Three Star
Thanks to a pair of NFL Conference Championship games in the late afternoon and early evening, things are slow on this Sunday, with two non-noteworthy TV tips after 2 p.m. ET: Indiana at Iowa (Big Ten Network, 3 p.m. ET) in a Big Ten clash of bottom-feeders and a night game between two teams who have fallen out of the Missouri Valley race, Southern Illinois and Illinois State (ESPNU, 8 p.m. ET).
Here are the six games I will follow early on this Sunday.
Miami Hurricanes at N.C. State Wolfpack, ACC Network/ESPN3/Full Court (12 p.m. ET)
The Hurricanes are in need of conference wins (1-3) and road wins (a 4-5 road/neutral mark is artificially inflated by three wins against mediocre/bad opposition in Vegas and a win at Florida Gulf Coast), while the Wolfpack look like they'll need a run through the ACC Tournament to earn a bid, even if they should knock the Canes down today.
KenPom.com prediction: Wolfpack 74-72, 67 poss.
Wisconsin Badgers at Northwestern Wildcats, Big Ten Network (12:30 p.m. ET)
The Wildcats look to sweep a three-game homestand, but they'll be tested by a Badger team who's of a different quality than Michigan or SIU Edwardsville. The Badgers lost in Evanston in 2009, and this team is arguably better.
KenPom.com prediction: Badgers 66-65, 58 poss.
Wis.-Green Bay Phoenix at Valparaiso Crusaders, Horizon League Network (1 p.m. ET)
The Crusaders look to stay ahead of Butler and Cleveland State in the competitive Horizon race, while the Phoenix will look to rebound from a disappointing loss in Indianapolis on Friday night.
KenPom.com prediction: Crusaders 73-63, 66 poss.
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks at Kent St. Golden Flashes, STO/ESPN3/Full Court (2 p.m. ET)
The RedHawks lead the MAC East and are a game back in the loss column of overall leader Ball State. The Golden Flashes, meanwhile, are in the thick of a typically crazy conference race, as they sit at 2-2.
KenPom.com prediction: Flashes 66-60, 63 poss.
South Florida Bulls at West Virginia Mountaineers, Big Ten Network/FSN Pittsburgh/Altitude/MASN/SNY/ESPN3/Full Court (2 p.m. ET)
The Mountaineers should have little trouble with a Bulls' team that's only defeated Providence in conference. Plus, WVU is likely to be ready to play after losing to Marshall on Wednesday night.
KenPom.com prediction: Mountaineers 71-57, 60 poss.
Milwaukee Panthers at Butler Bulldogs, Horizon League Network/WNDY/TWC 32 (2 p.m. ET)
The Bulldogs struggled with Green Bay on Friday, but will look to stay in the race by handling a Panther team that was smoked by Valpo their last time out.
KenPom.com prediction: Bulldogs 78-61, 65 poss.
For broadcast information for the rest of today's limited slate, visit Matt Sarz's College Sports on TV site. Another good resource is the schedule page at BB State.
Please share your thoughts about today and tonight's action in the comments, after you sign up for a free SB Nation account, of course.
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