Big 12-SEC Challenge Schedule 2014: Dates, Live Stream Info and Full Predictions

The Big 12-SEC Challenge may not draw the same headlines as the Big Ten-ACC Challenge (and would be better as a football event), but it still features a handful of nonconference showdowns that will go a long way toward determining berths and seeds on Selection Sunday.

Kentucky against Texas is the headliner, but games between Arkansas and Iowa State and Florida and Kansas also promise to feature thrilling finishes and some of the best teams in the country.

With that in mind, here is a look at the entire schedule with broadcast information and predictions for each game.

Date	Matchup	TV	Live Stream	Predicted Winner
Wednesday, Dec. 3	Auburn at Texas Tech	SEC Network	Watch ESPN	Texas Tech
Thursday, Dec. 4	LSU at West Virginia	ESPN 2	Watch ESPN	West Virginia
Thursday, Dec. 4	Baylor at Vanderbilt	ESPN U	Watch ESPN	Baylor
Thursday, Dec. 4	Arkansas at Iowa State	ESPN 2	Watch ESPN	Iowa State
Thursday, Dec. 4	TCU at Ole Miss	ESPN U	Watch ESPN	Ole Miss
Friday, Dec. 5	Texas at Kentucky	ESPN	Watch ESPN	Kentucky
Friday, Dec. 5	Florida at Kansas	ESPN	Watch ESPN	Kansas
Friday, Dec. 5	Missouri at Oklahoma	ESPN U	Watch ESPN	Oklahoma
Saturday, Dec. 6	Oklahoma State at South Carolina	ESPN U	Watch ESPN	Oklahoma State
Saturday, Dec. 6	Kansas State at Tennessee	ESPN 2	Watch ESPN	Kansas State

Wednesday Game: Auburn at Texas Tech

Colin E. Braley/Associated Press

Wednesday’s game between Texas Tech and Auburn will be billed as a clash between Tubby Smith and Bruce Pearl, but it’s not exactly Kentucky against Tennessee in this one.

None of the numbers are pretty for Pearl’s Auburn squad in the early going. The Tigers are 145th in the nation in points per game, 300th in rebounds per game, 321st in assists per game, 216th in field-goal percentage, 292nd in points allowed per game and 339th in blocks per game.

While those are just the raw statistics, if we look at Ken Pomeroy’s pace-adjusted numbers, it doesn’t tell much better of a story. The Tigers are 136th in offense and 181st in defense, but the good news from their perspective is that Texas Tech isn’t that much better at 148th in offense and 119th in defense. 

Regardless of those less-than-stellar numbers, Pearl recognized the importance of this game in a quote passed along by Alex Byington of the Opelika-Auburn News:

Auburn’s key players will have to step up against the Red Raiders. That means Cinmeon Bowers, who already has four double-doubles and leads the SEC in rebounding at 13 boards a night, and KT Harrell, who has reached 20 points scoring in four separate games.

The main problem is, Antoine Mason is still dealing with an ankle injury.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Mason was second in the nation in scoring last season at 25.6 points a game and transferred to Auburn from Niagara in the offseason. He is one of the best players in the country at attacking the rim off the dribble and getting to the free-throw line (10.8 free throws a game last season and 13 in his first game with Auburn).

Pearl provided some updates on Mason, via James Crepea of USA Today:

Even with impressive efforts from Bowers and Harrell, Auburn has struggled mightily without its best scorer. The Tigers were embarrassed by Colorado, 90-59, and lost to Tulsa, 53-35. Those are the types of losses that cripple an NCAA tournament resume, although they did come back to beat Oregon State. Still, the Beavers are certainly not going to be mistaken for an elite Pac-12 team anytime soon.

As for Texas Tech, its only game of note was against LSU, and it lost in overtime. However, the Red Raiders won their four other games and get to play at home against what will likely be a shorthanded Auburn squad.

Texas Tech also has some momentum after overcoming a 19-point deficit against Air Force in the final 13 minutes to avoid a bad loss. Guard Devaugntah Williams came off the bench to pour in 21 points and spearhead the comeback efforts.

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Williams’ emergence alongside fellow guard Robert Turner and forward Norense Odiase gives the Red Raiders three legitimate scoring options for this Auburn game. Texas Tech also ranks among the top 60 in the nation in rebounding per game and should be able to at least contain Bowers on the low block and the offensive glass.

With multiple options against a vulnerable Auburn defense and the benefit of the home crowd, the Red Raiders will pick up the initial win for their conference in this one. It would be a different story if Mason was healthy, but the Tigers simply cannot rely on that just yet. 

Prediction: Texas Tech 72, Auburn 61

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