Five predictions for this week’s best men’s college basketball games

Major men’s college basketball begins Monday with games featuring new SEC power Texas and two teams in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll.

Here are predictions for how the week’s top five games will shake out:

Ohio State at No. 19 Texas | Monday

Ohio State fired Chris Holtmann as head coach in February, hiring Jake Diebler in his place in March. The Buckeyes will face a tough test in Texas, where head coach Rodney Terry remade the roster through the transfer portal, welcoming guards Tramon Monk (Houston and Arkansas), Jordan Pope (Oregon State) and Julian Larry (Indiana State). However, the biggest issue for Ohio State may be stopping star freshman Tre Johnson. The No. 6 recruit nationally, per 247Sports, is expected to be a high-volume scorer for the Longhorns. 

Prediction: Diebler’s Buckeyes will play well, but Texas will escape with a 73-65 win.

No. 8 Baylor at No. 6 Gonzaga | Monday 

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few doesn’t shy from stiff competition in the non-conference schedule, and this season is no exception. Graham Ike (16.5 points, 7.4 rebounds per game in 2023-24) will lead the Zags against Baylor’s intriguing backcourt of Duke transfer Jeremy Roach (14 points, 3.3 assists), a 6-foot-2 point guard, and 6-foot-5 freshman shooting guard V.J. Edgecombe, who should wow the nation with his athleticism and scoring ability.

Prediction: Gonzaga uses the home crowd to secure a big season-opening win, 81-74.

No. 9 North Carolina at No. 1 Kansas | Friday

It doesn’t get much better than blue bloods facing each other early in the season. Some of college basketball’s biggest names will go head-to-head, including Kansas center Hunter Dickinson (17.9 points, 10.9 rebounds per game last season) and North Carolina guard RJ Davis (21.2 points, 3.5 assists). Those two will get their usual numbers, but watch for Wisconsin transfer AJ Storr, who averaged 16.8 points last season, to make his mark on the game for the Jayhawks. 

Prediction: Dickinson will be too much to handle for North Carolina in Kansas’ 85-76 win.

No. 16 Arkansas at No. 8 Baylor | Saturday 

Baylor head coach Scott Drew is ensuring his team is battle tested with a pair of big-time matchups to open the season. New Arkansas head coach John Calipari has Razorbacks fans buzzing after an 85-69 win over No. 1 Kansas in a charity exhibition game. Keep an eye on the backcourt matchup. Transfers Johnell Davis (Florida Atlantic) and D.J. Wagner (Kentucky) for Arkansas could form one of the best guard tandems in the country.

Prediction: Baylor will fend off spirited Arkansas, 82-70. 

No. 11 Auburn at No. 4 Houston | Saturday

Three of the best players in college basketball are featured in this showdown of ranked teams. Houston forward J’Wan Roberts and guard L.J. Cryer are on the Naismith Award Watch List with Auburn forward Johni Broome. Broome can affect the game at both ends of the floor, but it will be Houston’s gritty defense that proves too much for the Tigers.

Prediction: Houston will make a statement in shutting down Auburn, 65-49.