Just a few days away from Selection Sunday for the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Friday should be the big day of the week.
Soon, the big conferences will simply be playing for the t-shirts – the real prize is coming up next week. However, as always happens this time of year, bubbles are popped or preserved.
Friday College Basketball Conference Tournament Predictions and Picks
Here are our picks and predictions for every ACC, Atlantic 10, American, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and Mountain West game for Friday night.
– Latest Updated CFN Bracket Projections
Atlantic 10 Tournament Predictions
The Atlantic 10 is ramping it up with the Quarterfinals. Saint Louis and VCU get going on Friday.
George Washington vs Saint Louis
Game Time: 11:00 am ET | TV: USA
This Season: Saint Louis 79, George Washington 76
The rested Saint Louis defense will take over late. George Washington has to hit from three to pull this off, and it won’t be able to do it. The Billikens are 21-0 when scoring more than 78 points.
Betting Line: Saint Louis -6.5, o/u: 161.5
Prediction: Saint Louis 78, George Washington 710
St. Bonaventure vs Dayton
Game Time: 2:00 pm ET | TV: USA
This Season: Dayton beat St. Bonaventure 72-70
Dayton will pack it inside and force the Bonnies to try hitting something from the outside. The St. Bonaventure shooting won’t be consistent enough. The Flyers are 11-1 when making 47% of their shots.
Betting Line: Dayton -6.5, o/u: 140.5
Prediction: Dayton 73, St. Bonaventure 67
Duquesne vs VCU
Game Time: 5:00 ET | TV: USA
This Season: VCU beat Duquesne 93-80
This is where the VCU depth will kick in huge. Duquesne has a decent rotation, but its fouling problem and the Rams’ ability to get to the line will be the storyline as the game goes on. VCU hit 24 free throws in the first meeting.
Betting Line: VCU -9.5, o/u: 153.5
Prediction: VCU 83, Duquesne 73
Davidson vs Saint Joseph’s
Game Time: 7:30 ET | TV: CNBC
This Season: Davidson beat Saint Joseph’s 68-63
You’ve got to hit your frees, and Davidson can’t do it. Saint Joseph’s will work the rebounding margin throughout the game, and when it comes down to the line late, that’s when the two start to separate.
Betting Line: Saint Joseph’s -1.5, o/u: 132.5
Prediction: Saint Joseph’s 68, Davidson 65
ACC Tournament Predictions
We missed out on Duke-North Carolina III, but Clemson has been playing great, and Miami vs Virginia will be a fight.
Miami vs Virginia
Game Time: 7:00 pm ET | TV: ESPN2
This Season: Virginia beat Miami 86-83
Virginia is outstanding on the boards, but Miami attacks the glass hard enough to negate that. This isn’t a deep Hurricane team, but it’ll keep up the energy throughout. It won’t get enough offensive rebounds to pull this off.
Betting Line: Virginia -4.5, o/u: 143.5
Prediction: Virginia 81, Miami 77
Duke vs Clemson
Game Time: 9:30 ET | TV: ESPN2
This Season: Duke beat Clemson 67-54
Duke looked vulnerable against Florida State, but Clemson won’t be able to get the offense going. This isn’t a Tiger team that can fly up and down the court, and one Blue Devil run will take over the game in the second half.
Betting Line: Duke -11.5, o/u: 134.5
Prediction: Duke 77, Clemson 65
American Tournament Predictions
The American is getting up and going with the big guys – USF and Wichita State – going Saturday.
UAB vs Charlotte
Game Time: 1:00 ET | TV: ESPN2
This Season: UAB beat Charlotte 80-74
The UAB pressure will be everything. Charlotte isn’t careful enough with the ball, and the Blazers will turn big defensive plays into points in what should be a lively game throughout. UAB is 13-3 when forcing 13 or more turnovers.
Betting Line: UAB -4.5, o/u: 145.2
Prediction: UAB 77, Charlotte 71
Tulsa vs North Texas
Game Time: 3:30 ET | TV: ESPN2
This Season: The two teams split. Tulsa won 82-66, North Texas won its game 72-67
Tulsa can shoot, and North Texas can’t. The Mean Green have only hit 48% of their shots five times. The Golden Hurricane averages 49% per game from the field. It’ll be a plucky effort from the UNT D, but Tulsa is 21-0 when making 45% of its shots. It’ll do that.
