Today’s schedule is dominated by the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, which is why you see so many non-conference games in the lineup.

At the bottom of the page, you’ll find a lineup broken down by telecast window with the group designations in bold to the left of the game. Instead of ordering these by tip time, however, I’ve grouped them by importance.

Reminders of the different groupings, with an addition for today, which will play a bigger role at the end of the season:

• Group 1 (home games): Visitor is ranked 1-30
• Group 1 (neutral-site games): Feature a team ranked 1-50
• Group 1 (away games): Host is ranked 1-75
• Group 2 (home games): Visitor is ranked 31-75
• Group 2 (away games): Host is ranked 76-135
• Group 3 (home games): Visitor is ranked 76-160
• Group 3 (neutral-site games): Feature a team ranked 101-200
• Group 3 (away games): Host is ranked 136-240
• Group 4 (home games): Visitor is ranked 161-353
• Group 4 (away games): Host is ranked 241-353

All NET numbers are from the NCAA’s website and reflect games played through Wednesday, January 23rd. Records reflect games played through Thursday, January 24th. All times are Eastern.

Top 30 at Top 75

Group 1 for both the host and visitor

Friday, January 25th

No. 6 Michigan Wolverines (18-1, 7-1) at No. 36 Indiana Hoosiers (12-7, 3-5), 6:30 p.m. (FS1)

The Hoosiers have lost five straight, while the Wolverines haven’t looked like themselves over the past couple of games.

Saturday, January 19th

No. 16 Iowa State Cyclones (14-5, 4-3) at No. 32 Mississippi Rebels (14-4, 4-2), 12 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks (16-3, 5-2) at No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats (15-3, 5-1), 6 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 25 Auburn Tigers (13-5, 2-3) at No. 31 Mississippi State Bulldogs (14-4, 2-3), 8:30 p.m. (SECN)

Curiously, these three games feature four SEC squads, with the conference lucking out with two of its non-Challenge participants meeting in Starkville. The Rebels can really shore up their at-large candidacy by knocking off the Cyclones in Oxford, while the Jayhawks-Wildcats contest is the biggest game of the weekend. Both teams are on the two line of my Friday bubble post.

31-75 at Top 75

Group 1 for the visitor only; Group 2 for the host

Friday, January 25th

No. 48 Butler Bulldogs (12-8, 3-4) at No. 61 Creighton Bluejays (11-8, 2-4), 8:30 p.m. (FS1)

Both teams really need to start differentiating themselves for the Big East’s hefty middle class. The Bulldogs won the first meeting, 84-69, in Indy back on January 5th.

Saturday, January 26th

No. 37 Florida Gators (11-7, 3-3) at No. 28 TCU Horned Frogs (14-4, 3-3), 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 46 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-6, 2-5) at No. 21 Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-6, 3-5), 12 p.m. (FS1)
No. 41 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-6, 3-3) at No. 51 Baylor Bears (12-6, 4-2), 12 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 68 Davidson Wildcats (14-5, 5-1) at No. 71 Saint Louis Billikens (14-5, 5-1), 2 p.m. (CBSSN)
No. 58 Pittsburgh Panthers (12-7, 2-4) at No. 13 Louisville Cardinals (14-5, 5-1), 2 p.m. (Raycom (regional)/ESPN3)
No. 59 Clemson Tigers (11-7, 1-4) at No. 27 N.C. State Wolfpack (15-4, 3-3), 2 p.m. (Raycom (regional)/ESPN3)
No. 53 Northwestern Wildcats (12-7, 3-5) at No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers (13-6, 5-3), 2:15 p.m. (BTN)
No. 40 Washington Huskies (15-4, 6-0) at No. 70 Oregon State Beavers (12-6, 4-2), 4 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
No. 72 Arkansas Razorbacks (11-7, 2-4) at No. 17 Texas Tech Red Raiders (15-4, 4-3), 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 50 Syracuse Orange (14-5, 5-1) at No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies (15-3, 4-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN)

This group is pretty evenly split between bubble games (Florida-TCU, Ohio State-Nebraska, Bama-Baylor, Davidson-Saint Louis, Washington-Oregon State, even Clemson-N.C. State) and contests where the road team is looking to make an impression against a high-level opponent. Pitt-Louisville is particularly interesting since the Panthers are looking to complete a season sweep of the Cardinals.

