NCAAB December 5 Previews

SMU's transition to the ACC has been smoother than most expected, and Andy Enfield has this Mustangs squad playing with confidence. They're 7-3 with wins over some solid mid-majors and a respectable showing in tournament play. Michigan, meanwhile, is 6-4 and still trying to figure out their identity under Dusty May in his first season in Ann Arbor. The Crisler Center will provide home-court advantage, but can the Wolverines take advantage?

Here's my concern with Michigan - they don't have a consistent go-to scorer when things get tight. The offense can look fluid for stretches, but when the game slows down in the second half, they struggle to execute. SMU is the opposite - they have experienced guards who know how to run the shot clock and get quality looks. Enfield's teams are always well-prepared, and the Mustangs won't be intimidated by the environment.

This feels like a toss-up to me. Michigan has the home crowd and the defensive ability to make this ugly, but SMU has the offensive polish to keep pace. I'm leaning toward the under here - both teams can struggle to score when facing good defenses, and this one might turn into a grind. As for the spread, SMU is a live dog. They've got the experience and coaching to keep this close throughout.

The Texas rivals meet in Waco with Baylor looking to make a statement in Big 12 play. The Bears are 8-2 and playing some of the best defense in the conference, holding opponents to under 65 points per game. Scott Drew has this program humming again after a slight step back last season. TCU is 5-5 and struggling for consistency under Jamie Dixon, who's trying to rebuild after losing several key pieces from last year's squad.

Baylor's defense is going to be the story here. The Bears swarm the ball, contest every shot, and make opponents uncomfortable throughout the possession. TCU has struggled against good defenses this year, and Baylor is elite. The Horned Frogs need to shoot the three well to have any chance, but they're hitting just 32% from deep on the season. That's not going to cut it against this Bears defense.

I love Baylor at home in this spot. The Bears have the defensive identity to suffocate TCU, and their offense has been clicking with multiple guys who can score. Drew knows how to prepare for Big 12 rivals, and Foster Pavilion is going to be rocking. TCU will fight because rivalry games bring extra intensity, but Baylor should pull away in the second half. The spread feels about right - Bears win by 8-10.

The Egg Bowl of basketball! This rivalry always brings extra juice, and both teams are going to be fired up in Starkville. Mississippi State is 7-3 at home in Humphrey Coliseum, where they've been tough to beat for years. Ole Miss comes in at 6-4, a solid start but nothing spectacular for Chris Beard in his first season in Oxford. This is the kind of game that can define a season for either program.

Mississippi State's home-court advantage is significant here. The Hump gets LOUD, and opposing teams struggle to communicate. Chris Jans has this program playing physical, defensive basketball, and that style translates well in rivalry games. Ole Miss has more offensive talent, but can they handle the environment? Beard's teams are always well-prepared, but first-year coaches sometimes struggle in hostile road environments.

This is going to be ugly and physical. Both teams want to grind you down, and the pace is going to be glacial. I love the under here - neither offense is particularly explosive, and rivalry games in the SEC tend to get chippy and low-scoring. As for the spread, it's a coin flip. Mississippi State has the home court, but Ole Miss has the coaching and talent to keep it close. Give me the Bulldogs to win outright, but barely.

The Crosstown Shootout is one of the best rivalries in college basketball, and this year's edition should be another classic. Cincinnati is 7-3 at home in Fifth Third Arena, while Xavier is 6-4 and coming in as the underdog despite their storied history. Wes Miller has the Bearcats playing faster and more aggressive than they have in years, and the home crowd is going to be absolutely electric for this one.

Here's what makes this game so compelling - Xavier always plays up in the Shootout. Records don't matter when these two teams meet. The Musketeers have the experience and the coaching pedigree to compete with anyone, and Sean Miller knows how to prepare for rivalry games. Cincinnati has the home court and the better overall season, but Xavier won't be intimidated. This is going to be a war.

I'm expecting a tight game throughout. Both teams are going to leave everything on the floor, and the intensity level is going to be through the roof. The spread feels about right - Cincinnati should win at home, but covering 3.5 in a rivalry game is never easy. Xavier can play spoiler, and I wouldn't be surprised if they pull the outright upset. This is a stay-away game for me, but if I had to pick, give me the Musketeers to cover.