We're just about two months away from March Madness, and the true contenders for the field of 68 are starting to take shape. This Saturday's slate of games boasts a ton of great inter-conference battles, including two different head-to-head battles featuring top ten teams.
Duke (4) vs. Louisville (6)
The marquee match-up of the day and the first time these two national powers have met as ACC rivals. Coach K is too good a coach to let his Blue Devils lose two straight on their home floor. Duke is going to clog the inside and force the Cardinals to beat them from beyond the arc, a tough task for a Louisville team that, for all its talent, is a ghastly 181st in the country in shooting percentage this year. [PREDICTION: Duke 65, Louisville 61]
Utah (8) vs. Arizona (10)
Utah is either the best story in college basketball or the most unappreciated. Perhaps both. Not since Rick Majerus and Keith Van Horn were rocking Utes gear has the program been this good this late in the season. Their only two losses on the season are against Kansas and at San Diego State. A win in Arizona would be a major statement that Utah isn't just exciting-- they'll have to be considered a legitimate national title contender, too. [PREDICTION: Utah 78, Arizona 74]
West Virginia (16) vs. Texas (20)
A Big-12 showdown between two teams that have been trending in opposite directions recently. The Mountaineers are coming off an impressive beatdown of Oklahoma, while Texas has lost two straight in embarrassing fashion (of which was to Oklahoma, 70-49). The Longhorns will need to win this game if they want to keep a spot in next week's Top 25. They won't. [PREDICTION: West Virginia 64, Texas 57]
Miami vs. Notre Dame (12)
Miami is far more impressive than their lack of a top 25 ranking would indicate. The Hurricanes took no. 2 Virginia to overtime (but lost), and then walloped Duke by 16 points in Cameron Indoor Stadium. The question is whether they can get stops. Miami is only 82nd in the nation in team defense, while the Irish are 11th in the nation in points per game. [PREDICTION: Notre Dame 82, Miami 79]
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