Championship Week Viewing Guide: Thursday, March 13, 2014

All TV info is courtesy Matt's College Sports on TV site. He has many more games listed, particularly ones broadcast only on local channels and in-house cable sports/local interest channels that are not widely available nationwide. You'll also want to check out his listings for information on which conference regional matchups and CSN, FSN, and Root Sports contests (all games listed in these posts marked with an *) are available on which affiliates.

All times are Eastern.

American Quarterfinals

All games on ESPNU

No. 6 Houston Cougars (16-15, 8-10) vs. No. 3 SMU Mustangs (23-8, 12-6), 1 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Mustangs 76-67
No. 7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (12-20, 5-13) vs. No. 2 Louisville Cardinals (26-5, 15-3), approx. 3:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Cardinals 84-65
No. 9 UCF Knights (12-17, 4-14) vs. No. 1 Cincinnati Bearcats (26-5, 15-3), 7 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bearcats 72-60
No. 5 Memphis Tigers (23-8, 12-6) vs. No. 4 Connecticut Huskies (24-7, 12-6), approx. 9:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Tigers 70-67

While the top three seeds should get through their respective quarterfinals rather easily, the nightcap provides the host Tigers with a chance to finally defeat a UConn team that swept them during the regular season.

Atlantic 10 Second Round

No. 9 St. Bonaventure Bonnies (16-14, 6-10) vs. No. 8 La Salle Explorers (15-15, 7-9), 12 p.m. (CSN*)
KenPom predicted score: Bonnies 69-68
No. 13 Fordham Rams (10-20, 2-14) vs. No. 5 Dayton Flyers (22-9 10-6), approx. 2:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
KenPom predicted score: Flyers 82-70
No. 10 Duquesne Dukes (13-16, 5-11) vs. No. 7 Richmond Spiders (18-13, 8-8), 6:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
KenPom predicted score: Spiders 70-67
No. 11 Rhode Island Rams (14-17, 5-11) vs. No. 6 UMass Minutemen (23-7, 10-6), approx. 9 p.m. (CSN*)
KenPom predicted score: Minutemen 74-69

The final game of the afternoon session has the most bearing on the bubble, as the Flyers need to win to set up a third meeting with St. Joseph's on Friday afternoon.

ACC Second Round

All games on ESPN and ACC Network

No. 9 Florida State Seminoles (18-12, 9-9) vs. No. 8 Maryland Terrapins (17-14, 9-9), 12 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Seminoles 72-71
No. 13 Wake Forest Demon Deacons (17-15, 6-12) vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh Panthers (23-8, 11-7), approx. 2:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Panthers 73-65
No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (17-15, 7-11) vs. No. 7 N.C. State Wolfpack (19-12, 9-9), 7 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Hurricanes 64-63
No. 11 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (16-16, 6-12) vs. No. 6 Clemson Tigers (19-11, 10-8), approx. 9:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Tigers 59-55

Bubbles could pop left and right in Greensboro on Thursday, as each second round game features a team that desperately needs a late win. The afternoon session is particularly intriguing, as Florida State takes on a Maryland team that just knocked off top-seeded Virginia and Pitt, which always struggles on offense, faces a Wake squad that knocked off Duke just a little more than a week ago.

Big 12 Quarterfinals

No. 5 Kansas State Wildcats (20-11, 10-8) vs. No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones (23-7, 11-7), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
KenPom predicted score: Cyclones 72-70
No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys (21-11, 8-10) vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (23-8 14-4), approx. 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
KenPom predicted score: Jayhawks 78-75
No. 7 Baylor Bears (22-10, 9-9) vs. No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners, 7 p.m. (Big 12 Network/ESPN3)
KenPom predicted score: Sooners 77-76
No. 6 West Virginia Mountaineers (17-14, 9-9) vs. No. 3 Texas Longhorns (22-9, 11-7), approx. 9:30 p.m. (Big 12 Network/ESPN3)
KenPom predicted score: Longhorns 78-76

Out of the eight teams in action in Kansas City on Thursday, only West Virginia is not in my current projection. The Mountaineers will need to make at least the final to get a look at this point. However, Kansas needs three games to show the Selection Committee that it won't miss Joel Embiid (back) too much, lest it risk a drop in seeding. Meanwhile, Oklahoma has an outside shot at a three seed with a trio of wins, while Iowa State may not need that many. As for the rest, they're trying to get at least to the eight line.

