A month into the 2015-16 college basketball season, the action has not disappointed at all. There’s been a mix of upsets, blowouts, and neck-and-neck contests thus far. Surely, a lot more of these are in store for our viewing and betting pleasure. That said, we’ve got you covered with our selections of the five best games to watch out for this week. Just read on below.
If you’re into football as well, check out our complete preview for the Monday Night Football game between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins.
[sc:MultiSportArticles ]The Top Five College Basketball Games to Watch this Week (Dec. 12-16)
Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 18 Butler Bulldogs
Where: Hinkle Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
When: Saturday, December 12, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Tennessee Volunteers at Butler Bulldogs – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]After kicking off the season 4-1, the Tennessee Volunteers are on a regression lately. They’ve lost their last two games and will hope that their 13-game break did them some good. The Vols, who carry a 4-3 win-loss record, are going to be in their toughest match thus far this season when they pay the No. 18 Butler Bulldogs a visit. And making things worse, they’re going to be without their third-year guard in Robert Hubbs III (15. 3 PPG and 3.7 RPG) due to an ailing knee injury.
As for the Bulldogs, they enter this game with some serious momentum on their side. They’ve won their next four games after suffering their first loss of the year versus Miami on November 22. In that stretch, their top scorer Kellen Dunham averaged 21.PPG. He should be able to stay hot against an unstable Tennessee defense (74.3 points allowed per game).
Writer’s Prediction: Butler wins, 86-70.
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats
Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
When: Saturday, December 12, 3:15 PM ET
Line: Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Kentucky Wildcats– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
What an impressive win for the Arizona State Sun Devils! They picked up their third-straight triumph last Saturday at the expense of the 18th-ranked Aggies, 67-54. Starring in that game was their junior forward Savon Goodman, who notched his third double-double output of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Prior to that game, he was actually even better with 23 points and 7 boards. But Goodman and co. are going to be even more tested opposite another ranked opponent in the form of the No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats.
Speaking of the Wildcats, they’re coming off a bounce-back victory versus Eastern Kentucky, 88-67. Kentucky’s starting five combined for 66 points in that one and leading the way for them was Alex Poythress’ double-double performance of 21 points and 13 rebounds. He and the rest of his teammates will try to replicate this performance against an Arizona State defense that’s averaging 68.2 points allowed per game on the year.
Writer’s Prediction: Kentucky wins, 79-68.
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La Salle Explorers vs. No. 9 Villanova Wildcats
Where: The Pavilion, Villanova, Pennsylvania
When: Sunday, December 13, 5:00 PM ET
Line: La Salle Explorers at Villanova Wildcats – view all NCAA basketball lines
TV Broadcast: FS1
The La Salle Explorers opened the season with three-straight wins but since then, they’ve lost three of their past four games and are currently on a two-game skid. Their solid duo of Jordan Price (25.9 PPG) and Cleon Roberts (12.9 PPG) will try to lead them to victory when they travel to Pennsylvania for an impending date with the No.9 Villanova Wildcats.
For the Wildcats, they’ll be looking to unleash their frustrations from a disappointing 78-55 loss to the No.7 Sooners last Monday. In that game, they shot the ball at a miserable 31.7 percent and were outrebounded, 41-33. Villanova will look to relocate its offense (76.0 PPG) versus a La Salle squad that yet to be tested by a ranked opponent.
Writer’s Prediction: La Salle keeps it close but eventually falls to Villanova down the stretch, 79-65.
St. Martins Saints vs. No. 20 Gonzaga Bulldogs
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington
When: Monday, December 14, 9:00 PM ET
Line: St. Martins Saints at Gonzaga Bulldogs – view all NCAA basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN3
No. 20 Gonzaga currently has two losses already this season but it’s worth noting that those were against tough opponents: Arizona and Texas A&M. The Bulldogs, who are 6-2 overall and are tied with BYU for the second spot in their conference, have a dynamic one-two punch in Kyle Wiltjer (20.6 PPG) and Domantas Sabonis (14.4 PPG and 10.4 RPG) to rely on. Both should be able to easily fill up the stats sheet versus a non-NCAA division I team like the St. Martins Saints.
Writer’s Prediction: Gonzaga blows past the Saints, 91-59.
Tulane Green Wave vs. No. 3 North Carolina Tar Heels
Where: Dean E. Smith Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
When: Wednesday, December 16, 7:00 PM ET
Line: Tulane Green Wave at North Carolina Tar Heels – view all NCAA basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN2
Despite entering as the obvious underdog in this matchup, Tulane Green Wave is not a team to be taken lightly. Sure, they’ve lost four of their first nine games of the season but those losses were mostly close ones. Tulane’s been showing some promise on both sides of the court—scoring almost 70 PPG and only allowing 66.6 PPG. The pair of Louis Dabney (13.0 PPG) and Malik Morgan (10.9 PPG) have been one of the key reason for this.
Meanwhile, the third-ranked Tar Heels didn’t let their first loss of the season against Northern Iowa affect them too much. Since that setback, they’ve beaten their last four opponents by an average margin of 15.5 points and have improved to 7-1 on the season. UNC is also 4-1 SU and 1-2-2 ATS in its previous five games.
Writer’s Prediction: Tar Heels win by double-digits.
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