Is it March already? There’ve been plenty of upsets over the first couple of weeks of the new college basketball season, but we get the feeling that there’ll be more to come. Will some of those upsets come in these big games?
Read on for a brief preview of our select five best NCAAB games to watch until Monday. You can also read our full breakdown of Wichita State vs USC and of Stanford vs. Villanova.
[sc:MarchMadness ]The Top Five College Basketball Games to Watch this Week (Nov. 26-30)
No. 20 Wichita State Shockers vs. USC Trojans
Where: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Orlando
When: Thursday, November 26, 2:00 PM ET
Line: Wichita State Shockers vs. USC Trojans – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Eight teams head down to Sunshine State this week for the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational tournament and that includes the No. 20 Shockers and the Trojans, who’ll get entangled with each other this Thursday. The 2-1 Shockers are coming off a 76-54 win over Division II program Emporia State, which doesn’t exactly bolster their bid for the Big Dance.
Nevertheless, it was a nice pick-me-up victory for Gregg Marshall’s team following a loss to Tulsa on November 17. Ron Baker has lots of pressure riding on his shoulder against the Trojans, given the injuries to star point guard Fred VanVleet and freshman Landry Shamet.
The depleted roster of Wichita State bodes well for the Trojans, who are looking to score an upset in Disney World. The 4-0 Trojans’ attack is spearheaded by Jordan McLaughlin, who scored 20 points in USC’s 96-61 win over CS Northridge on Monday.
Stanford Cardinal vs. No. 8 Villanova Wildcats
Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
When: Thursday, November 26, 4:30 PM ET
Line: Stanford Cardinal vs. Villanova Wildcats– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Defending Big East champion Villanova is on a roll, winning all four games to start the season. Despite the exit of last season’s stars in Darrun Hilliard, JayVaughn Pinkston and Dylan Ennis, Jay Wright’s team remains as one of the best scoring teams in the nation, as the Wildcats are averaging 84.8 points per game.
With longtime sixth-man Josh Hart blossoming into a full-blown star, the Wildcats look to make a splash on Thanksgiving Day against the reigning NIT champion, Stanford. The Cardinals are entering the contest on the heels of back-to-back losses to SMU and St. Mary’s. A win over Villanova, however, should restore order in Stanford’s side. The Cardinal are going to need Malcolm Allen and Rosco Allen to bounce back after combining for a pathetic total of six points in the loss to the Gaels.
Boston College Eagles vs. No. 3 Michigan State Spartans
Where: Titan Gym, Fullerton
When: Thursday, November 26, 4:30 PM ET
Line: Stanford Cardinal vs. Villanova Wildcats– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
One team’s record is about to receive its first blemish this Thursday, when Boston College and Michigan State lock horns in a Wooden Legacy tournament matchup. The odds are stacked against the Eagles in this game, as Michigan State is among the favorites to top next year’s March Madness.
Eli Carter (18.7 PPG) and company can try, but they’ll be hard-pressed to keep in step with the Spartans’ great blend of terrific offense and choking defense. Tom Izzo’s team is averaging 85.5 PPG, while limiting opponents to score for only 59.8.
Northeastern Huskies vs. No. 15 Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Where: BankUnited Center, Coral Gables
When: Friday, November 27, 4:00 PM ET
Line: Northeastern Huskies vs. Miami (FL) Hurricanes – view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Jim Larranaga knows a thing or two about scoring upsets. And with him at the helm, Miami (FL) went from being labelled as a mere ACC dark horse into a Top 25 beater, when it took down No. 16 Utah and No. 22 Butler in successive fashion to win the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Championship.
Now back in Coral Gables, the Hurricanes will look to use that momentum when they play the Huskies for Miami’s last game at BankUnited Center this month. Northeastern had their four-game win streak snapped on Sunday, when it suffered a 67-61 setback at the hands of Miami (OH).
Wisconsin Badgers vs. No. 7 Oklahoma Sooners
Where: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman
When: Sunday, November 29, 2:30 PM ET
Line: Wisconsin Badgers vs. Oklahoma Sooners– view all NCAA Basketball lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
After being given a run for their money by Memphis in the season opener, the Sooners have seemingly regrouped and blasted their next two opponents by a margin of 31 points. Oklahoma’s offense is looking great right now with Buddy Hield scoring by the truckload day in and day out.
The senior guard is averaging 25.3 PPG on an insane 56.8% shooting from the field for the Sooners, who are 26th in the nation in scoring with 88.3 PPG. Wisconsin’s no pushover, though, and Hield and company will be in for a fight against the Badgers’ defense that allows 68.4 PPG. The Badgers already have two losses this season, but are still fresh off a 74-73 win over VCU on Sunday.
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