Michigan's Trip to IU Headlines College Basketball Saturday

The superb play of Tim Hardaway Jr. is one of the major reasons why Michigan is currently the No. 1 team in the country. (Gregory Shamus)

5. #6 Syracuse (18-2, 6-1 Big East) @ Pittsburgh (17-5, 5-4 Big East) - 12:00 PM EST, ESPN

Syracuse enters this matchup following the team's second loss of the season. Poor perimeter defense and overconfidence were their demise. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has begun to find its groove. They had won four straight contests before coming up short at Louisville. The Panthers will look to use their significant home court advantage to pull the surprising upset.

4. Oklahoma State (14-5, 4-3 Big 12) @ #2 Kansas (19-1, 7-0 Big 12) - 4:00 PM EST, ESPN3

Oklahoma State has had its share of ups and downs so far this season. They are entering this game with some momentum as winners of three of their last four. Since a November 13 loss to Michigan State, Kansas has gone on to win 18 straight games. Their defense has been dominant throughout the season. Freshman Ben McLemore has emerged as one of the best players in college basketball.

3. #14 Miami (16-3, 7-0 ACC) @ #19 NC State (16-5, 5-3 ACC) - 4:00 PM EST, CBS

Miami has been one of the biggest surprise stories of the college basketball season thus far. They have stormed out to a 7-0 start in ACC play, including dominating wins over then-No. 1 Duke and Florida State. NC State has been up and down in conference play. They have a win over Duke on the record as well. The Wolfpack will be glad to return home after a loss at Virginia this past week dropped their road record to 1-4 on the season.

2. #16 Mississippi (17-3, 6-1 SEC) @ #4 Florida (17-2, 7-0 ACC) - 7:00 PM EST, ESPNU

Ole Miss has been another one of this season's surprisingly successful teams. For those who have not seen them play, they run a high octane offense and rebound the ball well. The Rebels do enter the game on a sour note after their nine-game winning streak was snapped by a home loss to Kentucky. They hope to prove that they belong among the best in the SEC. Beating Florida would be a step in the right direction. The Gators have won nine straight and have emerged as the cream of the conference's crop.

1. Michigan (20-1, 7-1 Big Ten) @ #3 Indiana (19-2, 7-1 Big Ten) - 9:00 PM EST, ESPN

The Big Ten is widely considered to be the best conference in college basketball right now. Matchups like this remind us of why that is. Michigan doesn't simply have a strong record. They have been winning convincingly as well. Since December 4, the Wolverines have won every game by double digits except for two. One was a narrow defeat at Ohio State and an eight point win over Minnesota. Indiana has been a strong team as well. They have been rock solid as well with the exception of their two close losses, one in overtime to Butler and the other to Wisconsin by five at home. This is a battle to determine who is the top dog in the Big Ten as of right now at least.

Previewing the Final Weekend of January College Hoops

Trey Burke will look to lead Michigan to a victory in Champaign over Illinois with another shot at being No. 1 on the line. (Mike Stobe)

This is already the last weekend in January. It's hard to believe, but we only have one more full month until the NCAA tournament tips off. Conference matchups becoming increasingly important this time of year. My blog post will briefly preview the top five games to watch this weekend.

5. North Carolina (13-5, 3-2 ACC) at #18 NC State (15-4, 4-2 ACC) - Saturday, 7:00 PM EST, ESPN

This game features two rival trending in opposite directions. On January 10, North Carolina lost at home to Miami by nine points. The loss dropped their record to 10-5 and 0-2 in the ACC. Despite doubters and critics ripping them apart, they have used a solid two weeks to turn around their season. The Tar Heels won at Florida State and defeated both Maryland and Georgia Tech by double digits. Reggie Bullock and James Michael McAdoo have led the way offensively. The team has also cut down its turnovers and defensive lapses.

