NCAAB Six Pack: Marquee Games Highlight Saturday’s Slate
Houston vs Virginia, UCLA vs Kentucky, Tennessee vs Arizona on Tap
It may be the start of the college football bowl season, but NCAAB fans are in for a treat Saturday. The NCAAB Six Pack features six games between some of the top college teams in the country.
There are two battles of top 10 teams, along with the likes of Gonzaga, North Carolina, Kentucky and UCLA in action. The TV networks did their part, getting the Indiana at Kansas game moved up an hour so all six games will be televised. For a college basketball fan, it doesn’t get any better this early in the season.
Date, Time & Streaming: Saturday, Dec. 17, noon ET (ESPN2)
Location: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kansas)
The NCAAB Six Pack kicks off with a noon game between the Indiana Hoosiers (8-2) and the Kansas Jayhawks (9-1). The Hoosiers will have a week off between games, losing to Arizona 89-75 last time they took the court.
Kansas has run off three straight victories since losing to Tennessee. The Jayhawks should be favored by about 6 points and that number might be a little cheap. Kansas has played a tougher schedule and the Jayhawks could be worth a good look for your NCAAB picks and parlays.
Date; Time & Streaming: Saturday, Dec. 17, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: Legacy Arena (Birmingham, Alabama)
Next up on the NCAAB Six Pack is a battle of high-scoring teams in Gonzaga (8-3) and Alabama (9-1). Both teams are averaging more than 80 points per game. Gonzaga typically gets an edge in strength of schedule but the Tide have also played some tough teams this college basketball season.
The Sagarin college basketball ratings have Alabama with the 16th-toughest schedule, while Gonzaga is No. 9. Alabama will be favored by a couple points here but the over could be the best of the college basketball betting picks if the total is 158 or lower.
Date; Time & Streaming: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Location: John Paul Jones Arena (Charlottesville, Virginia)
While they may light up the scoreboard in Alabama, that won’t be the case when Houston (10-1) visits Virginia (8-0) in a battle of strong defensive teams.
The Cavaliers give the impression they would rather lose 40-39 than win 88-86. Expect to see that reflected in the total, with a number close to 113. The spread should be pretty close to even.
Date, Time & Streaming: Saturday, Dec. 17, 3 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York, N.Y.)
The NCAAB Six Pack heads to Madison Square Garden for the first game in a doubleheader, with preseason No. 1 North Carolina (7-4) matching up against Ohio State (7-2).
The Buckeyes should enter the game as small favorites, although it’s tough to say they’re better than North Carolina. Both teams are strong offensively, although the defense can be shaky at times. The Tar Heels get the nod in strength of schedule and are worth a look if they’re catching at least 2.5 points.
Date; Time & Streaming: Saturday, Dec. 17, 5:15 p.m. ET (CBS)
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York, N.Y.)
The second game of the Madison Square Garden doubleheader could be the best game of the day, as UCLA (9-2) meets Kentucky (7-2).
The Bruins are coming off an impressive win over Maryland, in which they led 49-20 at the half. The Bruins cruised the rest of the way. UCLA has reeled off six straight victories since suffering back-to-back losses last month.
The Wildcats are on a four-game winning streak since losing to Gonzaga on Nov. 20. After the game against Maryland, the Bruins will likely be small favorites in this one. The way the Bruins are playing now makes them awfully hard to go against and they could very well be the right side in this one.
Date; Time & Streaming: Saturday, Dec. 17, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
Location: McKale Memorial Center (Tucson, Arizona)
The NCAAB Six Pack ends with another viable candidate for best game of the day, as Tennessee (9-1) visits Arizona (9-1). The game should be pretty close to even. The Volunteers are rated a little bit higher in the polls but the McKale Center isn’t an easy place for visiting teams to win at.
This game sees the top-rated team in offensive adjusted efficiency – Arizona – against the team with the best defensive adjusted efficiency in Tennessee. The difference here is that Tennessee’s offense looks to be a little better than Arizona’s defense. The Wildcats have played a slightly more difficult schedule but you have to consider taking Tennessee if they go off as underdogs in this one.
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