The league has a loaded slate on Saturday, highlighted by marquee matchups for Maryland, Ohio State, and Purdue. There are also a few other sleeper games, including one in Indy for Northwestern and Butler.

Let’s take a look at the schedule.

Game of the Day:

-No. 6 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No. 21 Auburn Tigers

Time/TV: 6:30 PM ET (Peacock)
KenPom Spread: Purdue by 8

The Boilers have spent the last two weeks trying to bounce back from the team’s rough loss to Iowa State on December 6th. So far, things have gone according to plan, with Purdue blasting Minnesota at home and handling Marquette last weekend. However, things are going to get far more challenging, as the Boilers head to Indianapolis to face off against a ranked Auburn squad.

While the Tigers aren’t what they’ve been the last few years, they remain more than capable of doing some damage in March. Auburn enters Saturday’s matchup at 8-3, which ordinarily wouldn’t be an incredible record, but looks significantly better when one considers the three losses all came against top 10 KenPom opponents. The team has otherwise handled several quality opponents, including Oregon, North Carolina State, and St. John’s.

The main two players to watch for Auburn are Keyshawn Hall and Tahaad Pettiford. In many ways, it’s a reflection of the Boilers. Hall is one of the more efficient interior players out there and is shooting a ridiculous 41.5 percent from three so far this season. Pettiford has been a consistent player on both sides of the floor and is doing a great job of blocking shots and pressuring ball handlers. It’ll be a big challenge for Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn.

This should be a competitive game that should come down to the closing minutes. Purdue is favored and rightfully so, largely due to Auburn’s problematic defense. On paper, the Boilers should shred the Tigers on that side of the floor. However, games aren’t played on paper. We’ll see if Purdue can deliver.

Pick: Purdue

The Rest:

-No. 9 Michigan State Spartans vs. Oakland Grizzlies

Time/TV: 12:00 PM ET (BTN)
KenPom Spread: Michigan State by 18

The Spartans are off to a great start this season, sitting at 10-1 overall with the only loss coming in a competitive game against Duke earlier this month. The group sits in the top 10 in most rankings and seems poised to challenge for top status in this year’s Big Ten.

However, to get to the heart of Big Ten play, Michigan State has to get through its final two games of December, starting with a fun Christmas-themed annual matchup against Oakland on Saturday in Detroit. The Spartans are heavy favorites and should win this one. The only question is whether the Grizzlies can make things uncomfortable for Spartan fans. Oakland has played a few quality opponents tight this season. The player to watch is Brody Robinson in the backcourt. He’s undersized, but an efficient player who gets to the line.

Pick: Michigan State

-Chicago State Cougars at Indiana Hoosiers

Time/TV: 1:00 PM ET (B1G+)
KenPom Spread: Indiana by 31

The Hoosiers are amid a rough spot, having lost three of the team’s last four games. Fortunately for the Hoosiers, the team will get a reprieve on Saturday, facing off against one of the worst teams in college basketball. Chicago State enters this one at 350th on KenPom and 2-10 overall. Don’t expect much of a game.

Pick: Indiana

-Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 12 North Carolina Tar Heels

Time/TV: 3:00 PM ET (CBS/Paramount+)
KenPom Spread: North Carolina by 3

The Buckeyes had a wild neutral site game last weekend, beating West Virginia in a double overtime thriller. And fans are hoping that carries over into Saturday’s matchup against North Carolina in Atlanta. It will be Ohio State’s final opportunity to get a marquee non-conference win before the new year.

On paper, North Carolina is clearly the favorite here. While the Tar Heels haven’t looked like elite this season, the team still enters Saturday at 10-1 overall and with wins over teams like Kansas and Kentucky, among others. The group is led by star Caleb Wilson upfront. The forward is an elite interior player and has played at an All-American level so far this season. It’s going to be a major task for players like Amare Bynum and Christoph Tilly to slow him down.

If Ohio State is going to pull off the upset, it’s probably going to need a hot shooting night, particularly from Bruce Thornton. North Carolina’s backcourt has left plenty to be desired so far this season, especially on the defensive end of the floor. However, if Thornton doesn’t go nuts, North Carolina will probably get the win.

Pick: North Carolina

-Northwestern Wildcats vs. Butler Bulldogs

Time/TV: 4:00 PM ET (Peacock)
KenPom Spread: Butler by 2

The Wildcats have played at a decent level so far this season, but have fallen short in the team’s toughest games so far. Fans are hoping that changes on Saturday, with a matchup against Butler in Indianapolis. The game looks relatively even, at least on paper, though KenPom has the Bulldogs narrowly. If Northwestern can play well, it should have more than enough to win this one.

The player to watch on Butler’s side is Michael Ajayi. He’s been really solid on the boards this season and does a decent job of getting to the line as well. However, a ton of the team’s offense goes through him, so if Nick Martinelli and Tre Singleton can hold their own defensively, a route to victory is there. Northwestern’s also got to find ways to get scoring outside of Martinelli. Perhaps someone like Jordan Clayton can step up.

Pick: Northwestern

-Maryland Terrapins at No. 23 Virginia Cavaliers

Time/TV: 6:00 PM ET (ESPN)
KenPom Spread: Virginia by 13

It’s been a rough start for the Terps so far this season. The team enters Saturday’s game at just 6-5 overall and is still winless against top 100 KenPom opponents. That makes this one a tall task, as the Cavs enter the day sitting 24th nationally on KenPom. They are led by forward Thijs De Ridder, who’s put together a pretty solid year.

If Maryland is going to pull off the upset, it’s going to need another heroic performance from David Coit like it got last weekend against Michigan. It’s also going to need a better defensive effort than it had against the Wolverines, who absolutely shredded the Terp defense. We’ll see. It looks like a tough task.

Pick: Virginia

-Bucknell Bison at Iowa Hawkeyes

Time/TV: 6:00 PM ET (BTN)
KenPom Spread: Iowa by 24

There isn’t much to write about this one. Iowa enters as a massive favorite and rightfully so, as Bucknell presents as one of the nation’s weakest teams. If the Hawks play remotely decently, this should be a win. It should be a good opportunity to unload the bench before Big Ten play restarts.

Pick: Iowa

-Penn Quakers at Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Time/TV: 8:00 PM ET (BTN)
KenPom Spread: Rutgers by 10

The Scarlet Knights enter this one amid a rough skid, having lost three straight and six of the team’s last seven games. As such, fans will probably take any win, even if it comes against a weak opponent like Penn. It’s a game Rutgers should win, if the team plays decently. The player to watch for the Quakers is probably TJ Power, who’s carried a lot of the offensive load. Ethan Roberts has also played decently. Still, Rutgers should win.