Betting Line: Tulsa -7.5, o/u: 142.5
Prediction: Tulsa 74, North Texas 67
Big 12 Tournament Predictions
The product is so good that there’s no need for a gimmicky floor. The semifinals are loaded with heavyweights.
Arizona vs Iowa State
Game Time: 7:00 ET | TV: ESPN
This Season: Arizona beat Iowa State 73-57
Is this when Iowa State is kicking it all in? The second half defensive performance against Texas Tech was brilliant, but Arizona has the offense humming at the right time. It’ll take a while for the Wildcats to put this away, but they won’t flinch on the line.
Betting Line: Arizona -4.5, o/u: 143.5
Prediction: Arizona 74, Iowa State 68
Kansas vs Houston
Game Time: 9:30 ET | TV: ESPN
This Season: Kansas beat Houston 69-56
Minutes don’t seem to be a problem at the moment for Darryn Peterson, but Houston will crank up the defense late in a bit of revenge moment for the Monday night mauling it suffered back in late February. The energy for this will be fantastic.
Betting Line: Houston -5.5, o/u: 135.5
Prediction: Houston 64, Kansas 58
Big East Tournament Predictions
Be stunned if the Big East semis are interesting before the UConn vs St. John’s showdown.
St. John’s vs Seton Hall
Game Time: 5:30 ET | TV: FOX
This Season: St. John’s won both meetings, 65-60 at Seton Hall, 72-65 at home
Neither team can shoot all that well, and St. John’s is far nastier on the boards, especially on the offensive glass. It’ll be a game of bursts, but the Red Storm will do a better job of feeding off the energy.
Betting Line: St. John’s -7.5, o/u: 133.5
Prediction: St. John’s 71, Seton Hall 66
UConn vs Georgetown
Game Time: 8:00 ET | TV: FS1
This Season: UConn won both meetings, 79-75 at home, and 64-62 at Georgetown
There won’t be any problem getting UConn’s attention after two way-too-close battles against a mediocre Hoya team. Georgetown played great against DePaul and Villanova, but it’s about to get hit by a steamroller.
Betting Line: UConn -13.5, o/u: 140.5
Prediction: UConn 78, Georgetown 63
Big Ten Tournament Predictions
It’ll be the best atmosphere in college basketball with four whopper Big Ten quarterfinal games full of cranked up fan bases.
Michigan vs Ohio State
Game Time: 12:00 ET | TV: BTN
This Season: Michigan won both meetings, 82-61 at Ohio State, and 74-62 in Ann Arbor
Both teams are a bit thin as they try to stay healthy for the big tournament, but, of course, it’s Michigan vs Ohio State to tip off a huge day in the United Center. The lack of Buckeye depth will be a problem late as the relentless Wolverine offense overcomes a tough battle over the first 30 minutes.
Betting Line: Michigan -12.5, o/u: 154.5
Prediction: Michigan 78, Ohio State 67
Illinois vs Wisconsin
Game Time: 2:30 ET | TV: BTN
This Season: Wisconsin beat Illinois 92-90 in overtime
Get ready for a wild offensive firefight. The crowd will be as good as there will be for any tournament game, as both teams go on huge mood swings. After Keaton Wagler had a rough day against Maryland the last time the Illini hit the floor – 11 points, nothing from outside – he’s about to go off.
Betting Line: Illinois -7.5, o/u: 156.5
Prediction: Illinois 82, Wisconsin 75
Purdue vs Nebraska
Game Time: 6:30 ET | TV: BTN
This Season: Purdue won the only meeting 80-77 in overtime
These two put on a whale of a show in mid-February, and they’re about to do it again with lots of ball movement, plenty of attacking from the backcourts, and lots and lots of halfcourt offense. Nebraska will drag Purdue in a three-point battle, and it’ll do a stronger job of winning the mistake battle.