On January 12, NC State looked like a national championship calibar team. They capped off a 3-0 start in ACC play, their best since 1973-74, with an impressive 84-76 victory over No. 1 Duke. However, they have looked like a completely different team since. In a span of six days, the Wolfpack dropped two of their past three games. Poor shooting doomed them in a narrow defeat at Maryland, and a poor defensive performance in the second half saw them fall at Wake Forest on Tuesday.

4.  Temple (13-5, 2-2 A-10) at #9 Butler (16-3, 3-1 A-10) - Saturday, 6:00 PM EST, ESPN2

Temple wants to prove it belongs with the top teams in the Atlantic 10. They will have a chance to prove it on Saturday when they look to hand Butler their first home loss of the season. The Owls have had their share of ups and downs this season. Their best win to date is there upset of Syracuse in Madison Square Garden. Home losses to Canisius and St. Bonaventure have been disappointing performance for Temple. They have played a tough schedule getting blown out by Duke and falling short in an upset attempt at Kansas. Butler is the Owls' fourth top ten opponent of the season, so they won't be intimidated by playing in a hostile environment on the road.

Butler has been on an emotional roller coaster over the past week. One week ago, Roosevelt Jones made a steal and game-winning shot to knock off Gonzaga. However, they watched an opponent become the hometown hero just a few days later. La Salle senior Ramon Galloway drove coast-to-coast to lift the Explorers to their first victory over a top ten team since 1980. The loss was the Bulldogs' first in over two months. They will get a huge boost from the return of Rotnei Clarke from injury. The senior leads Butler in scoring with 16.3 points per game and is expected to play on Saturday.

3. #15 New Mexico (17-2, 4-0 MWC) at San Diego State (15-4, 3-2 MWC) - Saturday, 4:00 PM EST, NBCN

New Mexico has established itself at the top of the Mountain West Conference, but it has been far from pretty. Five point wins over UNLV and at Boise State in overtime have been far from certain outcomes. They also almost blew a 22-point lead to Colorado State before winning by five once again. The Lobos are a talented team with three top 25 wins and haven't lost in the new year. Junior Tony Snell has stepped up his game lately. Over his past three games, he has averaged 20.3 points per game.

San Diego State has looked strong for much of the season, but a recent rough patch knocked them out of the polls. They were ranked until they lost back-to-back games to UNLV and Wyoming. On Wednesday, they bounced back with a 21-point victory at Nevada. If the Aztecs hope to win the Mountain West, they would take a big step in the right direction with an upset of New Mexico. They will need to get strong play out of senior Chase Tapley and junior Jamaal Franklin if they hope to do that.

2. #13 Michigan State (17-3, 6-1 Big Ten) at #7 Indiana (17-2, 5-1 Big Ten) - Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS

Since losing their Big Ten opener at Minnesota, Michigan State has won six straight conference games to take the lead in the nation's deepest and most difficult conference. Despite knocking off Ohio State and winning at Wisconsin, their schedule does not get an easier as they must travel to Assembly Hall to take on Indiana. The Spartans have played very well this season, but the end of the Wisconsin game showed that this team can be inept on the offensive end at times. Junior point guard Keith Appling can be the leader that can make the difference on the court when he is needed to.

Indiana has been No. 1 in the country twice this season, but has been unable to hold on to the spot. The first time the came up short in overtime to budding rival Butler. The second time around they were surprised at home by a confident Wisconsin team. Even though they are now ranked #7 in the country, this is one of the nation's best teams. Sophomore Cody Zeller is one of the nation's best players. Junior Victor Oladipo and senior Christian Watford are hard-working team players who are coaches' dream athletes and hustlers.

1. #2 Michigan (18-1, 5-1 Big Ten) at Illinois (15-5, 2-4 Big Ten) - Sunday, 6:00 PM EST, BTN

Exactly two weeks prior, Michigan played on a Sunday with a chance to win and become the No. 1 team in the country. They got off to a slow start and came up short at Ohio State. On Sunday night, they will get another chance when they travel to Assembly Hall to take on Illinois. The Wolverines boast a balanced attack and strong defense. Junior Tim Hardaway Jr. and freshmen Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III all are averaging in double digits scoring. As good as they have all been, it is sophomore point guard Trey Burke who runs the show as good as anyone in the country.