Top 30 at 76-135

Group 1 for the host only; Group 2 for the visitor

Friday, January 25th

No. 23 Buffalo Bulls (17-2, 5-1) at No. 134 Kent State Golden Flashes (15-4, 4-2), 6:30 p.m. (CBSSN)

The Bulls look to rebound from Tuesday’s loss at Northern Illinois, though they’re faced with another difficult road game.

Saturday, January 26th

No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers (17-1, 5-1) at No. 79 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-8, 1-5), 1 p.m. (CBS)
No. 30 Kansas State Wildcats (15-4, 5-2) at No. 122 Texas A&M Aggies (7-10, 1-5), 2 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 20 Marquette Golden Eagles (17-3, 6-1) at No. 83 Xavier Musketeers (11-9, 3-4), 2 p.m. (FS1)
No. 12 LSU Tigers (15-3, 5-0) at No. 81 Missouri Tigers (10-7, 1-4), 6 p.m. (SECN)

Missouri and Notre Dame have the biggest opportunities here, while K-State will look to avoid a bad loss in an SEC/Big 12 Challenge matchup that is a great argument for the event adopting a more flexible format.

31-75 at 76-135

Group 2 for both the host and the visitor

Saturday, January 26th

No. 43 Texas Longhorns (11-8, 3-4) at No. 97 Georgia Bulldogs (9-9, 1-5), 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 69 Arizona State Sun Devils (14-5, 5-2) at No. 98 USC Trojans (11-8, 4-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 54 Arizona Wildcats (14-6, 5-2) at No. 109 UCLA Bruins (10-9, 3-3), 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
No. 42 San Francisco Dons (17-3, 5-1) at No. 121 San Diego Toreros (14-7, 3-3), 10 p.m. (TheW.tv)

It’s a similar story for the contest in Athens, a game where the Longhorns have more to lose than gain. Out West, Arizona State looks to sweep the L.A. schools, something they last did in 1987, while Arizona looks for a split after losing at USC without the injured Chase Jeter. San Francisco needs to keep winning with trips to Saint Mary’s and Gonzaga lurking.

31-75 at 136-240

Group 2 for the host only; Group 3 for the visitor

Saturday, January 26th

No. 57 VCU Rams (13-6, 4-2) at No. 145 Duquesne Dukes (14-5, 5-1), 2 p.m. (AT&T SN Pittsburgh/MASN/ESPN+)
No. 38 Utah State Aggies (14-5, 4-2) at No. 183 New Mexico Lobos (9-10, 3-4), 4 pm. (CBSSN)
No. 65 Fresno State Bulldogs (14-4, 5-1) at No. 231 Colorado State Rams (7-12, 2-4), 4 p.m. (AT&T SN Rocky Mtn, and SW/MWN)
No. 47 Saint Mary’s Gaels (13-8, 4-2) at No. 175 Pepperdine Waves (9-11, 2-4), 8 p.m. (Spectrum Sportsnet/NBCS California/AT&T SN Rocky Mountain/Root Sports/TheW.tv)

Four bubble teams with varying levels of hope hit the road. VCU has the most difficult task here as Duquesne just knocked off Saint Louis on Wednesday night. Saint Mary’s needs a win at Pepperdine after losing to BYU on Thursday.

76-160 at Top 75

Group 1 for the visitor only; Group 3 for the host

Saturday, January 26th

No. 126 Illinois Fighting Illini (5-14, 1-7) vs. No. 19 Maryland Terrapins (16-4, 7-2) at New York, 12 p.m. (BTN)
No. 84 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-8, 3-3) at No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (16-2, 5-1), 12 p.m. (Raycom/ESPN3)
No. 102 South Carolina Gamecocks (10-8, 5-1) at No. 75 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-11, 2-5), 2 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 95 West Virginia Mountaineers (9-10, 1-6) at No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers (17-1, 6-0), 4 p.m. (ESPN)
No. 82 Vanderbilt Commodores (9-9, 0-6) at No. 29 Oklahoma Sooners (14-5, 3-4), 4 p.m. (ESPN2)

Maryland and Illinois meet at Madison Square Garden as the first part of the Big Ten Day basketball/hockey doubleheader. Duke and Tennessee should roll in their two home contests, while Oklahoma must be careful against a Vandy squad that’s much better than its record indicates. As for South Carolina, a loss in Stillwater would further dent their at-large case, even with the Gamecocks’ recent SEC performance.

