11-24-19 College Basketball Games to Watch
This is a really strong schedule for an early season Sunday. Enjoy!
Headliner Games
#7 Virginia (-9) vs. Arizona St. (Air Force Reserve Tip-Off-Championship Game; Uncasville, CT; Mohegan Sun Arena; Naismith Bracket) at 1 p.m. (ESPN)
#17 Villanova (-2) vs. #24 Baylor (Myrtle Beach Invitational-Championship Game; Conway, SC) at 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Florida (-1) vs. #18 Xavier (Charleston Classic-Championship Game; Charleston, SC) at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
We do get two ranked teams going at it today in the championship of the Myrtle Beach Invitational when Nova and Baylor collide. Both teams are 4-1; Baylor’s lone loss came when they blew a lead against Washington, while Nova got hammered at Ohio State as part of the Gavitt Games. Heralded freshman Bryan Antoine finally hit the court for Villanova, although he barely did so. Meanwhile, Baylor is still looking for Tristan Clark to return to his form before he suffered a season-ending injury last season. In these kinds of games, it is usually a role player that steps up and makes the difference. I think Baylor wins a close one.
Florida could get back in the rankings if they take down Xavier in the title game of the Charleston Classic. This game should be a defensive grinder. I think Xavier wins a tight one, as Florida is just struggling on offense too much right now. Speaking of defensive grinders, UVa takes on Arizona State in the championship of the Air Force Reserve Tip-Off. It should be fun just to watch Bobby Hurley react to his team trying to handle Virginia’s suffocating defense. Keep in mind though, this is the exact situation where Hurley has gotten his team to surprise teams in the non-conference the last couple of years. It’s in Pac-12 play where his team has struggled. I don’t think the Sun Devils get Virginia, but I think it comes down to the wire.
Upset Watch Games
Mississippi St. (-5) at Coastal Carolina (Myrtle Beach Invitational-Third Place Game; Conway, SC) at 1 p.m. (ESPNEWS)
N. Florida at Creighton (-17) (Las Vegas Inv. campus game) at 2 p.m. (FS1)
LSU (-6) vs. Rhode Island (Jersey Mike’s Jamaica Classic; Montego Bay, Jamaica) at 2:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
Lamar at #9 Kentucky (-24 ½) (BBN Showcase) at 6 p.m. (SECN)
Akron at #2 Louisville (-18) (Global Sports Shootout) at 6 p.m. (ACCN)
N. Texas vs. #15 Utah St. (-13 ½) (Jersey Mike’s Jamaica Classic; Montego Bay, Jamaica) at 6:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
Cincinnati (-7) vs. Bowling Green (Paradise Jam-Winner’s Bracket; St. Thomas, VI) at 8 p.m. (FloHoops) $$
Another mix of slight underdogs and big underdogs today. I normally would not give Lamar any shot at UK, but if Evansville, who is playing in the SEVENTH-place game in the Islands of the Bahamas showcase today, can go to Rupp and win, just about anything can happen this year. I think Bowling Green and Coastal Carolina (playing at home) are the best bets today.
Other Games to Watch
UConn (-1) vs. Miami, FL (Charleston Classic-Third Place Game; Charleston, SC) at 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
Missouri St. vs. Buffalo (-2) (Charleston Classic-Fifth Place Game; Charleston, SC) at 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
UMass vs. St. John’s (-4) (Air Force Reserve Tip-Off-Third Place Game; Uncasville, CT; Mohegan Sun Arena; Naismith Bracket) at 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Valparaiso vs. Nevada (-3 ½) (Paradise Jam-Winner’s Bracket; St. Thomas, VI) at 5:30 p.m. (FloHoops) $$
St. Joseph’s vs. Towson (-1) (Charleston Classic-Seventh Place Game; Charleston, SC) at 6 p.m. (ESPNU)
Loyola Marymount vs. Duquesne (-7 ½) (Junkanoo Jam; Bimini, Bahamas) at 6:30 p.m. (FloHoops) $$
UMKC vs. Liberty (-10 ½) (Islands of the Bahamas Showcase-Championship Game) at 8 p.m. (FloHoops) $$
#23 Colorado (-19) vs. Wyoming (MGM Resorts Main Event; Las Vegas, NV) at 8 p.m. (ESPN3)
Rider vs. Vermont (-8 ½) (Air Force Reserve Tip-Off-Championship Game; Uncasville, CT; Mohegan Sun Arena; Springfield Bracket) at 8:30 p.m. (ESPN3)
Nicholls St. vs. UMBC (-1 ½) (Jersey Mike’s Classic for Mid-Majors; Montego Bay, Jamaica) at 9 p.m. (CBSSN)
New Orleans at Hawaii (-7 1/2) at 10 p.m. (BigWest.tv)
Clemson vs. TCU (-3) (MGM Resorts Main Event; Las Vegas, NV) at 10:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
San Diego at #25 Washington (-15) at 10:30 p.m. (Pac-12N)
Vegas thinks most of these games will be really close; so do I. It’s a strong day of title games and place games in these early season tourneys. Enjoy!
