The only way the Spartans can do anything to help their profile tonight is by routing the Wolverines. Given that they’ve won five straight over Michigan in the Breslin Center, that’s fine by them. It also means that this might get worse before it gets better for the Wolverines.
This is a must-win situation for both teams. Texas Tech needs to prove that it’s a genuine contender, and TCU’s got to avoid falling three games behind the league leader. With Houston in the rearview mirror, the Frogs hold a key tiebreaker — if they can stay in position to use it.Â
For the past three decades, the Cougars have felt disrespected by the Texas Power 5 schools after they got left out of the Big 12 when the Southwest Conference collapsed. Houston has gradually built itself into one of the dominant forces in college basketball, but the chip on the shoulder remains for the Cougars.
Duke, to this day, has never really figured out how to win at Cassell Coliseum. The Blue Devils are just 13-10 all-time in Blacksburg, and they’ve lost five of their past six visits to Virginia Tech.
The NFC Championship game between the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers features one franchise hoping for a return to glory and the other looking to start their own legacy.
Steve Alford left Albuquerque on his terms when he left New Mexico for UCLA, but he seems to have taken these games against his former employer personally. Since Alford took the reins at Nevada, the Wolf Pack have owned this series, going 8-0 against the Lobos under Alford’s leadership.
The Chiefs and Ravens were two of the better defensive units this season. Both limited passing yards and made teams beat them by running the football, which did not happen often.
Rutgers and Steve Pikiell have simply tortured Matt Painter and Purdue when the Boilermakers come to New Jersey. In four meetings between Painter and Pikiell in Piscataway, the Scarlet Knights have come out ahead three times.
Will the Niners finally get over the hump in their fourth straight NFC title game, or will the Lions punch their ticket to the team’s first-ever Super Bowl?