Illinois was one of college basketball's surprise stories in the early stages of the season. They got off to a 12-0 start and won the Maui Invitational. Beginning with a loss to Missouri, the Fighting Illini's season success came to a sudden and dramatic stop. They lost five out of seven games to fall to 1-4 in Big Ten play. Illinois did end a three-game losing streak with a 20-point win at Nebraska on Tuesday. Senior D.J. Richardson led the way with 30 points. The Illini will look to use a similar formula as they hope to upset Michigan.

College Football Week 1 Preview and Predictions

If #8 Michigan is going to upset #2 Alabama, quarterback Denard Robinson will have to have the game of his career. (Matthew Stockman)

Each Thursday night during the college football season, I will preview my top five games of the weekend and give my predictions. Special shout-out to South Carolina quarterback Conner Shaw, who with an injured shoulder led the Gamecocks to a 17-13 comeback victory at Vanderbilt tonight.

5. Tennessee vs. North Carolina State - 7:30 PM EST (Friday), ESPNU/WatchESPN

The last time these two schools played was 73 years ago. Much has changed from then. This game though could be a sign of things to come for both teams the rest of the season. Tennessee would prefer to forget last season. After stud wide receiver Justin Hunter went down in week three against Florida, the Volunteers finished 3-7 in their last ten games, with two of those wins coming over Buffalo and Middle Tennessee State. Conversely, North Carolina State ended last season playing their best football. The Wolfpack finished finished 6-2 in their last eight games, including an blowout upset of then-No. 8 ranked Clemson 37-13 and a win over Louisville in the Belk Bowl.

Tennessee's offense took a considerable blow with the departure of All-SEC wide receiver Da'rick Rogers. They do still have other solid talent at the wideout position led by Hunter and JUCO transfer Cordarrelle Patterson. Of course, the biggest question mark is likely the man who is trying to get them the ball, quarterback Tyler Bray. Even though this is Bray's third year as a starter, he has yet to win a football game outside the state of Tennessee. He appears to have all the tools, but has yet to have the toughness and composure to lead the Vols to a big win yet. The running back positions and the defense as a whole are a bit of question marks as well.

N.C. State's offense will be confidently led by quarterback Mike Glennon. Last season, Glennon threw for 3,054 yards and 31 touchdowns. The rest of the Wolfpack offense is loaded with talent and experience, especially the offensive line, which returns four out of five starters. The Wolfpack secondary is the foundation of their defense. Cornerback David Amerson and safety Earl Wolff are the cornerstones of that secondary. The Volunteers are going to have a difficult time moving the ball through the air on Friday night against N.C. State.

Prediction: N.C. State 31 Tennessee 20

4. #14 Clemson vs. Auburn - 7:00 PM EST (Saturday), ESPN/WatchESPN

For the third consecutive season, these two sides square off. The winner has gone on to do big things each season. In 2010, Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton led Auburn to the 27-24 overtime victory as part of their route to a National Championship run. Last season, it was Clemson who overcame a 21-7 deficit to beat Auburn 38-24. They went on to start the season 8-0 and won the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

Clemson will be without star wide receiver Sammy Watkins due to suspension (drug arrest). This means that more of the offensive weight will fall on the shoulders of quarterback Tahj Boyd and tailback Andre Ellington. After giving up an incredible 505 yards in their humiliating 70-33 loss to West Virginia in last year's Orange Bowl, Clemson knew they would have to improve on defense to have a chance at winning the ACC again. New defensive coordinator Brent Venables has established a zone scheme and worked on the group's flexibility. It will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to click as a unit.