Big East Quarterfinals

All games on FS1

No. 8 Seton Hall Pirates (15-16, 6-12) vs. No. 1 Villanova Wildcats (28-3, 16-2), 12 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Wildcats 75-64
No. 5 St. John's Red Storm (20-11, 10-8) vs. No. 4 Providence Friars (20-11, 10-8), approx. 2:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Friars 69-67
No. 10 DePaul Blue Demons (17-14, 8-10) vs. No. 2 Creighton Bluejays (24-6, 14-4), 7 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bluejays 86-69
No. 6 Marquette Golden Eagles (17-14, 9-9) vs. No. 3 Xavier Musketeers (20-11, 10-8), approx. 9:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Musketeers 70-69

Xavier can gain some breathing room with a win over Marquette, while the Providence-St. John's winner will have a leg up on the loser in terms of selection. Georgetown, who fell to DePaul on Wednesday night, is out of the picture now.

Big Sky First Round

All games streaming on WatchBigSky.com

No. 7 Sacramento State Hornets (14-15, 10-10) vs. No. 2 North Dakota (15-15, 12-8), 4:00 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: North Dakota 75-74
No. 6 Northern Colorado Bears (17-12, 11-9) vs. No. 3 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (15-16, 12-8), approx. 6:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bears 69-68
No. 5 Portland State Vikings (16-13, 11-9) vs. No. 4 Montana Grizzlies (17-12, 12-8), approx. 9 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Grizzlies 69-67

Note that top seed -- and host -- Weber State earns a bye until Friday's semifinals. Surprisingly, only Northern Colorado, the lower seed, swept its opponent for today during the regular season.

Big Ten First Round

No. 9 Illinois Fighting Illini (18-13, 7-11) vs. No. 8 Indiana Hoosiers (17-14, 7-11), 12 p.m. (BTN)
KenPom predicted score: Illini 64-62
No.12 Purdue Boilermakers (15-16, 10-8) vs. No. 5 Ohio State Buckeyes (23-8, 10-8), approx. 2:30 p.m. (BTN)
KenPom predicted score: Buckeyes 70-62
No. 10 Penn State Nittany Lions (15-16, 6-12) vs. No. 7 Minnesota Golden Gophers (19-12, 8-10), 6:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
KenPom predicted score: Gophers 71-69
No. 11 Northwestern Wildcats (13-18, 6-12) vs. No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes (20-11, 9-9), approx. 9 p.m. (ESPN2)
KenPom predicted score: Hawkeyes 72-61

While Iowa should be OK even with an unexpected loss to Northwestern, Minnesota really needs to win games beyond today to earn a bid. A second consecutive win over Penn State simply won't provide enough of a bump for the Golden Gophers' profile.

Big West Quarterfinals

All games on FS Prime Ticket San Diego/FCS Pacific

No. 7 Cal Poly Mustangs (10-19, 6-1) vs. No. 2 UC Santa Barbara Gauchos (21-8, 12-4) , 3 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Gauchos 66-58
No. 6 Cal State Fullerton Titans (11-19, 6-10) vs. No. 3 Long Beach State 49ers (14-16, 10-6), approx. 5:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: 49ers 72-67
No. 8 UC Riverside Highlanders (10-20, 5-11) vs. No. 1 UC Irvine Anteaters (22-10, 13-3), 9 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Anteaters 69-59
No. 5 Cal State Northridge Matadors (15-17, 7-9) vs. No. 4 Hawai `i Rainbow Warriors (20-10, 9-7), approx. 11:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Rainbow Warriors 85-79

As you'd expect, UC Irvine swept UC Riverside during the regular season, but the other three quarters are toss-ups based on regular season results -- a trio of splits.

