College Basketball Weekend Preview (Dec. 15-17): Arizona-Purdue Highlights Stacked Saturday Slate

If you have been busy betting on college basketball over the last month, it’s understandable if you are using the first part of this week to bet on other things or take a break due to the lack of noteworthy action on the board.

A lack of noteworthy action doesn’t mean a lack of noteworthy results–as I write this, UNLV just finished off an upset of Creighton–but even the best matchups from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday aren’t needle movers at all.

But for all that the first part of the week doesn’t have, the weekend will more than make up for it, especially Saturday.

Big names? Big games? This weekend will have it all, starting on Friday night with UConn and Gonzaga meeting in Seattle.

Bet on College Basketball at BetDSI

Top Ten College Basketball Games This Weekend

Friday, December 15

#5 UConn vs #10 Gonzaga (10:00 pm ET, ESPN2)

When these two teams last met, the Huskies laid a hammering on the Bulldogs to book a spot in the Final Four.

Odds are that Friday’s matchup in Seattle will be much closer than that 82-54 rout in March, but despite Gonzaga’s current lofty ranking, it’s anyone’s guess as to how good they actually are.

Gonzaga’s early March Madness resume includes wins over UCLA and USC, but they won’t have another opportunity of this level this season.

Saturday, December 16

#2 Kansas vs Indiana (12:30 pm ET, CBS)

Indiana is 7-2, but the Hoosiers were thumped in their two toughest tests against UConn (77-57) and Auburn (104-76).

You can’t discount the potential impact of playing at home, as the crowd in Bloomington should be pretty raucous. But will that advantage lift this unproven team to a win over a top title contender?

#6 Baylor vs Michigan State (2:00 pm ET, FOX)

The 4-5 Spartans are one of the biggest disappointments of the early portion of the college basketball season, but this duel in Detroit offers an opportunity to start putting a miserable start behind them.

Texas A&M vs #4 Houston (2:30 pm ET, ESPN2)

The Cougars are off to a pretty quiet 10-0 start, but that perfect record may be under threat here.

The Aggies dropped out of the national rankings after last Sunday’s loss to Memphis, but in Wade Taylor IV and Henry Coleman III, A&M has a duo that could produce an upset at the Toyota Center.

#13 Clemson vs Memphis (3:00 pm ET, ESPN+)

Who will take the win in this Bluff City battle of Tigers? Clemson has been one of college basketball’s top surprises early on, while Memphis has beaten four Power 6 teams already this season.

UCLA vs Ohio State (3:00 pm ET, CBS)

The Bruins have mostly had their way with inferior opposition but have been unable to take down any of their toughest foes, losing to Marquette, Gonzaga, and Villanova.

Ohio State isn’t on the level of any of those teams, but they might force UCLA into needing to score more to win. The Buckeyes have scored 80+ points in six consecutive games.

#1 Arizona vs #3 Purdue (4:30 pm ET, Peacock)

Can anyone slow down Zach Edey? Arizona will be the latest team to get a crack at doing so, but do they need to slow him down to win the game? The winner will be #1 on Monday, even if Kansas has a dominant win at Indiana.

#14 Kentucky vs #9 North Carolina (5:30 pm ET, CBS)

Losing to UNC Wilmington and needing a strong finish to put away Penn show that Kentucky is still very much a work in progress. But don’t discount their potential to down the Tar Heels in Atlanta.

Alabama vs #8 Creighton (8:00 pm ET, FOX)

This game has lost some of its luster due to Creighton’s upset loss at UNLV, but it is still must-see TV with how both teams can put points on the board when they are so inclined.

Sunday, December 17

USC vs Auburn (1:00 pm ET, ESPN)

This one won’t get a lot of attention thanks to another busy Sunday in the NFL, but it is the standout game on Sunday’s college basketball slate.

That puts it here by default, perhaps, but it is also a very intriguing matchup. The Tigers have not really beaten anyone yet, while the Trojans own a win over Kansas State but head into this one with three losses in their last four games.

Where to Bet on College Basketball

If you are looking for college basketball odds, you will always be spoiled for choice.

Sports betting sites all over the internet offer a vast array of NCAA basketball odds throughout the season, from the opening tip in November to the conclusion of the season in early April.

Along with being able to bet on countless games, many online sportsbooks offer men’s college basketball national championship odds, women’s college basketball national championship odds, men’s Wooden Award odds, women’s Wooden Award odds, and odds on who will win early season and conference tournaments.

Below are some of the books that we highly recommend for college basketball betting:

• BetDSI
• BetOnline
• BetUS
• Bookmaker
• Bovada
• MyBookie
• Sportsbetting.ag

If you don’t have an account at a book on this list, check out our reviews to help you determine if it is worth your interest and your betting funds.

Other College Basketball Content

• College Basketball Betting Guide
• Men’s Wooden Award Winner Odds
• Women’s Wooden Award Winner Odds