College basketball picks: Predictions for top 25 games Saturday

Our experts have picks for all of Saturday's big games as conference play heats up across the nation

Feb. 14, 2026 at 12:07am

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With just over one month until Selection Sunday and conference races heating up across the college basketball landscape, Saturday is set to provide a platform for spectacular theater as the sport kicks into high gear near the homestretch of the regular season. There are pivotal games that could well decide conference races in the Big 12, ACC, SEC, Big Ten, WCC and plenty more.

Why it matters

These games will have major implications for conference standings and NCAA Tournament seeding as the regular season winds down. Matchups between ranked teams could shift the national landscape and set the stage for the postseason.

The details

The slate includes four ranked vs. ranked matchups, including a top-10 showdown between No. 9 Kansas and No. 5 Iowa State. There's also a big Big Ten battle as No. 2 Michigan hosts UCLA, and No. 20 Clemson visits No. 4 Duke in the ACC.

  • The games will take place on Saturday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Duke

The No. 4 ranked team in the country.

Clemson

The No. 20 ranked team in the country.

Michigan

The No. 2 ranked team in the country.

UCLA

A top contender in the Pac-12 conference.

Kansas

The No. 9 ranked team in the country.

Iowa State

The No. 5 ranked team in the country.

Kentucky

The No. 25 ranked team in the country.

Florida

The No. 14 ranked team in the country.

Texas Tech

The No. 16 ranked team in the country.

Arizona

The No. 1 ranked team in the country.

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What they’re saying

“This feels like a big number to lay -- and yet I think I would lay it for this Duke team. They've won their last three home games by an average margin of 23.3 points, and they get a Clemson team that's a terrific matchup on paper and coming off an ugly loss to Virginia Tech.”

— Kyle Boone, CBS Sports Analyst

“It's almost difficult to compute lines with this Michigan team because it leads college basketball in scoring margin and has been completely dominant. So even a line as big as 15.5 points won't scare me off from laying it with this Wolverines bunch.”

— Kyle Boone, CBS Sports Analyst

“This feels like a classic spot on the schedule for Iowa State to flex its muscles and get back on track in front of its home crowd. But I am going against my gut here and taking KU to win straight up as road dogs.”

— Kyle Boone, CBS Sports Analyst

“Kentucky has won eight of nine and done so shorthanded with Jaland Lowe and Jayden Quaintance shelved. But on the road against a team I think is the best in the SEC is a tough spot to keep that hot streak rolling.”

— Kyle Boone, CBS Sports Analyst

“Perhaps the 82-78 loss at Kansas on Monday was a sign that Arizona could be ducking off a bit as conference competition tightens. That's just not what I, personally, believe will happen. This Wildcats team is clearly on a different level right now even after its first of the season.”

— Kyle Boone, CBS Sports Analyst

What’s next

The results of these games will impact the national rankings and conference standings heading into the final stretch of the regular season. Fans will be eagerly awaiting the next set of AP Top 25 poll results on Monday.

The takeaway

Saturday's slate of top 25 matchups will provide critical insights into the national landscape as teams jockey for conference titles and NCAA Tournament seeding. The games feature several potential March Madness contenders facing off in high-stakes battles that could shape the remainder of the season.