Conference USA Quarterfinals

All games on C-USA Digital Network

No. 7 Tulane Green Wave (17-15, 8-8) vs. No. 2 Tulsa Golden Hurricane (18-12, 13-3), 2 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Golden Hurricane 72-61
No. 6 Old Dominion Monarchs (16-16, 9-7) vs. No. 3 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (23-8, 13-3), approx. 4:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Blue Raiders 62-57
No. 5 UTEP Miners (23-9. 12-4) vs. No. 4 Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles (26-5, 13-3), 8 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Golden Eagles 66-64
No. 9 Charlotte 49ers (16-13, 7-9) vs. No. 1 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (25-6, 13-3), approx. 10:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bulldogs 78-68

UTEP knocked off East Carolina to set up a revenge game against Southern Mississippi, which beat the Miners by nine in Hattiesburg on February 22nd. As for the other matchups, Tulsa, Middle Tennessee, and Louisiana Tech all defeated their opponents in their lone meetings this year.

MAC Third Round

Both games on TWCS/ESPN3

No. 5 Ohio Bobcats (23-10, 11-7) vs. No. 4 Akron Zips (20-11, 12-6), 6:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bobcats 66-65
No. 6 Eastern Michigan Eagles (20-13, 10-8) vs. No. 3 Buffalo Bulls (19-9, 13-5), approx. 9 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bulls 67-65

The first game is sure to be an amazing rubber match, as the Zips won a double OT thriller in Athens, but were run off the floor by the Bobcats back at home more than a month later. Meanwhile, the Eagles lost their only meeting with the Bulls, way back on January 11th.

MEAC Quarterfinals

Both games streaming at MEACSports.com

No. 6 Florida A&M Rattlers (14-17, 8-8) vs. No. 3 Morgan State Bears (13-15, 11-5), 6 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bears 76-72
No. 5 Savannah State Tigers (13-18, 10-6) vs. No. 4 Norfolk State Spartans (18-13, 11-5), approx. 8:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Spartans 64-60

The Rattlers actually won in Baltimore to claim their only regular season meeting with the Bears, while the Tigers lost at home to the Spartans in their lone encounter. Top seed N.C. Central doubled up Howard and No.2 Hampton lost to Coppin State in Wednesday's quarterfinal doubleheader.

Mountain West Quarterfinals

All games on CBS SN

No. 8 Utah State Aggies (18-13, 7-11) vs. No. 1 San Diego State Aztecs (27-3, 16-2), 3 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Aztecs 68-60
No. 5 Wyoming Cowboys (18-13, 9-9)vs. No. 4 UNLV Runnin' Rebels (19-12, 10-8), approx. 5:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Runnin' Rebels 65-59
No. 7 Fresno St. Bulldogs (17-15, 9-9) vs. No. 2 New Mexico Lobos (24-6, 15-3), 9 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Lobos 75-67
No. 6 Boise St. Broncos (20-12, 9-9) vs. No. 3 Nevada Wolf Pack (15-16, 10-8), approx. 11:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Broncos 74-70

While Nevada, which lost six of seven before winning its final two, may be ripe for an "upset,"  keep an eye on Wyoming-UNLV. The Cowboys only lost by two when they visited the Thomas & Mack earlier this season.

Pac-12 Quarterfinals

No. 8 Utah Utes (21-10, 9-9) vs. No. 1 Arizona Wildcats (28-3, 15-3), 3 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
KenPom predicted score: Wildcats 66-59
No. 5 Colorado Buffaloes (22-10, 10-8) vs. No. 4 California Golden Bears (19-12, 10-8), approx. 5:30 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
KenPom predicted score: Buffaloes 70-69
No. 7 Oregon Ducks (23-8, 10-8) vs. No. 2 UCLA Bruins (23-8, 12-6), 9 p.m. (Pac-12 Network)
KenPom predicted score:
No. 6 Stanford Cardinal (20-11, 10-8) vs. No. 3 Arizona State Sun Devils (21-10, 10-8), approx. 11:30 p.m. (FS1)
KenPom predicted score: Sun Devils 72-71

All four of these games should be entertaining, but the late afternoon tip between Cal and Colorado might be the best of the group, particularly after the Buffaloes beat the Golden Bears after overtime on Saturday in Berkeley.

