Out of Focus UPDATE: Five Best Games You Didn't Watch Tonight (Dec. 17)

Let the games begin!  Tonight!  No, really!

You've had a long day of work.  Or school.  Or post-exam lounging. 

You're tired of reading about Charles Barkley, Gene Chizik, Sean Avery reruns (pardon the pun), and Plaxico Burress' need for a holster.

You are in need of a college basketball fix, but a quick glance at the Top 25 shows a whole lot of typical December mismatches, a point I've already addressed.

There are plenty of games on tap tonight, and plenty that matter in the college basketball world.  They are not going to be grabbing attention on ESPN, and they won't be "televised worldwide," but you need (yes, need! You are an aficionado, aren't you?) to know about them, and I'm here to bring you the lowdown on five of these matchups.

Sure, there are some interesting storylines for the ranked teams.  Can a talented Siena team upset a heralded Pitt Panthers squad that has played exactly no one so far this year?  Western Kentucky and Cleveland State have already delivered recent body blows to the Big East.  Is Pittsburgh next?

Speaking of Syracuse, in-state rival Canisius pays them a visit, and while it will be interesting to see how Jim Boeheim's squad rebounds from the devastating last-second loss to Cleveland State, Canisius isn't the threat they were 10 or 20...or 40 years ago. Expect a Syracuse blowout.

So, in an effort to broaden your horizons, I've left out the Top 25 from my list.

Now I know many of you won't be torn away from the GameChannel presentation of Ecclesia at Central Arkansas (yes, that's a real name and a real game tonight), but if you so choose to divert your attention, I offer up these five diamonds-in-the-rough that may just make a difference some three months down the road.

5. Nicholls State (6-3) at LSU (7-0)

Just how bad is the SEC?  Well, enough that LSU might not want to be too confident in overlooking the Colonels. Neither team is as good as their record, and both have spent the majority of their season thus far beating up on SWAC opponents.

Nicholls State has taken it so far as to play (and beat) 0-8 Southern University twice. LSU's toughest competition has been Cal State-Fullerton, which isn't saying much, considering that UCSF has already lost to both Texas State and Montana State.

The pick: LSU 76, Nicholls St. 66

4. Mercer (6-3) at Oklahoma State (6-3)

Mercer has defeated Alabama and Auburn, and all three of their losses are to quality teams (Dayton, Georgia Tech by just six, and an East Tennessee State team picked by many to win the Atlantic Sun). 

Oklahoma State's only questionable loss was an 18-point blowout at the hands of Washington, a team not expected to compete in a weak Pac-10 this year.  The Cowboys' other losses were to Top 25 teams Gonzaga and Michigan State, and they notched wins against Tulsa and Siena.

This game may mean more to the Bears, who must do all they can with their non-conference schedule.  UCLA is on tap after this game.

The pick: Mercer 74, Oklahoma State 73

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