No. 19 Michigan State at Notre Dame-
Michigan State enters this game looking to rebound after losing to Kansas in the Orlando Classic championship game. The Spartans are led in scoring by Travis Trice who is averaging 16.4 PPG, and Denzel Valentine who is averaging 14.4 PPG; this team will continue to get better as the season goes on, their two loses come from #4 Duke and #11 Kansas. Notre Dame comes into this game with only one less, however the Fighting Irish have only played one quality team in Providence which they lost to, Notre Dame hasn’t really been tested yet. The Fighting Irish are unproven and looking to make a statement at home; with that being said Notre Dame can score some points their top 10 in the nation in PPG; Notre Dame is led in scoring by Jerian Grant who averages 18.4 PPG, and Zack Auguste who averages 15.3 PPG. This writer is taking the Spartans in this game; this is because Tom Izzo and his team bounce back after losing to Kansas.
Virginia Tech at Penn State-
This is Penn State's one chance to add a quality win to its resume, and if Penn State wants any chance at making the NCAA Tournament it will almost need to win this game as their non-conference schedule is very weak. True senior D.J. Newbill leads them as Newbill averages and impressive 25.0 PPG. Virginia Tech on the other hand has lost two games at home to Mid-Major schools (Appalachian State, Northern Iowa) and has a non-conference schedule that is as weak as Penn States; if Virginia Tech wants to keep the ACC alive in the challenge then this is a must win for the Hokies. Virginia Tech is led in scoring by Adam Smith who averages 14.3 PPG. This writer is taking Penn State at home with the win, this really is a must win for the Nittany Lions if they hope on going dancing in March.
Iowa at No. 12 North Carolina-
Iowa comes into this game losing to both #10 Texas and #23 Syracuse, and this will be the Hawkeyes 3rd time playing a ranked opponent in two weeks. This team is good, but is still trying to improve and is a long way from meeting their potential. The Hawkeyes are led in scoring by Aaron White who averages 16.7 PPG. North Carolina comes into this game on a two game winning streak against ranked opponents in #22 UCLA and #18 Florida after losing to Butler. Roy Williams has a very talented Tar Heels team under this helm; North Caroline is led in scoring by Marcus Paige who is averaging 15.2 PPG. Yours truly is taking North Carolina by double digits at home.
No. 7 Virginia at No. 21 Maryland-
Both teams come into this game undefeated. Maryland has been a surprise teams this season, however they are a legit team beating Iowa State and Arizona State this season. The Terps are balanced team on both sides of the ball; Maryland is led in scoring by Melo Trimble and Dez Wells both are averaging over 16.0 PPG. Virginia on the other hand is the stingiest team in the nation as opponents are averaging only 43.6 PPG that’s number one in the nation in opponents PPG, they play amazing defense, however they are a low scoring team just averaging 66.9 PPG that’s 208th in the nation; The Cavaliers are led in scoring by Justin Anderson who averages 15.0 PPG. This writer is taking Maryland with the upset in this game think their to balanced to be shut down from the cavaliers who struggle to score points.
Georgia Tech at Northwestern-
Northwestern is a extremely young team they have a talented freshman class but are couple years away from beat a Big Ten contender, however they are five and one coming into this game but they only play a few quality teams in the non-conference schedule, so winning this game is a must if they want to speed up the rebuilding process and to add a quality win to their resume. Northwestern is led in scoring by Tre Demps averaging 10.3 PPG, and as a whole this team only averages 61.3 PPG that’s 287th national but they play great defense as opponents are averaging 59.2 PPG that’s 57th in the nation in opponents PPG. Georgia Tech plays a weak non-conference schedule as well and if they want to make the NCAA Tournament they will need to almost win out on their remaining non-conference schedule to have a decent resume. The Yellow Jackets are led in scoring by Marcus Georges-Hunt as he averages 12.0PPG. This writer is taking Georgia Tech in a toss up because winning this game to them means more to them in the long run this season than Northwestern.
No. 4 Duke at No. 2 Wisconsin-
This is one of the best non-conference match ups of the season hands down. Its big three in Frank Kaminsky, Nigel Hayes, and Sam Decker heads Wisconsin. Wisconsin is led in scoring by Frank Kaminsky who averages almost a double double per game as he averages 16.6 PPG and 8.7 RPG. Its own big three in Jahlil Okafor, Quinn Cook, and Justise Winslow heads Duke. Duke is led in scoring by Jahlil Okafor who also almost averages a double double per game as he averages 17.7 PPG and 7.9 RPG. Both teams stack up nice to each other, both have great bigs in Okafor, Jefferson, Kaminsky, Decker, and Hayes, both teams also stack up nice to each other in guard play in Cook, T. Jones, M. Jones, Jackson, and Gasser; Wisconsin has the better backcourt than Duke, however in the front court Duke has the better guards. Wisconsin is very difficult to play against at the Kols Center and Bo Ryan’s slow style of play is hard to over come; yours truly is taking the Badgers in a closer one because it is at home and this is a veteran team were as this will be Dukes first road game of the season not played at a neutral site and the first every for their talented freshman class.