Last season was a rebuilding one for Auburn. They hope that this season some of their young stars are ready to shine and to build upon the university's rich heritage. Sophomore Kiehl Frazier won the starting quarterback job for at least week one against Clemson. Frazier was a highly regarded recruiting prospect out of high school. He is a dangerous dual threat quarterback. Frazier will quickly begin to receive comparisons to his predecessor Newton before long. Auburn fans hope he can establish that type of legacy before his time there is done.

Prediction: Clemson 27 Auburn 17

3. Georgia Tech @ #16 Virginia Tech - 8:00 PM EST (Monday), ESPN/WatchESPN

The ACC Coastal Division "championship" could be this game in week one. The winner of this game has gone on to represent their division in the ACC Championship Game each of the past seven seasons. The Hokies have won the past two matchups against the Yellow Jackets. This year is no exception because Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech are among the favorites to win the ACC again. The winner will get a huge advantage,

Georgia Tech's triple option offense will be led by senior quarterback Tevin Washington. Washington led the team last season with 986 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. The tailback duo of Orwin Smith and David Sims should add to the attack as well. The Yellow Jackets hope that they have improved enough on defense to make a difference. The defensive core should be led by linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu. He had six sacks last season, but he has to keep his emotions in check.

Last season, Virginia Tech seemed to slowly improve just as their quarterback Logan Thomas did as well. Thomas has the talent to lead the Hokies to victory. In the backfield, redshirt freshman Michael Holmes is set to get the bulk of the carries. Holmes is highly regarded, but we will have to see how he fares when the spotlight is shining. The Hokies always seem to rely on a solid defense. This year is no exception. Players such as cornerback Kyle Fuller need to step up and make big plays to slow down Georgia Tech's option attack.

Prediction: Virginia Tech 20 Georgia Tech 17

2. #24 Boise State @ #13 Michigan State - 8:00 PM EST (Friday), ESPN/WatchESPN

These two teams actually have quite a bit in common going into this new season. Last season, both Boise State and Michigan State had very successful seasons, winning a combined 23 wins, including their respective bowl games. Both teams also have to replace the most successful quarterbacks in school history and talented tailbacks with unproven backups.

Junior Joe Southwick was named the starting quarterback for Boise State. He played in limited action last season. Southwick will rely on the help of sixth-year tailback D.J. Harper. While this is first season as the Broncos' primary back, Harper did rush for a season-high 125 yards and two touchdowns against TCU last season. Matt Miller and Mitch Burroughs, the Broncos' top returning wide receivers, should also help to provide reliable targets for Southwick to look for when in need.

Michigan State's newly named starting quarterback is Andrew Maxwell. He got to be former Spartans quarterback Kirk Cousins' primary understudy the past two seasons. Maxwell will undoubtedly rely upon junior tailback Le'Veon Bell. While this is Bell's first season as the Spartans' primary back, he did rush for 948 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. The Spartans return one of the Big Ten's best defenses this year. Defensive end William Gholston is primed to wreak havoc on the Broncos' offensive line.

Prediction: Michigan State 20 Boise State 13

1. #8 Michigan vs. #2 Alabama - 8:00 PM EST (Saturday), ABC

A top-ten matchup in week one sees two of the BCS favorites squaring off with a lot of pride on the line. While the vast majority of the Top 25 teams are enjoying cupcake games, Michigan and Alabama are set to battle in a game that has huge national championship implications. Both teams are coming off huge seasons. Alabama throttled LSU in the BCS National Championship Game last season. Head coach Nick Saban is looking to build a dynasty in Tuscaloosa. In his first year in Ann Arbor, head coach Brady Hoke transformed Michigan from a floundering, mediocre team into Sugar Bowl victors. The talent was already there, they just needed the guidance to get there.

Michigan is going to need even more wise counsel from Hoke if they are going to have a shot at upsetting Alabama. The talent is there to make it happen. Senior quarterback Denard Robinson is among the preseason favorites to win the Heisman. The ever dangerous dual threat, Robinson improved drastically as a passer last season. The one part of his game that he needs to continue to work on, especially against Alabama, is turning the ball over. Robinson has never faced a defense as good as Alabama's, but if he is able to find room to run and limits his mistakes, Michigan has a chance to win. Another big factor for the Wolverines is the playing status of tailback Fitzgerald Toussaint. On Tuesday, Toussaint plead guilty to driving while visually impaired, stemming back to an arrest over the summer. His playing status is unclear for Saturday's game. If Toussaint does play, he could be a big x-factor in deciding the outcome of the game.

