From CBS Sports · · 2m
College basketball picks for loaded Top 25 schedule
Duke vs. Michigan State, Kentucky vs. Kansas predictions for Tuesday's college basketball slate.
In brief
Duke vs. Michigan State, Kentucky vs. Kansas predictions for Tuesday's college basketball slate. Duke and Michigan State face off in a key matchup, with Kentucky favored to beat Kansas despite Kansas' recent injury concerns. Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Tuesday's college basketball slate
Tuesday's college basketball slate features top teams including Florida vs. Florida State, Duke vs. Michigan State, and Kansas vs. Kentucky.
Florida vs. Florida State
Florida faces Florida State in a home game after beating Miami, with Florida State's home court advantage expected to impact the outcome.
Duke vs. Michigan State
Duke is favored to beat Michigan State by 6.5 points due to their depth and frontcourt advantage.
Memphis vs. Vanderbilt
Memphis faces Vanderbilt in a tough test with Vanderbilt's strong defense and Memphis missing key player Nemanja Popovic.
Illinois vs. Texas Tech
Illinois plays Texas Tech with both teams missing key players but Illinois' fast pace and Texas Tech's depth expected to influence the game.
Kansas vs. Kentucky
Kansas faces Kentucky with Kansas' star guard Melvin Council Jr. out after breaking his foot in practice.
Predictions for Tuesday's games
Duke -6.5, Florida State +10, Vanderbilt -15, Texas Tech +1.5, Kentucky +4.5 are the predicted margins for Tuesday's games.
Key player absences
Illinois lacks David Mirkovic and Jake Davis, while Texas Tech is without JT Toppin but has Jamichael Stillwell returning.
Kansas' injury concerns
Kansas' star guard Melvin Council Jr. broke his foot in practice, forcing Bill Self to adjust his team's strategy.
Vanderbilt's defensive strength
Vanderbilt has elite defense with strong perimeter coverage and a focus on limiting three-point shooting.
Illinois' fast-paced offense
Illinois plays with a fast pace, relying on five-star freshman Quentin Coleman and senior Andrej Stojakovic for scoring.
Kentucky's three-point shooting
Kentucky's three-point shooting is critical for overcoming Kansas' lack of volume shooting and rebounding.
Here's the gist
Duke and Michigan State face off in a key matchup, with Kentucky favored to beat Kansas despite Kansas' recent injury concerns.