76-160 at 136-240

Group 3 for both the host and the visitor

Saturday, January 26th

No. 90 South Florida Bulls (14-6, 3-4) at No. 237 East Carolina Pirates (8-10, 1-5), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
No. 85 Old Dominion Monarchs (16-5, 6-2) at No. 177 UTSA Roadrunners (11-9, 5-2), 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
No. 94 Vermont Catamounts (15-5, 5-1) at No. 137 Stony Brook Seawolves (17-3, 5-0), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)

Two more fringe bubble teams, USF and ODU, hit the road, with the Monarchs in the most danger as UTSA is a legit threat to win the C-USA title. Later in the evening, the top two teams in the America East meet on Long Island with the winner taking temporary control of the conference race.

161-353 at 76-135

Group 2 for the visitor only; Group 4 for the host

Saturday, January 26th

No. 184 Omaha Mavericks (12-8, 6-1) at No. 119 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (16-6, 6-1), 5:15 p.m. (Midco SN/ESPN3)
No. 161 Weber State Wildcats (13-6, 7-1) at No. 114 Montana Grizzlies (13-7, 7-2), 9 p.m. (SWX Montana/Pluto.tv)

Finally, we have top of the table meetings in the Summit League and Big Sky. There will be rematches later in the regular season, however.

Chronological Schedule

Grouped by quality in each tip window.

Friday, January 25th

1/1 No. 6 Michigan Wolverines (18-1, 7-1) at No. 36 Indiana Hoosiers (12-7, 3-5), 6:30 p.m. (FS1)
2/1 No. 23 Buffalo Bulls (17-2, 5-1) at No. 134 Kent State Golden Flashes (15-4, 4-2), 6:30 p.m. (CBSSN)
1/2 No. 48 Butler Bulldogs (12-8, 3-4) at No. 61 Creighton Bluejays (11-8, 2-4), 8:30 p.m. (FS1)

Saturday, January 26th

12 p.m.-1 p.m. ET Tips

1/1 No. 16 Iowa State Cyclones (14-5, 4-3) at No. 32 Mississippi Rebels (14-4, 4-2), 12 p.m. (ESPN)
1/2 No. 37 Florida Gators (11-7, 3-3) at No. 28 TCU Horned Frogs (14-4, 3-3), 12 p.m. (ESPN2)
1/2 No. 46 Ohio State Buckeyes (12-6, 2-5) at No. 21 Nebraska Cornhuskers (13-6, 3-5), 12 p.m. (FS1)
1/2 No. 41 Alabama Crimson Tide (12-6, 3-3) at No. 51 Baylor Bears (12-6, 4-2), 12 p.m. (ESPNU)
1/3 No. 126 Illinois Fighting Illini (5-14, 1-7) vs. No. 19 Maryland Terrapins (16-4, 7-2) at New York, 12 p.m. (BTN)
1/3 No. 84 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (11-8, 3-3) at No. 2 Duke Blue Devils (16-2, 5-1), 12 p.m. (Raycom/ESPN3)
2/1 No. 1 Virginia Cavaliers (17-1, 5-1) at No. 79 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (11-8, 1-5), 1 p.m. (CBS)

2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET Tips

1/2 No. 68 Davidson Wildcats (14-5, 5-1) at No. 71 Saint Louis Billikens (14-5, 5-1), 2 p.m. (CBSSN)
1/2 No. 58 Pittsburgh Panthers (12-7, 2-4) at No. 13 Louisville Cardinals (14-5, 5-1), 2 p.m. (Raycom (regional)/ESPN3)
1/2 No. 59 Clemson Tigers (11-7, 1-4) at No. 27 N.C. State Wolfpack (15-4, 3-3), 2 p.m. (Raycom (regional)/ESPN3)
1/2 No. 53 Northwestern Wildcats (12-7, 3-5) at No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers (13-6, 5-3), 2:15 p.m. (BTN)
2/1 No. 30 Kansas State Wildcats (15-4, 5-2) at No. 122 Texas A&M Aggies (7-10, 1-5), 2 p.m. (ESPN)
2/1 No. 20 Marquette Golden Eagles (17-3, 6-1) at No. 83 Xavier Musketeers (11-9, 3-4), 2 p.m. (FS1)
2/2 No. 43 Texas Longhorns (11-8, 3-4) at No. 97 Georgia Bulldogs (9-9, 1-5), 2 p.m. (ESPN2)
1/3 No. 102 South Carolina Gamecocks (10-8, 5-1) at No. 75 Oklahoma State Cowboys (8-11, 2-5), 2 p.m. (ESPNU)

