This College Basketball season is already to its last weekend of the regular season. This season has been one one of the more electric seasons due to the amount of talent spread across the country. Every conference has had a list of teams who can compete.
Saturday and Sunday, March 4th and 5th, 2023; there are a number of games that will decide the fate of schools chances to dance into the field of 68. The NCAA Tournament is no where near set just yet. In the next eight days this bracket will be shaken up more than dice at a craps table on Friday night in Las Vegas.
This article will break down match-ups that matter over this last weekend of the regular season.
Teams on the Outside Looking in:
The “first four out” as they are called, looking to end the season on a good note moving into the Conference Tournaments next week. Arizona State, Michigan, North Carolina, and Utah State all have games with huge implications on their season.
Arizona State at USC
03/04/2023 – 11:00pm ET
After last Saturday’s buzzer beating heave from beyond half court that gave ASU the dramatic win over Arizona kept their tournament hopes alive, right now those hopes are still just that.
This is ASU’s last chance of the season to get a quality win to impress the selection committee. This game against USC will be challenging in all aspects. USC is in the field right now, yet they are on the fringe of the tournament, listed as the “first four byes” currently.
USC is currently the 3rd seed in the Pac-12 and a projected 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament. While ASU is right behind them in both the Pac-12 seeded at 4th and on the outside looking into the Tournament bracket.
ASU is barely over .500 on the road this season at 7-5, and have opened as a 5 point underdog to USC according to bookmakers. While USC is a home juggernaut, 14-2 to this point of the season and look to end it with a bang Saturday night.
However Arizona State will be playing with desperation, ahhhh don’t you just love the emotions of March when it comes to college basketball?
Duke at North Carolina
03/04/2023 – 6:30pm ET
So much to break down in the marquee match-up. Duke’s first season without legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski have been different, yet still successful. While UNC came into the season as the overall number 1 seed and have to proved to be everything but that.
UNC has had one of the most disappointing seasons due to the high expectations. Every time they were deemed to get things together and go on a run, they would do the opposite. After winning their last three games, they still have some work to do for the committee to add them to the bracket.
A win against their rival, deemed the biggest rivalry in sports, will go a long way. UNC is going into this game as 2.5 point favorites, which is surprising to most.
The talent is definitely there, which is why their season has been surprisingly deem a failure to this point. After last seasons run to the Championship game and the core returning, UNC was projected to be the best team in the nation.
Duke is 8-2 in their last 10 games while UNC is 5-5. However UNC does have the home court advantage, 12-2 record at home while Duke has struggled on the road, 3-6 record.
Boise State at Utah State
03/04/2023 – 9:00pm ET
Boise State is coming off of a huge win against San Diego State in their last outing and look to solidify their position in the tournament field. While Utah State is on the outside looking in.
The Mountain West is one of the toughest and most underrated conferences in college basketball. This is the reason this game is huge for these teams. Even though the conference has 5 or 6 teams who should be in the tournament, only 3 will get an invite.
Smaller conferences always have this disadvantage. They need to be the cream of the crop to get an automatic bid. Utah State is more than deserving, however will need to put some work in over this next 8 days to prove that.
A win or loss Saturday night for Utah State could be the game that either keeps them out or gets them in. Luckily for them they are at home where that have been comfortable all season. Opening as 4.5 point favorites seems like a stretch, yet I think that number is right where it should be.
Utah State is 13-2 at home, while Boise State is 5-5 on the road. Boise State is currently projected as a 10th seed in the tournament field, however anything can change this week.
Michigan at Indiana
03/05/2023 – 4:30pm ET
Michigan has been the definition of dramatic this season, with their last two games going into overtime, one into double overtime. The Wolverines have been a roller coaster this season, their schedule is filled with heart breaking loses and exhilarating wins.
Indiana has had more consistency, however their season has been just as dramatic. Maybe it has something to do with the gauntlet that is the Big10, which is deemed the toughest conference in college hoops.
Indiana is currently projected to be a 4 seed in the tournament, which adds all of the pressure onto Michigan’s shoulders. No numbers have been posted fore this game is on Sunday. My number on this game is Indiana -3 to -5.
Indiana has protected home court this season, posting a 14-2 record. While Michigan is 3-6 on the road. Both teams are 6-4 in their last 10 games.
One thing for sure, it will feel more like a boxing match than a college basketball game.
Other Games to Keep an Eye on in College Basketball
Kentucky vs Arkansas does not much implications on it as far as the NCAA Tournament goes. Yet, both teams have had a rocky season and would like to end the season on a high note.
Kentucky after struggling through December and January, have gotten things together in February and look to keep it going through March.
While Arkansas has had some injury problems and are finally healthy. The Razorbacks are looking for any opportunity to gain rhythm and get rolling into the run of March.
The ACC Conference:
The ACC Conference has an interesting problem when it comes to the regular season title. They currently have three teams tied for first, and two more right behind them tied for second.
Miami, Virginia, and Pittsburgh are tied for first with a 14-5 conference record. Miami and Pittsburgh will play head to head while Virginia will take on Louisville.
Duke and Clemson are right behind them at 13-6 in conference play. Duke travels to North Carolina while Clemson host Notre Dame.
Ultimately the winner of Miami and Pittsburgh will take home the regular season crown.
Pittsburgh at Miami
03/04/2023 – 6:00pm ET
In this winner take all match-up for the ACC title, you have two teams who have been consistent all season long. Pittsburgh went from worst to maybe first in a matter of one season. While Miami expected to be in the top tier of the marquee conference in college basketball.
Miami at home is a 6 point favorite in this game and holds a 15-1 record there. Pittsburgh comes in as an above average road team, boasting a 7-4 record on the road.
This game will likely be overshadowed by the Duke/UNC matchup going on at the same time. Yet, in the shadows a champion will be crowned.
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Rowan Donaghey is a Sports and Betting Insider for Fantom Sports Industries. Follow him on twitter for daily content via @RowanDonaghey
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