5 college basketball games to watch this weekend

Who’s ready for a great weekend?

Below is our list of five games to watch in college basketball this weekend.

College basketball games to watch

Cincinnati vs. Dayton (Friday)

This burgeoning local rivalry will be held for the second straight year at the Heritage Bank Center in downtown Cincinnati. The Bearcats are coming off an emotional victory over Xavier in the Crosstown Shootout, while the Flyers are on a five-game winning streak. Both teams have excellent balance as Dayton has five players averaging between 9.1 and 14.7 points while Cincinnati has eight players averaging between 6.2 and 16.0 points. The winner of this game receives a Quad 1 win that extends to Selection Sunday.

Marquette at Xavier (Saturday)

After two agonizing defeats in a row and a devastating injury to Zach Freemantle, the Musketeers were led to the gates of hell. The only way to get back to work among the living is to beat the Golden Eagles on Saturday at Cintas Center. It won’t be easy. Marquette is one of the most well-connected programs in college basketball and boasts the sport’s best guard in All-American Kam Jones (20.3 points, 6.3 assists, 4.9 rebounds).

Mississippi State at Memphis (Saturday)

The Tigers will have not one, but two Quad 1 opportunities at FedExForum before beginning league play in the American Athletic Conference. You need both. Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs precedes a Dec. 28 matchup with Ole Miss. Both the Bulldogs and Rebels are currently ranked in the top 30 in the NET. These final two non-conference games will be the best remaining opportunities for Penny Hardaway’s team to strengthen its record heading into the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA vs. North Carolina (Saturday)

The Tar Heels are desperate for a win, and the Bruins are desperate to keep the momentum going after their 10-1 start. This game – which is part of the CBS Sports Classic at MSG – should be an intriguing contrast of styles. North Carolina wants to play as quickly as possible and utilize its talented players RJ Davis, Elliot Cadeau and Seth Trimble, while UCLA wouldn’t mind 40 minutes in the mud. Keep an eye on the Bruins’ defensive combination of Skyy Clark and Kobe Johnson.

Purdue vs. Auburn (Saturday)

The Boilers were noticeably bothered by Texas A&M’s physicality last weekend in Indianapolis. They should expect more of the same on Saturday in Birmingham. The Tigers always have fresh players on the field and rotate players at will over the course of a 40-minute game. There’s still no official word on whether Auburn’s Johni Broome (18.1 points, 11.5 rebounds) — the leading candidate for the Wooden Award (+130) — will be available Saturday, but it’s highly unlikely since He suffered a shoulder injury Tuesday against Georgia State.

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Jon Rothstein is not a FanDuel employee. Rothstein’s reporting is not subject to review by FanDuel and does not represent the views or input of FanDuel. Bets based on Rothstein’s reporting do not guarantee a successful outcome. Always conduct your own due diligence and use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports bets.

Rothstein is a college basketball insider for CBS Sports since 2010 and contributor to the CBS Broadcast Network since 2016. He joined FanDuel in 2022 as a content creator. Rothstein also hosts the College Hoops Today Podcast above Compass Media Networks.