Champions Classic 2015: Updated Schedule, Odds and Predictions

The Champions Classic is back for its fifth installment Tuesday with a field full of Top 15 college basketball teams.

Let's take a look at the schedule, odds, predictions and some in-depth analysis of the matchups:

Matchup	Date	Time	Location	Odds	Predicted Winner
No. 2 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 5 Duke Blue Devils	Tuesday, Nov. 17	7:30 p.m. ET	United Center, Chicago	Kentucky -1.5	Duke
No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 13 Michigan State Spartans	Tuesday, Nov. 17	10 p.m. ET	United Center, Chicago	Kansas -5	Kansas

Kentucky Wildcats vs. Duke Blue Devils 

Kentucky lost seven players to the NBA draft from its 2014-15 Final Four squad, and Duke lost three, yet both come in ranked in the Top Five of the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

At 2-0, neither has faced anything close to the competition it will in this game. 

Sophomore Grayson Allen, who shined during Duke's 2014-15 title run, is scoring 27 points per game, while freshman Brandon Ingram is pouring in 18 per contest. The Blue Devils are young and talented, but seniors Marshall Plumlee and Amile Jefferson bring size and experience to an already talented squad.

To no one's surprise, three of Kentucky's top four scorers are freshmen, and the Wildcats got a run for their money in a 78-65 season-opening win against the Albany Great Danes.

Freshman phenom Skal Labissiere and Co. are talented, but Allen's experience last season, along with the emergence of Jefferson (15 PPG, 11.5 RPG), will be enough to give the young Wildcats an eye-opener early in the season.

Duke wins 80-70.

Kansas Jayhawks vs. Michigan State Spartans

This game marks the third time in four years the Jayhawks and Spartans have played, with the teams splitting the previous two matchups.

The Jayhawks are loaded with talent and, unlike past years, are playing with upperclassmen. Seven juniors or seniors contribute, including 2015-16 Preseason All-Big 12 First Team selection Perry Ellis.

Freshman power forward Cheick Diallo was the No. 5 high school recruit last year, per 247Sports, but has yet to be cleared by the NCAA to play this season. The Jayhawks didn't need him in a 109-72 season-opening blowout of the Northern Colorado Bears.

They could use him against a Michigan State team that is always physical on the boards, a trait instilled by head coach Tom Izzo.

The Spartans have upper-class talent as well. Senior Denzel Valentine had 13 points, nine assists and eight rebounds in the team's first game, and senior Matt Costello had 15 points and seven rebounds.

Kansas brings a deeper team to the Classic and will come at the Spartans from every angle. In their opening game, the Jayhawks shot 55.7 percent from the floor, hit 15 three-pointers, dished out 27 assists and grabbed 38 rebounds.

Look for the Jayhawks to combat Michigan State's physicality with a run-and-gun offense that will force the Spartans out of their game.

Kansas wins 79-65.

Team	Record	Best Win	Worst Loss
Duke	3-1	2014 vs. Michigan State, 81-71	2013 vs. Kansas, 94-83
Kentucky	2-2	2014 vs. Kansas, 72-40	2012 vs. Duke, 75-68
Michigan State	2-2	2013 vs. Kentucky, 78-74	2014 vs. Duke, 81-71
Kansas	1-3	2013 vs. Duke, 94-83	2014 vs. Kentucky, 72-40

No matter who wins, when teams of this caliber are paired up on the court, it's a victory for college basketball fans. Even ESPN reporter Myron Medcalf couldn't contain his excitement as he traveled to cover the event:

These games also provide a great test for the end of the season when conference play heats up as well as in the NCAA tournament. It's a little taste of March Madness, four months early.