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College basketball picks, schedule: Predictions for Tennessee vs. Arkansas and other top games Saturday

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1 year ago

February 19, 2022

Saturday’s college basketball schedule pairs nicely with the NCAA March Madness Men’s Bracket Preview airing at 12:30 p.m. on CBS. The early bracket real means things are officially getting real. With just over three weeks to go until Selection Sunday, the NCAA Tournament picture is coming into focus, and a huge slate of games will bring us one step closer to sorting things out on the bubble and in various conference races.

The Big Ten is the power conference with the most uncertainty at the top, and one of the day’s top showdowns features two of the several teams still in the league title mix as No. 19 Michigan State hosts No. 12 Illinois at 12 p.m. ET. But there will be compelling action throughout the day and into the night, when No. 3 Arizona hosts Oregon at 10 p.m. as the Ducks look to pick up a massive victory amid life on the bubble.

In between will be countless other key games and big moments, including a top 25 showdown on CBS between No. 25 Alabama and No. 4 Kentucky. With the NFL season concluded, the Winter Olympics winding down and the NBA on its All-Star break, the floor belongs to college basketball.

Our experts have picks and predictions for the day’s biggest games here.

Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times Eastern

Featured Game | Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Tennessee Volunteers

4 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) — Arkansas has won 10 of its last 11 and Tennessee has won eight of its last nine as both have put themselves in great shape to secure double-byes in the SEC Tournament. It’s the first of two meetings between the teams over the season’s home stretch and this one feels destined for a split. Arkansas should be able to ride a rowdy crowd and its edge in front court athleticism to a close victory. Prediction: Arkansas 79, Tennessee 75

Featured Game | Virginia Tech Hokies vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

4 p.m. | ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) — You’d like to think that UNC might come out and play with a vengeance following a horrific home loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday. But Virginia Tech has quietly won six straight to resurrect its NCAA Tournament hopes and should have no problem scoring against the Tar Heels’ pitiful defense. Cassell Coliseum should provide plenty of backup as UNC is denied its first Quad 1 win. Prediction: Virginia Tech 77, North Carolina 73

Oregon at No. 3 Arizona

Featured Game | Arizona Wildcats vs. Oregon Ducks

10 p.m. | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — A road win over Arizona would solve a lot of problems for Oregon, which suffered a brutal 81-57 loss to lowly Arizona State on Thursday after entering the game as one of the “Last four in.” But it’s hard to see a Ducks’ team that also lost by 14 at home to Cal last Saturday beating a legitimate national title contender on the road. The Wildcats have won 11 of their last 12, and no one in the Pac-12 has come within single digits of Arizona except for UCLA. Prediction: Arizona 96, Oregon 71

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No. 12 Illinois at No. 19 Michigan State

Noon | ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) — This is a rematch of a game that Illinois won 56-55 on Jan. 25 after fending off a late rally from the Spartans. Actually, it was more of a collapse for the Illini, who failed to score over the game’s final 5:32. This time, Michigan State gets home court advantage as both teams look to stop their recent slides and stay in the Big Ten title hunt. Illinois is just 2-3 over its last five road games and Michigan State should be inspired after an ugly loss at Penn State on Tuesday. Prediction: Michigan State 66, Illinois 63

12:30 p.m. | ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) — Texas is trying to draw even with Texas Tech in the league standings and secure revenge for its 77-64 loss at Texas Tech on Feb. 1 as first-year coach Chris Beard looks to avoid getting swept by his old school. The Red Raiders had the advantage of an absolutely wild home court advantage in the first meeting and will realize how much that was worth in the rematch. The Longhorns beat Kansas in their last home game and should defend the home floor once again. Prediction: Texas 67, Texas Tech 63

No. 25 Alabama at No. 4 Kentucky

1 p.m. | CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App (Free) — It seems unlikely that Alabama will shoot just 10% from 3-point range like it did in the first meeting, won 66-55 by Kentucky just two weeks ago. With TyTy Washington’s status also uncertain for the Wildcats, the Crimson Tide should give UK a solid game. Look for Alabama to stay in it until the end before UK steals it to complete a season sweep. Prediction: Kentucky 79, Alabama 77

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Avon’s OT winner lifts Petes to win over Blazers, Memorial Cup semifinal berth

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5 hours ago

June 2, 2023

nigemord@gmail.com

KAMLOOPS, B.C. — J.R. Avon scored the game-winning goal 10:54 into overtime and the Peterborough Petes beat the Kamloops Blazers 5-4 on Thursday, earning a semifinal berth at the Memorial Cup.

Connor Lockhart, Brennan Othmann, Samuel Mayer and Brian Zanetti had the others for Ontario Hockey League champion Peterborough. Michael Simpson made 43 saves.

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Logan Stankoven, Olen Zellweger, Harrison Brunicke and Logan Bairos replied for host Kamloops. Dylan Ernst stopped 25 shots.

The Petes will next meet the Western Hockey League champion Seattle Thunderbirds in Friday’s semifinal for a chance to face the Quebec Remparts in the final on Sunday.

The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League champion Remparts earned a berth into the final after opening the tournament with wins over Kamloops and Seattle.

Quebec later fell to Peterborough — which staved off elimination and forced Thursday’s tiebreaker with the victory — 4-2 on Tuesday in both teams’ final round-robin game.

Lockhart opened the scoring 7:52 into the first period. Chase Lefebvre sent the puck across the end boards to Jax Dubois, who found Lockhart with a slick pass into the slot and he beat Ernst five-hole.

Stankoven evened it up 11:20 into the frame, sending the Sandman Centre crowd into a frenzy. Connor Levis took a point shot and the rebound came out to the Blazers captain, who scored his second of the tournament.

Zellweger put Kamloops ahead 12:45 into the frame on the power play. The CHL Defenceman of the Year nominee saved the puck from getting out of the Petes’ zone, moved into the slot and wired one past Simpson for his first.

With 2:27 remaining in the first, Brunicke piled it on for the Blazers. Peterborough’s Konnor Smith attempted to clear it from the end boards but the puck ended up with Brunicke at the point, where he got around a defender and beat Simpson just over his right shoulder with little room to spare.

Bairos gave Kamloops a 4-1 edge 4:23 into the middle frame. He fired a point shot that ricocheted off Simpson’s blocker, then over him and in.

Just over three minutes later, the Petes began to swing the momentum back in their favour.

Othmann stripped Bairos of the puck as the Blazers defenceman tried to skate out of his own zone. Othmann then turned around and roofed it past Ernst as he fell to one knee.

Mayer made it a one-goal game on the power play with 2:23 left in the second. He took a pass from Lockhart and fired in a one-timer from the point.

Zanetti knotted the contest just over a minute later. He tipped in a pass from Tucker Robertson while streaking toward the net and beat Ernst five-hole.

Both sides struggled to capitalize on prime scoring opportunities leading to a scoreless third period and extra time to settle the winner.

Following a dazzling effort by Zellweger that just missed, Owen Beck took the puck up ice for Peterborough and dropped it off for Avon, who put it past Ernst to seal the win.

WE MEET AGAIN

Kamloops defeated Peterborough 10-2 when the two last met on Sunday. But with 7:05 remaining in that game, Othmann laid a hit on Blazers defenceman Kyle Masters, who fell awkwardly into the boards.

Masters had to be stretchered off the ice and was taken to Royal Inland Hospital. Head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston said Monday that the blue liner was out for the tournament with a lower-body injury.