On The Menu: January 17, 2016

Game information courtesy Matt College Sports on TV Website, which has even more games listed and more specific info on coverage for regional sports networks and American Sports Network telecasts.

All times listed are Eastern, adjust accordingly.

ACC

No. 13 Virginia Cavaliers (13-3, 2-2) at Florida State Seminoles (11-5, 1-3), 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

On Wednesday, the Seminoles picked up their first conference win by knocking off N.C. State in Raleigh. With a win over the Cavaliers tonight, FSU can simultaneously improve its NCAA hopes, while dragging the Cavaliers further from the league title.

Big East

Creighton Bluejays (12-6, 3-2) at DePaul Blue Demons (6-11, 0-5), 1 p.m. (FS1)

After Tuesday's loss to Providence, the Bluejays simply must win in Rosemont if they want to remain relevant nationally.

Big Ten

No. 4 Michigan State Spartans (16-2, 3-2) at Wisconsin Badgers (9-9, 1-4), 1:30 p.m. (CBS)
Michigan Wolverines (13-4, 3-1) at No. 16 Iowa Hawkeyes (13-3, 4-0), 4:30 p.m. (BTN)

The Spartans will travel to Madison looking to make the Badgers' already slender NCAA hopes all but non-existent. Later, in Iowa City, the Wolverines will look to cool off the red-hot Hawkeyes and force a three-way tie for second in the process. That would make a league that's already top heavy even more interesting in the race for places on the top four seed lines.

Pac-12

Oregon Ducks (14-3, 3-1) at Colorado Buffaloes (13-4, 2-2), 7 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Oregon, Mountain)
Oregon State Beavers (11-4, 2-2) at Utah Utes (12-5, 1-3), 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Speaking of conference logjams, a Duck win in Boulder would add Oregon to a one-loss lead pack that already includes USC and Washington. The stakes are a bit higher at the Huntsman Center, where the Utes need to defeat the Beavers to avoid a fourth league loss and trip to the NCAA bubble.

American Athletic

UConn Huskies (11-5, 2-2) at Houston Cougars (13-3, 3-1), 2 p.m. (CBSSN)
No. 10 SMU Mustangs (16-0, 5-0) at Tulane Green Wave (8-10, 1-4), 3 p.m. (ESPN3)

While the Mustangs will be heavily favored to win their 17th in a row, UConn is in danger of dropping out of the conference title race already. Making matters worse, the Huskies have to travel to their AAC house of horrors, the Hofheinz Center, where they've lost in each of the past two seasons.

Elsewhere

Iona Gaels (9-7, 6-1) at Rider Broncs (5-11, 1-5), 4 p.m. (ESPN3)

A Gaels' win in Lawrenceville is the only way the MAAC remains a two-bid league in Tuesday's bracket.

Southern Illinois Salukis (15-3, 4-1) at Drake Bulldogs (5-12, 0-5), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Indiana State Sycamores (10-7, 4-1) at Wichita State Shockers (11-5, 5-0), 4 p.m. (ESPN3)

If the likely event of a Saluki win is combined with the unlikely event of a Sycamore one in Wichita, the Salukis, Shockers, Sycamores, and Evansville (16-3, 5-1) would be in a four-way tie for the Missouri Valley lead.

Viewing Picks

Michigan at Iowa, 4:30 p.m. (BTN)
UConn at Houston, 2 p.m. (CBSSN)
Oregon State at Utah, 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Oregon at Colorado, 7 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks National, Oregon, Mountain)
Michigan State at Wisconsin, 1:30 p.m. (CBS)
SMU at Tulane, 3 p.m. (ESPN3)
Indiana State at Wichita State, 4 p.m. (ESPN3)
Iona at Rider, 4 p.m. (ESPN3)
Creighton at DePaul, 1 p.m. (FS1)
Southern Illinois at Drake, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)

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