Betting Line: Purdue -3.5, o/u: 142.5
Prediction: Nebraska 75, Purdue 72
Michigan State vs UCLA
Game Time: 9:00 ET | TV: BTN
This Season: Michigan State won the only meeting 82-59
The embarrassing Bruin loss in East Lansing – complete with a wild Mick Cronin meltdown – served as a spark. UCLA went from bubble/out to easily in, winning six of the last seven games. The Spartans will need a full 40 to get this done, pushing through as the thin UCLA team wears down on the boards.
Betting Line: Michigan State -5.5, o/u: 142.5
Prediction: Michigan State 74, UCLA 69
Mountain West Tournament Predictions
They’re the big late-night games, and they’ll both be worth watching, especially the San Diego State-New Mexico showdown for a possible NCAA berth.
Utah State vs Nevada
Game Time: 9:30 ET | TV: CBS Sports Network
This Season: Utah State won at home 71-62, Nevada won in Reno 80-77
Utah State wants to get on the move and crank up the offensive production, but Nevada won the meeting that turned into more of a track meet. The Wolf Pack have to win the rebounding battle to pull this off – they’re 15-2 when coming up with 30 rebounds or more. They’ll get the key boards.
Betting Line: Utah State -6.5, o/u: 144.5
Prediction: Nevada 74, Utah State 70
San Diego State vs New Mexico
Game Time: 12:00 am ET | TV: CBS Sports Network
This Season: New Mexico won at home 81-76, San Diego State won in Viejas 83-79
It’s the biggest game of the day. The winner stays alive, the loser is out, and it’s the last game between these two programs before San Diego State goes to the Pac-12. The Aztecs will finally start hitting their threes, all while keeping up the defensive intensity from the Colorado State win. The depth will come through as they hold up just well enough against New Mexico’s Tomislav Buljan inside.
Betting Line: San Diego State -1.5, o/u: 150.5
Prediction: San Diego State 82, New Mexico 78
SEC Tournament Predictions
Points, points, points. The four SEC quarterfinal games should be wild and crazy shootouts with lots of tempo and high emotions.
Florida vs Kentucky
Game Time: 12:00 ET | TV: ESPN
This Season: Florida won both meetings, 92-83 at home, 84-77 in Lexington
Florida is 20-1 when scoring 82 or more – the one loss was to Arizona – and Kentucky has to go against type and somehow slow this down to a stop. The Wildcats aren’t good in shootouts – Bellarmine is the only time they won when allowing more than 82 points – and now the Gators are rested.
Betting Line: Florida -10.5, o/u: 159.5
Prediction: Florida 91, Kentucky 82
Tennessee vs Vanderbilt
Game Time: 3:30 ET | TV: ESPN
This Season: Tennessee won 69-65 at Vandy, Vandy won 86-82 in Knoxville
Defensive and rebounding. If Tennessee can do that, it’ll win. If Vanderbilt can get this into the 80s, it’ll win. The Vols will do a better job of clamping down than they did in the regular season finale, being ultra-patient when the big defensive plays aren’t coming.
Betting Line: Vanderbilt -1.5, o/u: 147.5
Prediction: Tennessee 71, Vanderbilt 68
Alabama vs Ole Miss
Game Time: 7:00 ET | TV: SEC Network
This Season: Alabama won 93-74
This has been fun. We’ve all shared a good time and a few laughs after Ole Miss took down Texas and Georgia, but the team is 2-15 when allowing more than 70 points. Alabama has yet to score fewer than 71. The Tide will drag the Rebels into a shootout.
Betting Line: Alabama -10.5, o/u: 163.5
Prediction: Alabama 88, Ole Miss 72
Oklahoma vs Arkansas
Game Time: 9:30 ET | TV: SEC Network
This Season: Arkansas won 83-79 in late January
Oklahoma went from hard out to right on the bubble with a thrilling six-game winning streak. What’s it doing right? Scoring. It’s passing the ball around better, the threes are working, and overall, the team has been on fire from the field. Arkansas will want to make this a track meet, and the Sooners will play along.
Betting Line: Arkansas -6.5, o/u: 168.5
Prediction: Oklahoma 84, Arkansas 82
Related: Updated Bracket Projections: Will Miami University, OU, Auburn Get In?
This story was originally published by College Football News on Mar 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Basketball section. Add College Football News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.