The 10 Best Upcoming Regular Season NCAA Basketball Games in February and March

As the college basketball season rounds into midseason form, this countdown chronicles the 10 must-see match-ups remaining in February and March to guide both the casual fan and hardcore hoops junkie.

Top 10 Upcoming College Basketball Games in February and March

10. St. Mary's at Gonzaga, February 11, 2010
Breakdown: The best remaining mid-major showdown pits the West Coast Conference perennial juggernaut, Gonzaga, in a rematch against top-contender, St. Mary's College. The game will likely determine the #1 seed in the WCC Tournament and could decide the outright regular-season conference champion. Look for SMC, led by 20-plus point per game scorer Omar Samhan, to keep the game close in the first half, but the Bulldogs' superior guard play to make the difference in the 2^nd Half. Prediction: 82-74 Gonzaga.

9. Duke at Maryland, March 3, 2010
Breakdown: With the ACC lack its typical firepower, this game may determine the regular season champion, if Maryland can stay in the hunt. Sensational guard Greivis Vazquez and Maryland play terrific at home. Expect the Terrapins to play their hearts out with their conference and NCAA tournament seeding on the line. Expect a shootout, with the Terrapins falling in the closing minutes to the deeper, more experienced Blue Devils. Prediction: 78-73 Duke.

8. Syracuse at Georgetown, February 18 2010
Breakdown: A payback opportunity for Georgetown after blowing a 14-point lead to start the game at Syracuse, ultimately losing by 17. Georgetown is typically tough at home and Syracuse loses to the superiorly motivated team in this match-up. Austin Freeman carries the Hoyas to a hard-fought upset bid, in spite of another subpar performance by Monroe at the hands of Wesley Johnson and Co. Prediction: 70-65, Georgetown.

7. Kentucky at Tennessee, February 27, 2010
Breakdown: Tennessee's play down the stretch will determine the magnitude of this game. If Bruce Pearl can keep the Vols' winning, Tennessee will rise to the occasion to host the Wildcats, similar to their upset of then #1 ranked, KU. John Wall and the improving Wildcat squad will refuse to back down and gear up for a stretch run in March. Prediction: 74-68 Kentucky.

6. KansasState at Kansas, March 3, 2010
Breakdown: An in-state showdown between the powerhouse Jayhawks and up-and coming Wildcats. Kansas owns Kansas State and everyone at home, but a slow first half gives hope to Frank Martin's hard-nosed bunch. Beware the Phog in the second half, as the Jayhawks pull away and cement their place as the best team in the country, come conference tournament time. Prediction: 75-65 Kansas.

5. Kentucky at Vanderbilt, February 20, 2010
Breakdown: Vanderbilt has compiled an impressive SEC resume, thus far, and may still be undefeated at home when the Wildcats visit at the end of February. Upset alert, Kentucky comes out flat and loses to an inspired Commodores squad, but still wins the SEC Championship outright. Prediction: 78-74, Vanderbilt.

4. West Virginia at Villanova, March 6, 2010
Breakdown: The Wildcats host the last truly great game before the conference tournaments begin. Both teams are deep, talented and well-coached, but the experience, depth, and home-court advantage delivers a victory for Jay Wright's explosive Big East contenders. Prediction: 77-71, Villanova.

3. MichiganState at Purdue, February 27, 2010
Breakdown: Two deep, experienced, tournament-tested teams meet to likely determine the outright Big 10 Champion. Expect a low-scoring slugfest for much of the game with Kailin Lucas and Michigan State closing out a victory in the final seconds. Hummel pours in 25, but lacks the supporting cast to match the Spartans' balanced output. Prediction: 66-63, Michigan St.

2. Villanova at Syracuse, February 27, 2010
Breakdown: The two primary Big East contenders play for the conference championship in a heated, instant-classic. The teams' contrasting styles give the advantage to the home team, Syracuse, who execute superior half-court efficiency to break the Wildcats' hearts as Scottie Reynolds misses a game-tying 3-pointer as time expires. Prediction: 74-71 Syracuse.

1. Kansas at Texas, February 8, 2010
Breakdown: The must-see game of the year. Period. Both teams have circled the lone meeting of the regular season, set in the Lone Star State, on their respective calendars. Both teams are deep in experience, fabulous freshmen, and expect to play for a National Championship in April. The home court advantage slows Kansas' high-powered offense in the first half, but an inspired defensive effort led by front-court tandem of Cole Aldrich and Marcus Morris, neutralizes the offensive output of Pittman, James, and Co. in the 2^nd half. The most clutch player in the country, Sherron Collins, ignites a late-scoring fury to bury Texas and control its own destiny for the remainder of the Big 12 regular season. Prediction: 74-68, Kansas.