The Alley-Oop

The ACC takes center stage this weekend. #3 North Carolina travels to Maryland, while Wake Forest travels to Duke, where the Dookies will be looking for revenge. Oklahoma will also look to get one more win so they can ensure themselves the top spot in the polls next week. Problem is, they have to go on the road to their hated rivals, Texas.

Saturday

South Florida (8-17, 3-10) at #1 Connecticut (24-2, 12-2)

UCONN will be losing their #1 spot on Monday, after their loss to Pittsburgh, but South Florida will provide a nice bounce back opponent.

Prediction: Connecticut 81, South Florida 60

#2 Oklahoma (25-1, 11-0) at Texas (17-8, 6-5)

Oklahoma has stayed under the radar just about all season. Blake Griffin has drawn plenty of attention but the team itself is not often brought up as a true national championship contender. Texas has been completely disappointing this year. This is ESPN's prime time game so the building will be electrified. G AJ Abrams and G-F Damion James will do their best but it won't be enough.

Prediction: Oklahoma 76, Texas 73

#3 North Carolina (24-2, 10-2) at Maryland (16-9, 5-6)

The Tar Heels are one of the hottest teams in the country right now, ripping off 10 straight wins. Maryland just got blasted by Clemson and it is beginning to look like another NIT year for the Terps. Carolina crushed Maryland in Chapel Hill about a month ago but I expect a better effort out of Maryland in front of their insane fans. This Carolina team is filled with experience and has a made a living out of winning in hostile buildings. There is just one key to beating Maryland, maintain Greivis Vasquez and hope the rest of their team plays to their mediocre talent level.

Prediction: North Carolina 88, Maryland 78

DePaul (8-18, 0-13) at #4 Pittsburgh (24-2, 11-2)

The Panthers are coming off a huge win at Connecticut where F DeJuan Blair became a national name after embarrassing Hasheem Thabeet. They will definitely feel a letdown playing the dregs of the league in DePaul, shouldn't be a problem.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 84, DePaul 63

#6 Memphis (23-3, 11-0) at UTEP (16-9, 7-4)

Memphis has won 53 straight games in Conference USA, an unbelievable streak, no matter how weak the competition is. UTEP should give them a slight challenge but they struggle far too much on defense, giving up 72.2 points a game, to spring the upset.

Prediction: Memphis 81, UTEP 71

#7 Louisville (20-5, 11-2) at Cincinnati (17-9, 7-6)

Last time Louisville hit the road they were blasted by Notre Dame by 33 points. Cincinnati is playing for their tournament lives and a win over Louisville might be enough to seal a berth for them. I'll call the upset.

Prediction: Cincinnati 71, Louisville 69

#10 Missouri (22-4, 9-2) at Colorado (9-16, 1-10)

The Tigers have been on fire and jumped all the way to tenth in the polls. They killed Colorado in the first meeting 107-62. The Buffaloes will have some extra motivation and it will be closer this time, but not enough to get the upset.

Prediction: Missouri 84, Colorado 62

#11 Marquette (22-4, 11-2) at Georgetown (14-10, 5-8)

The Hoyas have been a huge disappointment this year, especially after they earned impressive early season wins against Memphis and Connecticut. People are still saying they have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament but they better start winning some games. Marquette has dropped two in a row on the road, including an embarrassing loss at South Florida. Guards Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews will be too much for the Hoyas.

Prediction: Marquette 84, Georgetown 79

Washington State (13-13, 5-9) at #15 UCLA (20-6, 9-4)

UCLA just barely got by the Cougars in their visit to Pullman, but they are a completely different team at home. Bruins roll.

Prediction: UCLA 64, Washington State 53

Nebraska (16-8, 6-5) at #18 Kansas (21-5, 10-1)

The Cornhuskers are scratching and clawing their way into making the NCAA Tournament field, so they can finally win an NCAA Tournament game. Going to Kansas won't help their cause as the Jayhawks are 15-0 at home. The Jayhawks have a huge game against Oklahoma on Monday, but I believe coach Bill Self will have them focused.

Prediction: Kansas 75, Nebraska 56

#19 Washington (19-7, 10-4) at USC (16-9, 7-6)

The Huskies are in a five-way dog fight for the regular season Pac-10 crown. The Trojans are basically out of that race but still in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth. USC has dropped just one home game all season. Trojans guards Dwight Lewis and Daniel Hackett will need to slow down Huskies G Isaiah Thomas. The Huskies just aren't a good enough road team to win this one.

