There are six Big Ten video games set for the day, primarily involving faculties at residence internet hosting mid-majors. The two exceptions, nevertheless, embody Penn State taking up Pitt in Hershey Pennsylvania and Oregon going through Gonzaga within the Northwest Elite Showdown in Portland.
Pittsburgh vs Penn State Nittany Lions
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The first recreation of the day entails an in-state battle between two sub-100 groups. Penn State enters on a two recreation skid after getting blown out at Indiana and falling at residence to Michigan State by 4. Pitt hasn’t fared a lot better, going 2-5 over their previous seven video games. Naturally, in between losses to packages reminiscent of Quinnipiac and Hofstra the Panthers managed to knock off Ohio State. Penn State is committing lower than 9 turnovers per recreation and taking pictures 49.5% from the sector. Their protection has been a weak spot, although Pitt’s offense hasn’t been notably nice. If the Nittany Lions can discover their rhythm offensively they need to have the ability to outscore Pitt on a impartial courtroom this afternoon.
Pick: Penn State
La Salle at #2 Michigan Wolverines
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Time/TV: 4:00 PM ET Peacock
Michigan enters at the moment as a 39.5 level favourite at residence in opposition to a La Salle crew ranked 262nd within the KenPom rankings. The Wolverines have received seven in a row by double digits and have hit 100 in 4 of their final 5 video games and can now face a crew that hasn’t scored greater than 75 factors since their season opener in opposition to Coppin State. Averaging 67.7 factors and 13.6 turnovers per recreation whereas taking pictures simply 43.3% from the sector, it’ll seemingly be thought of a win if the Explorers may even hit 60 tonight in Ann Arbor. Expect the Wolverines to proceed rolling.
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Pick: Michigan
UC Santa Cruz at USC Trojans
The Trojans will host Div. III UC Santa Cruz at the moment in a recreation that replaces the Trojans scheduled recreation in opposition to Brown. It’s additionally the one recreation the Trojans will play over a two week span, with their subsequent recreation not coming till the second day of January at Michigan. It’s most likely an excellent time for a tune-up although, as USC has seemed fairly unimpressive in most of their wins over the previous month. While the crew has been a bit lackluster they nonetheless sit at 11-1, with their lone loss being a convention defeat in opposition to a not notably nice Washington. Fun reality about UC Santa Cruz, however the 6-6 squad has performed two residence video games thus far this season, drawing a mean of 297 individuals per recreation. In their eight highway video games attendance has been 1,793 whole (224 per recreation). While the Trojans seemingly wished to maintain their residence recreation and never go two weeks with out enjoying a recreation, they most likely may haven’t scheduled this recreation to interchange Brown.
Fun reality: UC Santa Cruz’s nickname is the Banana Slugs. The banana slug can be the official state slug of California.
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Pick: USC
Oregon Ducks vs #7 Gonzaga
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Time/TV: 6:00 PM ET Peacock
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Northwest Elite Showdown – Portland
Oregon stunned early within the 2024-25 season and whereas a tough stretch in convention play tampered expectations, they nonetheless had a powerful season. With their two finest gamers each returning expectations had been excessive this yr however issues haven’t gone as anticipated for the Ducks. Oregon is 2-4 over their previous six video games and misplaced each of their Big Ten video games. Even of their wins issues haven’t all the time been straightforward, with wins over Hawaii and Rice by a mixed 5 factors and enjoying South Dakota State and Oregon State far nearer than they need to have. They ended a 5 recreation skid with straightforward wins over UC Davis and Portland, however will seemingly fall below .500 at the moment with a recreation in opposition to seventh ranked Gonzaga in Portland.
Gonzaga enters at 11-1 with their lone blemish being an enormous loss to Michigan. Outside of that they’ve knocked off UCLA, Kentucky, Maryland, Alabama, Arizona State, Creighton and Oklahoma by double digits. Playing within the WCC additionally means the schedule goes to melt significantly, with probably the most tough remaining checks seemingly being Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara over the subsequent a number of months.
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The Bulldogs common 92.4 factors whereas taking pictures 52.5% from the sector and 36.2% from three. KenPom has them sixth offensively and fourth defensively, sitting behind solely Michigan, Arizona and Iowa State. In comparability is an Oregon squad ranked 81st and 84th respectively. Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle have largely reproduced what they did final season, however neither have taken the subsequent step to take issues over and to the subsequent degree. With the Ducks committing 13.2 turnovers per recreation and taking pictures simply 42.9% from the sector it’s going to be a tricky job to maintain tempo with an skilled Gonzaga program that has been blowing (virtually) everybody out.
Look for Gonzaga to proceed their run of blowing out energy convention opponents this night.
Pick: Gonzaga
Campbell at Minnesota Golden Gophers
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In the second final non-conference recreation of the season Minnesota is ready to host Campbell. The Gophers are coming into off of a 36 level win over Texas Southern that noticed Cade Tyson rating 38 factors. Minnesota has solely performed three video games thus far this month, together with a win in opposition to Indiana and a strong first half at Purdue earlier than getting steamrolled within the second. Tyson has led the crew in scoring in eight of 11 video games, averaging 22.6 factors per recreation and one in all solely two gamers averaging double figures. The Fighting Camels misplaced by 28 to Gonzaga final day out and now have double digit losses at Wisconsin and Penn State. Shooting 29.3% from three and committing 15 turnovers per recreation, Campbell’s inefficiency on the offensive aspect of the ball will seemingly loom giant. As lengthy as Minnesota doesn’t overlook Campbell they need to be high quality.
Pick: Minnesota
North Dakota at #15 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska remained undefeated final week with wins in opposition to Wisconsin and on the highway at Illinois. That final win helped catapult the Cornhuskers all the best way as much as fifteenth within the nation. Now Nebraska faces a pair of mid-majors earlier than opening 2026 with a recreation in opposition to Michigan State that could possibly be a prime ten showdown by then. Their opponent tonight is a 5-9 North Dakota program ranked 326nd per KenPom. The Fighting Hawks are taking pictures at a not nice .430/.675/.305 cut up. Rienk Mast and Pryce Sandfort are neck and neck with 17.9 and 17.1 factors per recreation for a Nebraska crew averaging just below 84 factors per recreation. Look for Nebraska to get the offense rolling and stay undefeated.
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Pick: Nebraska