The Maniac has a detailed column on the big game at www.sportsgeek.com, feel free to check it out. In the meantime, here's a quick primer to Saturday's other marquee contests.
Purdue @ Xavier - Robbie Hummel is back for a fifth season in Lafayette. Unfortunately, he doesn't appear to have a lot of help. Look for Xavier to notch yet another impressive non-conference win for their resume.
Valpo @ Butler - This is an early-season Horizon showdown. The winner has a leg up in their eventual pursuit of favorite Cleveland State.
Gonzaga @ Illinois - The Illini are unbeaten... but also largely untested. They are 2.5 point favorites at home today, but I think the 'Zags go in and beat 'em.
Texas @ UCLA - This game would have been a heck of a lot better two or three years ago. The names still pop; the teams don't. But it is an important game for each rebuilding program if they have any aspirations of dancing in March.
Marquette @ Wisconsin - One of the best unheralded rivalry games in the country. Wisconsin is a big 8 point favorite, but Marquette is a sleeper Big East contender. I think this will be one heck of a hard fought game, and am curious to see how much gas is in the badger tank after a grinding and emotional loss to North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Pitt @ Tennessee - This is an interesting match-up. Neither team is pretty, but both play their backsides off and will fight you (literally) all night long. Expect a physical and punishing game between two teams that aren't at the top of their very good conferences, but should find themselves playing in March.
Indiana State @ Boise State - No, this isn't much of an entertaining basketball game, even for a junkie like me - but at +6.5 for Indiana State, it is one of the worst lines I've seen this season. The Sycamores are a decent ballclub. I like them straight-up tonight, let along getting 6.5...
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