SEC Second Round

All games on SEC TV/ESPN3

No. 9 Texas A&M Aggies (17-14, 8-10) vs. No. 8 Missouri Tigers (21-10, 9-9), 1 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Tigers 66-62
No. 13 South Carolina Gamecocks (13-19, 5-13) vs. No. 5 Arkansas Razorbacks (21-10, 10-8), approx. 3:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Razorbacks 80-74
No. 10 Alabama Crimson Tide (13-18, 7-11) vs. No. 7 LSU Tigers (18-12, 9-9), 7:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Tigers 70-69
No. 14 Mississippi State Bulldogs (14-18, 3-15) vs. No. 6 Mississippi Rebels (18-13, 9-9), approx. 10 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Rebels 78-70

Only game four lacks a team without at-large hopes, and the chances for both sets of Tigers and the Razorbacks would be toast with a loss. You aren't going to pick up a "quality" loss at this stage of #SECBasketballFeverPalooza.

Southland Quarterfinals

Both games streaming on the Southland Digital Network

No. 5 Nicholls State Colonels vs. No. 4 Northwestern State Demons (16-13, 12-6), 6 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Demons 84-76
No. 6 Oral Roberts Golden Eagles (17-15, 10-8) vs. No. 3 Sam Houston State Bearkats (21-9, 13-5), approx. 8:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Golden Eagles 72-71

While the Demons cruised past the Colonels in their lone meeting, the Bearkats actually lost at ORU at the start of the month. The winners move on to take on the top two seeds -- Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi -- in Friday's semifinals.

SWAC Quarterfinals

No. 6 Alcorn State Braves (12-18, 9-9) vs. No. 3 Alabama State Hornets, 1:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Hornets 67-65
No. 5 Alabama A&M Bulldogs (13-15, 10-8) vs. No. 4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions* (13-17, 11-7), 9 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Bulldogs 63-62
* - ineligible for postseason

If Alabama A&M defeats UAPB, all four SWAC semifinalists will be Tournament-eligible. On Wednesday, Prairie View stunned ineligible top seed Southern and Texas Southern took out Grambling to advance to Friday.

Sun Belt First Round

Both games on Sun Belt TV/CSS/CST/TWCS Texas

No. 8 Troy Trojans (11-19, 6-12) vs. No. 5 UALR Trojans, 7 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Troy 70-69
No. 7 ULM Warhawks (10-16, 7-11) vs. No. 6 UTA Mavericks (14-16, 9-9), approx.. 9:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Mavericks 70-67

Troy split with its Trojan rival, with each squad winning on the road, while UTA took a pair from ULM, though they needed overtime to win at home. Quarterfinal matchups with Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State await the victors on Friday.

WAC Quarterfinals

All games streaming at WACSports.tv

No. 8 UTPA Broncs (9-22, 5-11) vs. No. 1 Utah Valley Wolverines (19-10, 13-3), 3 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Wolverines 62-57
No. 5 Idaho Vandals (14-17, 7-9) vs. No. 4 UMKC Kangaroos (10-19, 7-9), approx. 5:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Vandals 78-76
No. 6 Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (12-18, 5-11) vs. No. 3 Chicago State Cougars (13-18, 8-8), 9 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Cougars 71-68
No. 7 Seattle Redhawks (13-16, 5-11) vs. No. 2 New Mexico State Aggies (23-9, 12-4), approx. 11:30 p.m.
KenPom predicted score: Aggies 77-66

UMKC won at Idaho, but fell to the Vandals in a home game played in Independence, Mo. to close the regular season. Other than that defeat, the top four seeds all handled their opposition for today fairly handily.

Be sure to follow @ChrisDobbertean on Twitter and to like Blogging the Bracket on Facebook and Google Plus.