Prediction: USC 74, Washington 68

Pepperdine (8-19, 5-6) at #20 Gonzaga (20-5, 11-0)

The Zags have been demolishing conference opponents at home.

Prediction: Gonzaga 86, Pepperdine 60

Indiana (6-19, 1-12) at #21 Purdue (20-6, 9-4)

The battle of Indiana, without any of the luster of years past.

Prediction: Purdue 70, Indiana 55

#22 Butler (22-4) at Davidson (22-5)

Some BracketBuster goodness. Both these teams are strugg a ling. Davidson may be without superstar G Stephen Curry, which led to them getting demolished at home by The Citadel on Wednesday. Butler has dropped two in a row and is desperate for a win. This is a tough game to predict without knowing Curry's status but even if he does play I think he will be limited.

Prediction: Butler 65, Davidson 62

#23 Utah State (25-2) at St. Mary's (21-5)

Utah State suffered their first loss in the WAC last Saturday at Boise State, an upset I wanted to predict but was too wimpy to do so. St. Mary's is still without star guard Patrick Mills and has struggled without him, losing 4 of 7.

Prediction: Utah State 62, St. Mary's 60

Auburn (17-9, 6-5) at #24 LSU (22-4, 10-1)

Hey, look at that! I finally get to predict an SEC team, as one of their teams has finally made it into the Top 25. What a garbage conference.

Prediction: LSU 77, Auburn 65

Sunday

Wisconsin (17-9, 8-6) at #5 Michigan State (20-5, 10-3)

After losing six in a row and having a very rough start to Big 10 play, the Badgers have recovered to win five in a row and are in the driver's seat for an NCAA Tournament berth. Michigan State has had some curious home losses this year, and received a beat down at the hands of Purdue on Tuesday. I think the Badgers are catching the Spartans at the right time.

Prediction: Wisconsin 59, Michigan State 57

#8 Wake Forest (20-4, 7-4) at #9 Duke (21-5, 7-4)

Both teams, who despite recent struggles, have somehow stayed in the Top 10, meet in a rematch at Cameron. These two are in the midst of a huge log jam between second and fifth place. Wake took the first game, nearly blowing a double digit lead before getting a late basket to win 70-68. Duke is a much different team at home, their shooters, such as Jon Scheyer and Gerald Henderson shoot much better at home. Unfortunately, the Dookies will get their revenge.

Prediction: Duke 78, Wake Forest 70

Arizona (18-8, 8-5) at #11 Arizona State (20-5, 9-4)

Arizona will be playing their first game in 8 days, since crushing UCLA to extend their winning streak to 7 games. The Sun Devils come in hot as well, winners of 4 in a row. The Sun Devils took the first game in a low scoring affair 53-47. Much of the Wildcats winning streak has come at home, as they are a sorry 2-6 on the road. The Sun Devils end their winning streak on the back of G James Harden.

Prediction: Arizona State 64, Arizona 52

#13 Clemson (21-4, 7-4) at Georgia Tech (10-15, 1-11)

Clemson had a bad loss at Virginia last weekend, a loss to Georgia Tech would be even worse.

Prediction: Clemson 77, Georgia Tech 72

#14 Villanova (21-5, 9-4) at #25 Syracuse (19-7, 7-6)

Villanova crushed Syracuse in the first game, as the Cuse decided to play no defense, and lost 102-85. However, the Wildcats have had problems beating good teams on the road in Big East play, including getting trounced at West Virginia last Friday. I like Devendorf, Flynn and the Cuse in this one.

Prediction: Syracuse 87, Villanova 81

#16 Illinois (21-6, 9-5) at Ohio State (17-7, 7-6)

Illinois had an embarrassing performance their last time out against Penn State. They held the Nittany Lions to 38 points, but that wasn't enough to earn a win, as they only scored 33. The Buckeyes have dropped two in a row, both of those losses coming on the road. I think Illinois will break 40 this time, but alas they will lose again.

Prediction: Ohio State 45, Illinois 41

George Washington (8-15, 2-9) at #17 Xavier (21-5, 9-3)

George Washington has fallen hard and fast. They did earn a blowout win over St. Bonaventure in their last game, while the Musketeers were upset by Charlotte. I sense a reversal of fortunes in this one.

Prediction: Xavier 75, George Washington 58

Record: 43-11