NCAAB December 3 Previews

The ACC battle in Winston-Salem should be a good one. Wake Forest is 7-3 and playing some of their best basketball in years under Steve Forbes, who's finally got the pieces to compete with the conference elite. Clemson comes in at 6-4, a solid start for Brad Brownell's squad, but they've struggled on the road against quality opponents. Lawrence Joel Coliseum is going to be tough to play in, and the Demon Deacons feed off their home crowd.

Wake Forest's offense has been clicking, averaging nearly 75 points per game with multiple guys who can score. They move the ball well, shoot the three at a high clip, and their guards can create off the dribble. Clemson is more of a grind-it-out team - they want to slow the pace, get stops, and win the rebounding battle. The Tigers need to limit transition opportunities because Wake is deadly in the open floor.

I like Wake Forest at home in this spot. The Demon Deacons have the offensive firepower to pull away if they can get stops, and their home-court advantage is real. Clemson will compete because Brownell's teams are always tough, but Wake should win this one by 4-6 points. The spread feels tight, but I'd lean toward the home team covering in what should be a competitive ACC matchup.

The Lone Star Showdown is back, and this year it feels different. Texas A&M is 8-2 and ranked in the top 25 under Buzz Williams, who's built this program into a legitimate SEC contender. Texas, meanwhile, is struggling at 5-5 under Rodney Terry, dealing with injuries and inconsistent play from their perimeter. Reed Arena is going to be absolutely electric for this rivalry game, and the Aggies have been dominant at home this season.

Here's what I love about Texas A&M - they're physical, they're disciplined, and they don't beat themselves. Williams has this team playing elite defense, holding opponents to under 62 points per game. Texas has the talent to score, but can they handle the physicality that the Aggies bring? The Longhorns have been sloppy with the ball this year, averaging nearly 14 turnovers per game. That's a death sentence against A&M's pressure defense.

Texas A&M should handle business at home. The Aggies have the defensive identity to stifle Texas, and their crowd advantage is significant. The Longhorns will fight because it's a rivalry game, but A&M is simply the better team right now. Expect a grinder where the Aggies pull away in the second half. The spread feels about right - Texas A&M wins by 5-7 points.

The Pacific Northwest rivalry has taken on new meaning now that both teams are in the Big Ten. Oregon is 8-2 and playing some of the best basketball in the conference under Dana Altman, who always has this program competing at a high level. Washington is 5-5, a disappointing start for Danny Sprinkle in his first season in Seattle. Matthew Knight Arena is one of the loudest venues in college basketball, and the Ducks are nearly unbeatable at home.

Oregon's offense is dynamic - they push the pace, shoot the three at a high clip, and have multiple guys who can create off the dribble. Altman loves to play fast and pressure opposing defenses into mistakes. Washington has struggled to score consistently this year, averaging just 68 points per game. That's not going to cut it against an Oregon team that wants to run and gun.

I like Oregon to cover here. The Ducks are simply the better team, and their home-court advantage is significant. Washington will compete because it's a rivalry game with extra juice, but Oregon should pull away in the second half. The spread feels about right - expect the Ducks to win by double digits and make a statement in this Big Ten showdown.

Arizona State welcomes Stanford to Tempe in a Big 12 matchup that feels like a must-win for both teams. The Sun Devils are 6-4 and still trying to find their footing under Bobby Hurley, who's dealing with a roster in transition. Stanford is 4-6, a rough start for Kyle Smith, who's trying to rebuild the Cardinal into a competitive program. Desert Financial Arena should provide Arizona State with a solid home-court advantage.

Both teams are searching for consistency, which makes this game hard to handicap. Arizona State has more offensive firepower, but they've been prone to defensive lapses that keep opponents in games. Stanford is disciplined but lacks the elite talent to score in bunches. This feels like a game that will come down to execution in the final five minutes.

I'm leaning toward Arizona State at home. The Sun Devils have the talent advantage and the crowd behind them. Stanford will hang around because Smith's teams are always well-prepared, but ASU should find a way to pull out a victory. The spread feels a touch high for two inconsistent teams - I'd lean toward Stanford covering, but Arizona State wins outright.