College basketball picks, schedule: Kansas vs. Iowa State predictions and more Saturday’s top 25 games

Saturday could be a breakup day in college basketball, with plenty of drama possible as conference racing heats up across the country.

In the Big 12, No. 8 Kansas travels to Ames, Iowa to take on No. 13 Iowa State, with both teams a game behind in regular-season racing. In the ACC, No. 20 league leader Clemson welcomes No. 23 Miami to South Carolina as they look to hold on to their half-game lead in the regular-season race. And in the SEC, conference-leader and No. 4 is Alabama — two games higher overall — at LSU. With No. 2 Tennessee and No. 25 Auburn facing each other in the afternoon and Texas A&M playing Georgia at night, it could have a significant impact on the rest of the race.

So which teams will stand out from the crowd and which league races will get tighter? Our experts have tips and predictions for the biggest games of the day right here.

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No. 8 Kansas in the state of Iowa No. 13

Featured Game | Iowa State Cyclones vs. Kansas Jayhawks

noon | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — Iowa State is yet to lose at home, but just endured an epic league-game collapse against Texas Tech, where it gambled away a 23-point lead in the second half to mark its third loss in four games. But I think the Cyclones are set for success at this point. They nearly destroyed KU in Lawrence a few weeks ago and back home with the Cyclone faithful behind them at the Hilton Coliseum, I ride the Iowa State. Prediction: State of Iowa +1.5 – Boone

Texas Tech at No. 11 Baylor

Featured Game | Baylor Bears vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

1 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — Texas Tech has chalked up its first Big 12 win of the season — a 23-point comeback win over Iowa State — and the confidence gained there should continue. The Red Raiders played competitively in an 81-74 loss to Baylor on Jan. 17, despite playing underperforming defense, and should be able to compete in that game as well. Even during an 0-8 start to conference play, TTU lost six of those games by 10 or fewer. Baylor has only had one double-digit win against a league opponent this season and isn’t strong enough defensively to win by that large a margin. Prediction: Texas Tech +8 – David Cobb

Featured Game | Indiana Hoosiers vs. Purdue Boilermakers

4 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — Indiana looked like the most significant non-Purdue squad in the Big Ten before falling flat in Maryland earlier in the week. But I think the Hoosiers at home will rise to the challenge when Purdue No. 1 rolls into town. Zach Edey might be unstoppable, but with Jalen Hood-Schifino making a star turn and Trayce Jackson-Davis playing like an All-American, I think IU can pull off this upset. Prediction: Indiana pick ’em – Boone

Featured Game | Kansas State Wildcats vs. Texas Longhorns

4 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (try for free) — With a chance to defeat the leader of the Big 12 while taking some of the conference lead, Kansas State has an excellent chance at home to re-establish itself as the league leader. And I expect that in the Octagon of Doom it will do just that. Prediction: State of Kansas -1 – Boone

Featured Game | Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

6:30 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) — North Carolina center Armando Bacot is tough for anyone to defend, but he could prove particularly challenging for the Blue Devils as it will be newcomers Kyle Filipowski and Dereck Lively who will be tasked with establishing themselves on the block to fight back against him. Much of the UNC squad knows firsthand what it’s like to win at Cameron Indoor Stadium and will be extra motivated on Saturday due to a poor performance against Pitt on Wednesday. This will be the first taste of college basketball’s greatest rivalry for many of the Duke players, and it may be too big a moment for a roster that has operated outside of the national spotlight for a couple of big November games. Prediction: North Carolina +3 – Cobb

Who will win and cover in every college basketball game? Visit SportsLine to get tips from the model that has simulated every game 10,000 times and has made more than $1,200 for $100 players on its top spread picks over the past six years.