New Year's Eve College Hoops

The Commonwealth Clash is always one of the best rivalry games in college basketball, and this year's edition has genuine stakes. Virginia Tech's been playing inspired basketball at Cassell Coliseum, where the student section creates one of the most hostile environments in the ACC. Their uptempo style is a perfect contrast to Virginia's glacial pace.

Tony Bennett's Cavaliers are still trying to find their identity after losing key pieces from last year's squad. The pack-line defense remains elite - they're holding opponents to just 62.3 points per game - but the offense has been maddeningly inconsistent. When they can't get stops, they don't have the firepower to outscore anyone.

The total of 124.5 is laughably low for most college games, but it's actually right for a Virginia game. The Hokies want to push, but UVA controls the tempo like no other team in the sport. Expect a rock fight with possessions at a premium and every basket feeling like it came at great cost.

Clemson's made genuine strides under Brad Brownell, and this year's squad has the balanced attack to compete in a loaded ACC. They're shooting 37% from three as a team and have multiple guys who can create their own shot. The Tigers' road record has been solid, and they're not intimidated by hostile environments.

Syracuse's 2-3 zone continues to frustrate opponents who haven't prepared for it, but ACC teams see it multiple times per year and generally know how to attack it. The Orange need rim protection to make the zone work, and that's been spotty this season. Their offense is heavily dependent on perimeter shooting, which can be feast or famine.

The Dome will have a solid crowd for New Year's Eve, but Clemson's experience against the zone should pay dividends. The Tigers have the shooting to spread Syracuse out and the patience to find the soft spots. This spread feels about right - Clemson by a handful in a competitive game.

Cameron Indoor on New Year's Eve - there are few better places to be in college basketball. Duke's reloaded with another elite recruiting class, and Jon Scheyer has the Blue Devils playing at an elite level again. Their athleticism and depth are overwhelming, and they can bury teams with runs before they know what hit them.

Georgia Tech's been competitive this season but lacks the firepower to hang with elite teams for 40 minutes. They play hard and will compete early, but the talent gap is significant. The Yellow Jackets' best chance is to slow the tempo and grind out possessions, but Duke's defense has been too good to allow that strategy to work.

The 14.5-point spread is steep, but Cameron Indoor has been a house of horrors for visitors. The Crazies will be in full voice, and Duke's experience in big games should take over in the second half. Georgia Tech might hang around for 25 minutes, but the final margin will likely be closer to 20 than 10.

Memphis has serious NCAA Tournament aspirations this year, and games like this are exactly where they need to take care of business. The Tigers have elite athleticism and can play multiple styles - they'll run when they can and grind when they have to. Penny Hardaway has built a roster that can compete with anyone in the American Athletic Conference.

North Texas is a sneaky good program that doesn't get the respect it deserves. The Mean Green play disciplined basketball and won't beat themselves with turnovers or bad shots. Their defense is solid, and they have enough shooting to make opponents pay for leaving them open. They won't be intimidated by FedExForum.

The 8.5-point spread feels a bit high for a conference game. North Texas has covered in four of their last six games as an underdog, and they've got the defensive identity to keep this competitive. Memphis should win, but covering by more than a possession might be a stretch.

This is the game of the day in college hoops. UConn's trying to prove they can win a third straight national championship, which hasn't been done since UCLA's dynasty in the 1970s. Dan Hurley has built a machine in Storrs, and despite losing key pieces to the NBA, the Huskies keep reloading with talent that buys into the system.

Xavier's Cintas Center is one of the toughest places to play in college basketball. The Musketeers have been competitive in the Big East this season and have the size to match up with UConn's physicality. Their half-court offense is efficient, and they've got enough shooting to space the floor against the Huskies' aggressive defense.

This feels like a statement game for both teams. UConn needs to prove they're still the class of the Big East, while Xavier wants to announce they belong in the conversation. The 4.5-point spread is tight for a reason - Cintas is a hard place to win by a lot. Expect a physical, grind-it-out game that comes down to the final five minutes.

Villanova's trying to recapture the magic of the Jay Wright era, and they've shown flashes of being a dangerous team this season. The Wildcats play smart, disciplined basketball and rarely beat themselves. Their half-court offense is methodical, and they've got shooters who can punish teams that help too aggressively.

DePaul remains one of the most frustrating programs in college basketball. They've got talent, and occasionally they put it together for a signature win, but the consistency just isn't there. The Blue Demons have been better under new leadership, but road games against quality opponents remain a struggle.

Finneran Pavilion should be rocking for New Year's Eve, and Villanova's home-court advantage is significant. The Wildcats are 9-1 at home this season, and their experience in close games should be the difference. DePaul will compete for a half, but Villanova's depth and poise will take over down the stretch.

The Big East rivalry that never gets old. St. John's and Georgetown have been battling since the Ewing-Mullin days, and while the programs have had different trajectories, the intensity remains. The Johnnies are having a solid season under Rick Pitino's leadership - his second stint on the sideline has brought legitimate energy and expectations back to Queens.

Georgetown's rebuild continues, and it's been painful. The Hoyas have struggled to compete in the Big East, and their roster lacks the depth to hang with the conference's better teams. They've got young talent developing, but asking them to beat a veteran St. John's squad is a big ask, even at home.

The 6.5-point spread reflects the gap between these programs right now. St. John's has the experience, the coaching, and the overall talent advantage. Georgetown will get a New Year's Eve crowd boost at Capital One Arena, but the Johnnies should be able to control this game from wire to wire.

Two programs with proud basketball traditions meet in an American Athletic Conference showdown. Wichita State's trying to recapture the magic of the Gregg Marshall era when they were regularly crashing the NCAA Tournament as a dangerous mid-major. The Shockers have talent but haven't put it all together consistently this season.

UAB's home-court advantage at Bartow Arena is significant. The Blazers play with energy and purpose at home, and their defensive intensity picks up when the crowd gets into it. They've been competitive in conference play and have the kind of gritty, physical style that can frustrate finesse teams.

This is a true pick'em game with the home team getting a small edge. Wichita State's road struggles continue - they're just 3-5 away from Koch Arena this season. UAB's defensive identity should travel, and their familiarity with their home floor gives them the slight edge in what should be a grind-it-out affair.