Media by Associated Press – FILE – Purdue center Zach Edey (15) shoots over Iowa forward Filip Rebraca (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game at the Big Ten Conference tournament, Sunday, March 13, 2022, in Indianapolis. Edey is one of the most intimidating players in the conference. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
The college basketball season is here, with tipoff scheduled for Monday. There aren’t a lot of high-profile games this week; those come next week with the Champions Classic and conference vs. conference battles.
For week one, games tend to be a little slower-paced and low scoring as teams get used to new systems and develop chemistry.
Let’s take a look at four games to bet on this week.
Purdue vs. Wisconsin Milwaukee
The Boilermakers haven’t been on the court in a competitive nature since being upset by St. Peter’s in the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament. Gone to the NBA is Jaden Ivey, while Trevion Williams and Sasha Stefanovic graduated. Matt Painter’s squad starts the year unranked, but don’t expect that to last long.
Purdue still has 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, who averaged 14.4 ppg and 7.7 rpg. He will be a handful for most teams, especially Tuesday’s opening opponent, Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Mason Gillis and Caleb Furst are returners for Purdue, while Trey Kaufman-Renn, Will Berg, Utah transfer David Jenkins Jr., Braden Smith, and Fletcher Loyer are newcomers ready to step in.
Painter always has his teams prepared and ready. The Milwaukee Panthers went 10-22 last year and could be in for a game similar to the 81-45 loss at Florida last November. Bart Lundy is a brand new head coach, hired from Division II Queens University, and could have asked for an easier debut than going to Purdue.
Look for a line in the high teens on this one, as Purdue wins by 20+ to start the season.
Tennessee vs. Colorado
This is a neutral site game on Sunday that isn’t really a neutral site game at all. Tennessee faces Colorado in a SEC/Pac12 showdown, with the game being played at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. Last year, the Vols won in Colorado by 15, and they are 4-0 all-time against the Buffaloes.
Colorado is replacing their top three scorers from last year with KL Simpson as the top returner and two transfers from the Ivy League. The Buffs will play twice before heading to Nashville as they host UC Riverside on Monday and play at Grambling State on Friday. Last year they were 21-12 with a loss in the first round of the NIT.
The Vols start the season at #11 in the AP Poll. Kennedy Chandler is gone from the team that lost to Michigan in the second round as the No. 3 seed, and Josiah Jordan-James is injured.
The Vols beat Gonzaga in an exhibition last week with big games from Zakai Zeigler, Uros Playsic, and Indiana State transfer Tyreke Key.
Tennessee won by double digits in Boulder last year and should take care of business in a similar fashion this weekend in Nashville.
Villanova vs. Temple
This Big Five Philadelphia matchup between Villanova and Temple hasn’t been played since February 2020 due to COVID. The rivalry gets going again on Friday with Temple playing host. The Owls haven’t beaten Villanova since December 5, 2012, and the Wildcats have won all seven matchups since by double digits.
This is the first big test for new Villanova head coach Kyle Neptune who replaces legend Jay Wright. The Wildcats open the season with another Big Five matchup against LaSalle, while the Owls open against
With Caleb Daniels and Eric Dixon back, plus a promising crop of freshmen, the Wildcats should be able to handle Temple on Friday, even without injured starter Justin Moore. Look for Villanova to make it another double-digit win over their rivals.
Gonzaga vs. Michigan State
One game to keep an eye on later in the week is #2 Gonzaga against Michigan State. It is rare to have a Spartans team unranked to start the season, but here we are. This game is also being played at a neutral site, and not just any neutral site, but on the USS Abraham Lincoln in San Diego.
This game could be a mismatch, though playing on the aircraft carrier could help keep it closer. The games on aircraft carriers in 2011 and 2012 were all low-scoring affairs, and two games were canceled because of weather or surface conditions.
Both teams will have a game played before this one on Friday, with the Zags playing North Florida and MSU hosting Northern Arizona. Last year Gonzaga averaged 88 ppg while the Spartans averaged 72.
A defensive contest would benefit the Spartans, but they will struggle to contain Drew Timme. Look for the Zags to win by double digits.
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