Saturday Preview and Predictions

Outside of the Army-Navy game, the college football regular season has come and gone. That means this Saturday is the first of many in the coming months where college hoops takes over. Here's the first of many guides to Saturday viewing with some probable wrong predictions thrown in free of charge for those with degenerate streaks and inclinations.

• Florida vs. Cincinnati: This should still be the best game of the day despite the fact that both teams are limping a bit after losses. Florida has gone from a potential Final Four contender, to a team that lost to a school I have never seen play despite the fact that I could walk to their gym in ten minutes (shout out to the Loyola Ramblers). Meanwhile Cincy got beaten down by Xavier in the Crosstown Classic. Even though the Bearcats boast a better offense than they've had in previous seasons, they still look to win with their top ten defense. Florida is going to try and run and shoot threes in transition, while Mick Cronin's squad will look to be physical and muck things up in the halfcourt. (Prediction: Cincinnati is favored by 1.5, but I think Florida goes back to showing why it was so hyped after its performance at the PK Invitational. Florida 85, Cincinnati 80). 

•  Minnesota at Arkansas: Minnesota got off to an 8-1 start but then surprisingly didn't show up in its loss at Nebraska earlier this week. Meanwhile Arkansas is 6-2 with two losses where it got beat by more than 20. The Gophers will look to pound the ball inside and let Jordan Murphy cook, while the Razorbacks will lean on their three senior guards to give them most of their offense. With Reggie Lynch averaging over four blocks per game, Arkansas is going to need Jaylen Barford and Daryl Macon to hit threes with shots at the rim being more difficult. (Prediction: Minnesota is more balanced and won't get rattled in a hostile environment with the steady hand of senior Nate Mason. Arkansas is favored by 3.5, but I like the Gophers to win. Minnesota 74, Arkansas 67). 

• Wichita State at Oklahoma State:  The Wheat Shockers already own a road victory over a Big 12 opponent with their win last Saturday against Baylor. Oklahoma State is 7-1, but did most of its damage against inferior competition. Wichita State is clicking right now, and the combination of Shaq Morris and Darral Willis will be too much for the Cowboys interior to handle. Look for Zach Brown to lock down Jeffrey Carroll, forcing Mike Boynton's unit to have to get points from secondary options. (Prediction: Wichita State will cover the 5, and do so with ease. Wichita State 85, Oklahoma State 69). 

•  UCLA at Michigan: Neither of these teams really are all that great defensively, so at the risk of sounding really simple and obvious, it's going to come down to who makes shots. Michigan isn't off to that great of a start in that department thus far, so getting Moe Wagner or Duncan Robinson to make multiple threes could determine the outcome. UCLA is finely free from the Ball Family drama, and could have the best two players on the floor with the inside-outside duo of Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh. The significance is magnified here because neither the Pac 12 nor Big 10 look especially good right now, meaning this could be one of the last chances for either team to boost its respective resumes. (Prediction: I'm going to take another road underdog here, because UCLA is just more talented. Michigan is favored by 6.5, but take the Bruins and the points. UCLA 75, Michigan 72). 

                                                                (rolltide.com)

• Alabama at Arizona:  This could be the best game of the day for two reasons. Collin Sexton and Allonzo Trier. Sexton is averaging 20.8 PPG, while Trier is averaging 22.0.If high-scoring guards aren't your jam, then the secondary clash in the paint also could provide just as much in determining the outcome. Can the combo of Donte Hall and Daniel Giddens stop Deandre Ayton? Ayton is averaging almost 20 points on 60 percent shooting from the floor, but Hall (2.8 blocks per game) and Giddens (1.6) can alter and erase shots at an elite level. Arizona can show that its performance in the Bahamas was a fluke with another win here, while Alabama has a chance for a road win that will probably be worth a bunch in March if it has a strong season in the SEC. (Prediction: While being a 9 point favorite is probably a bit much, I like the Wildcats here. I don't think they'll cover the number, but they will win. Arizona 68, Alabama 62).