Momentum a big key heading into conference championships

College basketball betting fans will be scurrying to their sportsbook for conference championships in just a few days—but there’s one more huge weekend left to go before that gets underway. Let’s take a look at this weekend’s games and what’s at stake on NCAA basketball odds.

No. 1 Syracuse at Louisville – 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
The top-seeds have been dropping like flies this season; can Syracuse take its No. 1 ranking into next weekend’s Big East tournament (March 9-13), or can Louisville keep the streak of “giant killers” alive?

No. 2 Kansas at Missouri – 2:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Kansas wants another shot at the country’s No. 1 ranking; Mizzou wants a shot at revenge for an 84-65 blowout loss in January. This could be a real tone-setter for the upcoming Big 12 tournament (March 10-13).

North Carolina at No. 4 Duke – 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Duke can wrap up a regular season title in the ACC with a win on Saturday. After a long, poor season, the Tar Heels have won two straight, though—and they’d love nothing more than to send their hated rivals reeling into the ACC tournament (March 11-14).

No. 6 Purdue at Penn State – 2:30 p.m. ET
The Boilermakers mustered just 44 points against Michigan State in their first game without injured Robbie Hummel, but they bounced back with a 74-55 romp over Indiana. Trailing Ohio State by half a game with the Big Ten tournament looming (March 11-14), Purdue must prove it can survive without its star player.

No. 8 West Virginia at No. 9 Villanova – 12:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Villanova has looked awfully shaky in recent weeks, losing three of its past five games. West Virginia would love nothing more than to discredit the Wildcats even more on the eve of the Big East tournament. Both teams trail Syracuse.

No. 13 Tennessee at Mississippi State – 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
The Volunteers needed overtime and home-court advantage to hold off Mississippi State when they met in January. Can Tennessee duplicate the feat on the road, or will Mississippi State—with a 13-2 home record this season—enter the SEC tournament (March 11-14) having won five of their past six games?

South Carolina at No. 19 Vanderbilt – 2:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Vandy has lost just six times this season, but two of those losses came to Kentucky—who the Commodores trail by a game in the SEC. Its crucial Vanderbilt builds some confidence heading into the tournament before it faces off with the Wildcats once again.

No. 25 Texas at No. 22 Baylor – 4:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
Texas has fallen a long way from its 17-0 start and No. 1 ranking in the country. It’s time for the Longhorns to put up or shut up—is this a team that can compete for a championship or not? Beating Baylor won’t come easily; the Bears already toppled the Longhorns in Texas this season.