When looking at Alabama's offense, the thing that sticks out of the most is the extremely talented offensive line. Led by center Barrett Jones, the offensive line could end up featuring as many as three All-Americans. They will definitely be a huge help to the guys playing behind them. Junior quarterback AJ McCarron may not be flashy like Robinson, but he obviously knows how to win football games. Tailbacks Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon should share the bulk of the work for the backfield. The Crimson Tide defense remains as solid as ever. One guy in particular to keep an eye on is safety Robert Lester. Not only will he play a crucial role in containing Robinson, but he is also known for his ability to intercept passes well. Lester will be primed and ready in case Robinson does make a mistake.

Prediction: Alabama 24 Michigan 20

Are Your Brackets Busted?

It would come as no surprise to me if they were after a day like today. After all entering today, #2 seeds were 105-4 all time again #15 seeds. That all changed when #15 Norfolk State upset #2 Missouri and #15 Lehigh upset #2 Duke. Out of 6.5 million brackets on ESPN.com, only 31,183 correctly picked these games. Additionally, only 24,492 brackets correctly chose #15 Norfolk State, #15 Lehigh, and #13 Ohio. #12 seed South Florida and #11 seed N.C. State both pulled significant upsets as well.

Wow. I mean what else can you say after a day like today. Your bracket is probably destroyed, but you probably loved the basketball you watched. Picking a perfect bracket is next to impossible. So don't feel bad. In fact, the odds of picking a perfect bracket are 1-in-100 million trillion (Weimerskirch). One teenage fan correctly picked every game of the first two rounds last year. The odds of that happening was estimated at 13.46 million to one (bookofodds.com).

So don't feel bad if your bracket is busted. I know that mine is. But that is okay. Now, you can root for all the underdogs and enjoy the madness of March basketball.

My Five Bold NCAA Tournament Predictions

These are ten unexpected things I picked to happen in my bracket. You can call me crazy if you wish, but it is March Madness after all. Anything is possible, so don't say I didn't tell you so when some or maybe even of all of these happen.

5. This year's double digit seed making it to the Sweet Sixteen will be N.C. State.

The Wolfpack are playing their best basketball of the season right now. They made a great run in the ACC tournament, nearly upsetting UNC in the semifinals. I think the success will carry over to the Big Dance.

4. Belmont, a #14 seed, will win their first NCAA tournament game ever.

Everyone jumped on the Bears bandwagon early when they nearly upset Duke earlier this year. This has been a very talented program for the past several years. The only thing that has eluded them is a NCAA tournament win. I think that changes this years. Belmont will have to play very well, but they could certainly upset Georgetown.

3. Two #13 seeds, Montana and Davidson, will upset #4 seeds in the second round.

Don't get me wrong. Both Wisconsin and Louisville are very talented power conference teams. However, both are defensively oriented and struggle on offense at times. This leaves them both vulnerable to upsets. Davidson showed they are capable of pulling them when they beat Kansas in Kansas City earlier this year. Montana comes into the tournament winners of 14 straight, including an upset of Weber State to earn the automatic bid to the tourney.

(These two have to go together.)

2. #1 overall seed Kentucky will be the first #1 seed to lose in the tournament.

1. This year's Cinderella, Wichita State, will make it to the Final Four.

You probably think I am crazy right now, but Wichita State is very talented. They have experience on their side, having won the NIT last season. I truly believe Wichita State can upset an unsuspecting Kentucky team. If they did that, it wouldn't shock me if they went to the Final Four. In fact, that is exactly where I have them going in my bracket. Call me crazy, but you heard this prediction first here.