NCAA Men's Basketball: Rivalry Week Must See Games and Predictions

The upcoming week starting on Monday February 8th is Rivalry Week for Men's College Basketball. There are some must see games this week that include many of the Top 25 teams in the country. Here is the games that I think are going to be the must see games of the week and my predictions in each game.

1) Kansas (20-1, 6-0 Big 12) @ 10) Texas (19-3, 5-2 Big 12): What a way to kick off rivalry week with these two big powerhouses from the Big 12 Conference battling to stay at the top of the conference standings. Texas is looking to bounce back from losing 3 of 4 since being named #1 for the first time in school history and falling to #10 in the newest polls. Texas is looking to knock off Kansas, which is the new #1 team in the polls. Texas is led by Senior Damian James (18 ppg, 11 rpg) and Senior Dexter Pittman (11.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Kansas is led by Seniors Sherron Collins (15.5 ppg) and Cole Aldrich (11.6 ppg, 10.3 rpg) and freshman Xavier Henry (13. 7 ppg).

Prediction: Kansas 76  Texas 80. Though Texas has been struggling as of late and at the free throw line I believe that Texas finds a way to knock down big free throws late and own their home court.

2) Villanova (19-1, 8-0 Big East) @ 6) West Virginia (17-3, 6-2 Big East): Two teams that are in the top three in the Big East will square off in this classic battle that features two Top 10 teams. Villanova is off to its best start in school history, while West Virginia is racing to catch up to the Big East Conference leaders in Villanova and Syracuse. Villanova is led by Senior Scottie Reynolds ( 18.7 ppg) and are on a current 10 game winning streak since losing at Temple 75-65. West Virginia comes in as one of the best 3 point shooting teams in the nation led by Senior forward Da'Sean Butler (16.5 ppg).

Prediction: Villanova 85  West Virginia 90. I'm going with the home team on this one and that West Virginia will continue to knock down big shots and shoot the 3 ball pretty well like they have all season long. The 3 ball kills Villanova and thus West Virginia pulls out a big win at home over the #2 team in the country.

7) Purdue (18-3, 6-3 Big Ten) @ 5) Michigan St (19-3, 9-0 Big Ten): Purdue was picked to be atop of the Big Ten standings during the pre season and were expected to lose a total of three games in conference play if not less. Purdue does find their selves in the top two in the conference but all of a sudden lost three conference games in a row. Now they are trying to battle their way back and try to win the Big Ten Championship but to do it they have to beat a very good and sound Michigan St. team that has always found a way to win this season. Michigan St is led by Mr. Clutch Senior Kalin Lucas (16 ppg). Purdue is led by E'Twaun Moore (17.3 ppg).

Prediction: Purdue  76 Michigan St. 87. Michigan St. will find a way to take care of business at home. Kalin Lucas will come up big in this game just like he has in other games this season. Michigan St. is too good defensively and will have run out opportunities where they are at their best and it will be too much for Purdue.

14) Tennessee (16-4, 4-2 SEC) @ 20) Vanderbilt (16-4, 5-1 SEC): The winner of this game will take over sole position of the second spot in the SEC East region behind the Kentucky Wildcats. Tennessee is coming off a big win over the Florida Gators 61-60, while Vandy is coming off a 13 point loss to Kentucky. Led by Jermaine Beal (14 ppg) Vanderbilt could be a surprise team in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee led by Scotty Hopson (13.6 ppg), Tyler Smith (11.7 ppg) and Wayne Chism (11.8 ppg) are looking to make some noise in SEC and the NCAA Tournament. Vanderbilt won the first meeting between these two teams at Tennessee 85-76.

Prediction: Tennessee 85 Vanderbilt 79.  I see Tennessee returning the favor and beating Vanderbilt at Vandy like Vanderbilt did to Tennessee on its home court. I think the loss to Kentucky will still be in the back of the minds of the Vanderbilt players and that they will come out flat and not execute well to start off and Tennessee will take advantage of that.

