 home games.
Owls vs Coast Eagles 
Day/Time:
Streaming: ESPN+
If FAU’s strong showing in the 2023 NCAA tournament didn’t impress those who bet online, perhaps the overtime win over a top-five Arizona team did the trick.
At first glance, the Owls shouldn’t have any issues with Florida Gulf Coast. When they met last season, FAU won 85-53 as seven-point favorites.
However, the last time the Owls played at Florida Gulf Coast, the result was a 72-70 loss in 2019.
Johnell Davis leads No. 7 Florida Atlantic in both scoring and rebounding for the 10-2 Owls.
The only field goal for Blaise Vespe in Florida Gulf Coast’s most recent game was a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime against Florida Memorial as the Eagles improved to 5-9.
For NCAAB betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
