March Madness is around the corner, and the slate of college basketball games today will have a massive impact on NCAA Tournament seeding. From historic rivalries to high-stakes battles, these games are must-watch matchups for any college hoops fan.
College Basketball Games Today
No. 5 Seed North Carolina vs. No. 1 Seed Duke
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Odds: Duke -7.5, O/U 154.5
The top-seeded Duke Blue Devils (29-3, 19-1 ACC) take on their biggest rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels (22-12, 13-7 ACC), in the ACC Tournament semifinals, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.
One major storyline is Duke’s Cooper Flagg’s injury, which could shift the balance of power in this rivalry clash.
Flagg’s absence in Duke’s ACC quarterfinals win over Georgia Tech was noticeable, as the Blue Devils struggled from deep, hitting just 23.3% from three-point range. Without their star freshman, Duke’s offensive efficiency becomes a huge question mark.
Meanwhile, UNC is coming off an impressive ACC Tournament run, with wins over Notre Dame and Wake Forest already.
The Tar Heels will have nothing to lose as they attempt to upset their biggest foe and punch their ticket to the ACC Tournament Championship. With a 7.5-point spread favoring Duke, oddsmakers still like the Blue Devils’ chances, but anything can happen in this historic rivalry.
No. 3 Seed UConn vs. No. 2 Seed Creighton
Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: FS1
Odds: UConn -3.5, O/U 139.5
The Big East Tournament battle between No. 2 seed UConn (23-9, 15-6 Big East) and No. 3 seed Creighton (23-9, 16-5 Big East) promises to be an electrifying clash at Madison Square Garden.
Creighton has been one of the best rebounding teams in the Big East, with Ryan Kalkbrenner leading the charge on the offensive glass with 2.5 offensive rebounds per game. Their ability to dominate second-chance opportunities could be the difference-maker against UConn’s fast-paced, high-scoring attack.
UConn, on the other hand, has one of the most efficient offenses in the Big East, averaging 77.9 points per game on 48.2% shooting. The Huskies have the firepower to outshoot Creighton, but the question will be whether they can handle the Bluejays’ physicality inside.
No. 6 Seed Kentucky vs. No. 3 Seed Alabama
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network
Odds: Alabama -6.5, O/U 179.5
The third-seeded Alabama Crimson Tide (24-7, 14-4 SEC) and sixth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats (22-10, 10-8 SEC) meet for the third time this season. With each team winning one of their previous matchups, this game is the ultimate tiebreaker.
Kentucky survived a thriller against Oklahoma, winning 85-84 on Thursday, while Alabama has been one of the SEC’s most dominant teams all season. The Crimson Tide’s high-powered offense and deep roster will be tested by a Kentucky squad that thrives in high-pressure situations.
This game will be a must-watch for SEC fans and March Madness bracketologists, as it could impact both teams’ seeding and momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament.
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With March Madness looming, every game today could determine which teams rise and which fall when the Selection Sunday brackets are revealed.
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