On The Menu: January 31, 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

Wake Forest Demon Deacons (10-10, 1-7) at No. 25 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (14-6, 5-3), 1 p.m. (ACC Network/ESPN3)
Virginia Tech Hokies (12-9, 4-4) at Pittsburgh Panthers (16-4, 5-3), 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

The Fighting Irish should be able to defeat the Demon Deacons at home, even if Demetrius Jackson sits out with a hamstring injury. The Panthers meanwhile have alternated wins and losses for the past six games, and considering Pitt lost the last time out, that's bad news for the Hokies.

Big East

No. 6 Villanova Wildcats (17-3, 7-1) at St. John's Red Storm (7-14, 0-8), 12 p.m. (FOX)

This probably isn't the matchup FOX really wanted for this window, but when you make schedules months in advance, you get likely clunkers like this on network TV.

Big Ten

No. 8 Maryland Terrapins (18-3, 7-2) at Ohio State Buckeyes (14-8, 6-3), 1 p.m. (CBS)
Northwestern Wildcats (15-7, 3-6) at No. 3 Iowa Hawkeyes (16-4, 7-1), 3 p.m. (BTN)
Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-15, 0-8) at No. 12 Michigan State Spartans (18-4, 5-4), 5:15 p.m. (BTN)
Wisconsin Badgers (12-9, 4-4) at Illinois Fighting Illini (10-11, 2-6), 7:30 p.m. (BTN)

Maryland and Iowa face radically different challenges after Thursday's showdown in College Park. The Terps travel to Columbus to take on a Buckeyes team in desperate need of a quality win for its profile. Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes host a Wildcat team that was blown out at home by Michigan State on Thursday night.

Speaking of the Spartans, they shouldn't be troubled too much by the Scarlet Knights, but the Badgers cannot afford a loss in Champaign, as that would do serious damage to their late bid push.

Pac-12

California Golden Bears (14-7, 4-4) at Colorado Buffaloes (16-5, 5-3), 5 p.m. (FS1)
No. 23 Oregon Ducks (17-4, 6-2) at Arizona State Sun Devils (12-9, 2-6), 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

The Golden Bears handled the Buffaloes back on New Year's Day, winning by 14 in Berkeley. However, playing in Boulder is a different matter entirely, and Colorado has an excellent shot at earning a Wednesday-Sunday Bay Area sweep. Later, the Ducks will look to leave the desert with two wins and a continued position at the top of the Pac-12.

American Athletic

Temple Owls (11-8, 5-3) at USF Bulls (5-17, 2-7), 2 p.m (CBSSN)
UConn Huskies (14-6, 4-3) at UCF Knights (10-8. 4-3), 4 p.m. (CBSSN)

After falling at East Carolina on Wednesday, the Owls aim on this Sunday will be to avoid a second straight hellacious road defeat. Down I-4 in Orlando, while the Huskies and Knights may have the same conference record, a loss to the Knights would still be bad for UConn.

Atlantic 10

George Washington Colonials (15-5, 4-3) at George Mason Patriots (7-13, 1-6), 12 p.m. (NBCSN)
Richmond Spiders (11-8, 3-4) at St. Bonaventure Bonnies (12-6, 4-3), 3 p.m. (ASN)

On Thursday night, the Colonials and Spiders played a double OT classic. Today, GW should avoid a second straight loss as they visit the struggling Patriots, while the Spiders will be hard pressed to build on their success as they visit Olean.

Elsewhere

No. 22 Wichita State Shockers (15-5, 9-0) at Evansville Purple Aces (18-4, 7-2), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)

The Purple Aces won't be able to tie the Shockers for the Missouri Valley lead with a home win this afternoon, but they can make their intentions to challenge for the Arch Madness crown known. Wichita State only won the first meeting, a home game, by three back on January 6th.

Viewing Picks

Afternoon Tips

Maryland at Ohio State, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Wichita State at Evansville, 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
Northwestern at Iowa, 3 p.m. (BTN)
Villanova at St. John's, 12 p.m. (FOX)
Wake Forest at Notre Dame, 1 p.m. (ACC Network/ESPN3)
Richmond at St. Bonaventure, 3 p.m. (ASN)
UConn at UCF, 4 p.m. (CBSSN)
George Washington at George Mason, 12 p.m. (NBCSN)
Temple at USF, 2 p.m (CBSSN)

Evening Tips

California at Colorado, 5 p.m. (FS1)
Virginia Tech at Pittsburgh, 6:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Oregon at Arizona State, 8:30 p.m. (ESPNU)
Wisconsin at Illinois, 7:30 p.m. (BTN)
Rutgers at Michigan State, 5:15 p.m. (BTN)

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