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College basketball picks: Predictions for top games on Saturday
Our experts have picks for all of Saturday's big games as conference play heats up across the nation
Feb. 20, 2026 at 11:24pm
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The most jam-packed Saturday slate of the college basketball season is upon us, with 20 ranked teams in action throughout the day. The highlights include a massive Big 12 showdown between No. 2 Houston and No. 4 Arizona, and a rare nonconference matchup between No. 1 Michigan and No. 3 Duke. Our team of experts has picks for all the day's biggest games, both straight up and against the spread.
Why it matters
These high-profile matchups will provide valuable insights into the form of some of the sport's top title contenders, as conference races take further shape. Rarely do we get tilts between highly-ranked teams, but this Saturday we get No. 2 vs. No. 4 and No. 1 vs. No. 3 tipping off in the span of a few hours.
The details
The slate includes No. 10 Illinois vs. UCLA in a pivotal Big Ten showdown, No. 6 Iowa State at No. 23 BYU in a meaningful Big 12 matchup, and the Darryn Peterson-led Kansas Jayhawks welcoming Cincinnati to Lawrence, Kansas. Our experts have provided their picks for all these games, both straight up and against the spread.
- The games will be played on Saturday, February 20, 2026.
The players
Darryn Peterson
A player for the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.
Bill Self
The head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team.
What they’re saying
“The Darryn Peterson noise has reached deafening levels in recent days after yet another early exit, and I think he will be out to prove he's the unquestioned No. 1 prospect in this year's NBA Draft class.”
— Kyle Boone
“Kansas' Bill Self gets candid on Darryn Peterson 'checking out': What's right, what's 'false', what's next”
— Bill Self, Head Coach, Kansas Jayhawks
What’s next
The outcomes of these highly anticipated matchups will shape the college basketball landscape as the season progresses.
The takeaway
Saturday's slate of games features some of the most compelling matchups of the college basketball season so far, with several top-ranked teams facing off in what should be a thrilling day of action.