UConn (13-9, 3-6 Big East) @ 4) Syracuse (21-1, 8-1 Big East): Well I know I can probably guarantee one thing about this game, and that is that it won't go into six overtime periods like it did last year. UConn has been struggling as of late and has only beaten one legitimate team this year which was the struggling Texas Longhorns when they beat them 88-74 at home. They just got demolished by the Louisville Cardinals last night 82-69. Syracuse on the other hand is flying high. Their only loss game to Pitt in a game at Syracuse. The Huskies are led by Jerome Dyson (19 ppg). Syracuse is led by Wesley Johnson (17.1 ppg).

Prediction: UConn 70 Syracuse 89.  I'm going with a blow out in this one because Syracuse has been playing good basketball. UConn also has not won a true road game this year against any legitimate opponent, and I think that their struggles continue when they play the Orange on Wednesday Night Hoops next week. UConn is just too over matched against the Orange.

9) Duke (17-4, 5-2 ACC) @ North Carolina (13-8, 2-4 ACC): When was the last time that one has seen these two teams battle it out and when one of these teams was not in the Top 25 when they have played each other? North Carolina is a young team and is having trouble staying consistent during the season this far. Duke is coming off a loss to Georgetown, but lets give Duke credit that was their third road game that week and Georgetown had all week to prepare for them. North Carolina's problems can't get much worse than they already are. This should be another epic battle between these two teams who absolutely hate each other. North Carolina is led by Deon Thompson (14.7 ppg) and Ed Davis (14 ppg). Duke is led by Jon Scheyer (18.7ppg), Nolan Smith (18.2 ppg), and Kyle Singler (16.1 ppg).

Prediction: Duke 85 North Carolina 74. I think that Duke will go into Chapel Hill and take this game because of their experience and depth. North Carolina will find a way to stay close until the five minutes of the game where Duke will make a run that North Carolina will not be able to stop or handle until its too late. I think that all three of Duke's scorers (Scheyer, Smith, and Singler) will be in the double digits in scoring and that UNC will not have an answer for all three of them and Duke pulls this one out.

Saint Mary's (19-3, 6-1 WCC) @ 13) Gonzaga (17-4, 6-1 WCC): The winner of this game will take over the top spot in the WCC standings with the loser falling to be a game behind.  Gonzaga is coming off a overtime loss to the University of San Francisco 81-77 to give them their only loss in conference play so far this season. The Zags are led by Matt Bouldin (16.5 ppg). Saint Mary's has continued to be one of the elite teams in the WCC like it has the last three seasons including making the NCAA Tournament and being known as a team that could upset anyone. They are also on a current four- game winning streak. Saint Mary's is led by Omar Samhan (21.5 ppg).

Prediction: Saint Mary's 80 Gonzaga 79. This game will be a battle but I see St. Mary's taking this one due to a late Gonzaga turnover. This is the type of game where the lead will change hands every other minute and will come down to executes better during the clutch. I feel St. Mary's wins this game and this win over Gonzaga will be one of their KEY wins that they have this season when getting seeded for the NCAA Tournament.

14) Tennessee (16-4, 4-2 SEC) @ 3) Kentucky (20-1, 5-1 SEC): This is going to be a battle for bragging rights for the state of Tennessee. Kentucky has been playing great basketball besides the game they lost to South Carolina in their first game as the #1 team in the nation but they only dropped two spots in the latest polls. This will be Tennessee's second game this week against a Top 25 team as they will travel to Vanderbilt earlier in the week. Kentucky is led by John Wall (16.9 ppg), DeMarcus Cousins (16.2 ppg), and Patrick Patterson (15.2 ppg) all who could be Top 10 picks in this years NBA Draft.Tennessee led by Scotty Hopson (13.6 ppg), Tyler Smith (11.7 ppg) and Wayne Chism (11.8 ppg) are looking to make some noise in SEC and the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: Tennessee 74 Kentucky 85. I just think that Kentucky is ready for this game. Yes, John Wall will have his turnovers but he will also find ways to make up for them. I think Tennessee will be tired from their hard fought battle against Vanderbilt and run give up some easy layups inside and transition baskets early. I will say that Tennessee has a chance if they can get Chism, and Smith going as well as shut down Wall and one of Kentucky's post players but I just don't see that happening. Wall will either have a great game or a horrible game.

These should be some interesting games to see how they play out and who gets upset. Rivalry week has the potential to really change the rankings that will come out the following week after all the games have been played.