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Justin's three most significant NCAA college basketball games to watch for a possible upset. Diving into three games (Week of Feb. 26th) and taking a look at how these upsets can occur.
As the college basketball season heats up, the thrill of potential upsets looms large over the college basketball stage. We see top teams fall weekly, and unranked teams emerge as possible tournament teams.
This week, three teams should be on high alert as they face opponents with the perfect mix of hunger, talent, and possible must-win scenarios to benefit their tournament possibilities.
Look at the underdogs poised to shake the rankings and send shockwaves through the standings. Keep an eye on these matchups – the stage is set for unexpected heroes to emerge and top teams to fall. So buckle up because this week could redefine the season for these potential giant slayers.
No. 16 Kentucky at Mississippi State
(Tuesday, February 26h. 7:00 PM ET on ESPN)
The No. 16 ranked Kentucky Wildcats will have a tough turnaround with a challenging road game at Mississippi State after scoring 117 points and defeating No. 13 Alabama at home. Mississippi State is 19-8 on the season and currently sits seventh in the SEC at 8-6, with recent wins over LSU and Ole Miss. Looking at the updated score projection on KenPom, Mississippi State currently sits as the favorite by a score of 79-77. Kentucky has struggled to stay consistent throughout the season but has a chance to put that discussion to rest with a decisive road victory over the Bulldogs. Mississippi State's key to making this upset possible is to contain Kentucky's scorers and slow down the game by managing the clock. Kentucky averages 88.7 points per game and is ranked fourth in the country, while Mississippi State allows just 67.5 points per game.
No. 14 Alabama at Ole Miss
(Wednesday, February 27h. 9:00 PM ET on ESPN2)
The No. 14 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide will have back-to-back road games after seeing Kentucky on Saturday, followed by going to Mississippi to face Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels on Wednesday night. Ole Miss is 19-8 on the year while sitting eighth in the SEC with a record of 6-8 this season. There was a moment in time earlier this season when Ole Miss looked like a possible top team in the SEC conference, but they have lost their spark as they have seen five losses in their last six games.
The Rebels can take down top-caliber opponents with wins over Florida, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, and NC State. Still, Alabama will be one of their most extensive tests of the year. Looking at the updated score projection on KenPom, Alabama currently sits as the favorite by a score of 88-81. Ole Miss' key to making this upset possible is to contain Alabama's leading scorer, Mark Sears, averaging 20.4 points per game. Alabama averages 91.1 points per game and is ranked second in the country, while Ole Miss allows 72.2 points per game.
No. 1 Houston at Oklahoma
(Saturday, March 2nd. 8:00 PM ET on ESPN2)
The Houston Cougars have been bumped to No. 1 on the updated AP Poll but will have a difficult road matchup on Saturday when they play previously ranked Oklahoma. Houston has lost just three games this season, but all have come on the road in conference play, seeing losses from Iowa State, TCU, and Kansas. Oklahoma is 19-8 on the season while sitting 7th in the Big 12 with a record of 7-7.
Even though the second half of the season has yet to go as planned for the Sooners, they have a chance to take down the number-one team in the nation this weekend. Looking at the updated score projection on KenPom, Houston currently sits as the favorite by a score of 69-62. Oklahoma's key to making this upset possible is to find creative ways to score, as Houston is one of the nation's best in allowing points, with just 56.1 points allowed per game.
Stay tuned for all the college basketball possible upsets here at RotoBaller throughout the entire season!
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