3/2 No. 57 VCU Rams (13-6, 4-2) at No. 145 Duquesne Dukes (14-5, 5-1), 2 p.m. (AT&T SN Pittsburgh/MASN/ESPN+)

4 p.m.-5 p.m. Tips

1/2 No. 40 Washington Huskies (15-4, 6-0) at No. 70 Oregon State Beavers (12-6, 4-2), 4 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks)
1/3 No. 95 West Virginia Mountaineers (9-10, 1-6) at No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers (17-1, 6-0), 4 p.m. (ESPN)
1/3 No. 82 Vanderbilt Commodores (9-9, 0-6) at No. 29 Oklahoma Sooners (14-5, 3-4), 4 p.m. (ESPN2)
3/3 No. 90 South Florida Bulls (14-6, 3-4) at No. 237 East Carolina Pirates (8-10, 1-5), 4 p.m. (ESPNU)
3/2 No. 38 Utah State Aggies (14-5, 4-2) at No. 183 New Mexico Lobos (9-10, 3-4), 4 pm. (CBSSN)
3/2 No. 65 Fresno State Bulldogs (14-4, 5-1) at No. 231 Colorado State Rams (7-12, 2-4), 4 p.m. (AT&T SN Rocky Mtn, and SW/MWN)
3/3 No. 85 Old Dominion Monarchs (16-5, 6-2) at No. 177 UTSA Roadrunners (11-9, 5-2), 4 p.m. (ESPN+)
2/4 No. 184 Omaha Mavericks (12-8, 6-1) at No. 119 South Dakota State Jackrabbits (16-6, 6-1), 5:15 p.m. (Midco SN/ESPN3)

6 p.m.-7 p.m. Tips

1/1 No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks (16-3, 5-2) at No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats (15-3, 5-1), 6 p.m. (ESPN)
1/2 No. 72 Arkansas Razorbacks (11-7, 2-4) at No. 17 Texas Tech Red Raiders (15-4, 4-3), 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
2/1 No. 12 LSU Tigers (15-3, 5-0) at No. 81 Missouri Tigers (10-7, 1-4), 6 p.m. (SECN)
3/3 No. 94 Vermont Catamounts (15-5, 5-1) at No. 137 Stony Brook Seawolves (17-3, 5-0), 7 p.m. (ESPN3)

8 p.m.-9 p.m. Tips

1/1 No. 25 Auburn Tigers (13-5, 2-3) at No. 31 Mississippi State Bulldogs (14-4, 2-3), 8:30 p.m. (SECN)
1/2 No. 50 Syracuse Orange (14-5, 5-1) at No. 11 Virginia Tech Hokies (15-3, 4-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN)
2/2 No. 69 Arizona State Sun Devils (14-5, 5-2) at No. 98 USC Trojans (11-8, 4-2), 8 p.m. (ESPN2)
3/2 No. 47 St Mary’s Gaels (13-8, 4-2) at No. 175 Pepperdine Waves (9-11, 2-4), 8 p.m. (Spectrum Sportsnet/NBCS California/AT&T SN Rocky Mountain/Root Sports/TheW.tv)
2/4 No. 161 Weber State Wildcats (13-6, 7-1) at No. 114 Montana Grizzlies (13-7, 7-2), 9 p.m. (SWX Montana/Pluto.tv)

Late Night Tips

2/2 No. 54 Arizona Wildcats (14-6, 5-2) at No. 109 UCLA Bruins (10-9, 3-3), 10 p.m. (ESPN2)
2/2 No. 42 San Francisco Dons (17-3, 5-1) at No. 121 San Diego Toreros (14-7, 3-3), 10 p.m. (TheW.tv)

Enjoy this post? Follow Blogging the Bracket on Twitter and Like the site on Facebook.