College basketball season is finally here and in a big way. Over 100 games await on the Tuesday slate, but we dive into the two headliners of all the action. The Champions Classic kicks off the season in Madison Square Garden, with Kansas taking on Michigan State at 7:00 p.m. ET, followed immediately by Kentucky and Duke facing off at 9:30 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look into tonight’s blockbuster double-header and who you should be backing on the hardwood.
You’re probably going to want multiple screens open tonight, so you don’t miss any of the action and, of course, one open to FanDuel Sportsbook.
This is not your typical Kentucky roster starting three or four freshmen on opening night, and it may take until conference play to see them reach their full potential. Head coach John Calipari may only be starting one freshman in five-star guard TyTy Washington. Kentucky took the transfer route to get their talent this season, something Calipari has continued to do in recent years. Sahvir Wheeler (Georgia), Oscar Tshiebwe (West Virginia), Kellan Grady (Davidson), and C.J. Fredrick (Iowa) are all new transfers for the Wildcats, with the first three expected to start on Tuesday night. The most talented player on the court will undoubtedly be Duke’s five-star freshman Paolo Banchero, a 6’10”, do-it-all star in the making that could become a household name on Tuesday night in a similar way we saw Zion Williamson do so in 2018. The gap in experience may be noticeable when you realize that Coach K’s starting lineup will not have any NCAA Tournament experience and just one upperclassman in guard Wendell Moore. Early in the season, it’s safe to back the experience and although Banchero may be a matchup nightmare, take Kentucky and the points in this blue blood matchup.
The Picks: Kentucky +1.5
