When it comes to the college basketball betting season, it can be hard to point out the specific points in time that really made the difference at the end of a long season. Based solely on the prospect of making predictions, this Saturday could be one of those weekends where key conference matchups have a huge impact on the overall outcome of the season. A busy Saturday in college basketball will feature a Big 12 showdown between the No. 6 Baylor Bears and No. 4 Missouri Tigers, with a Big Ten showdown between the No. 12 Michigan State Spartans and No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes coming later on in the night. These two matchups represent absolutely crucial points in the seasons of each of the four teams, and the overall outcome of both the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences.

The per head option team with the most on the line of any this Saturday is Baylor, which despite being ranked second in the Big 12 and sixth in the country is in a “must-win” situation when they visit Missouri. The Bears have been one of the surprise contenders in the top-10 this season, but any chance at challenging for a conference title will come down to beating the Tigers in their second meeting of the season. Baylor dropped a 89-88 decision at home the first time these teams met, a loss that came on the heels of a blowout defeat at Kansas, and after losing their first two games against their top competition there is no way they can afford to lose any more. The fact that they play Kansas and Missouri back-to-back again doesn’t help, but that doesn’t mean they have an excuse not to execute. Meanwhile, the Tigers have already beaten both the Bears and Jayhawks and are all alone on top of the Big 12, so another win against a conference rival will go a long way in clinching that title.

Over in the Big Ten, Jared Sullinger and the Buckeyes are preparing for their toughest remaining test in the first of two games against the Spartans. Michigan State is just one game behind them in the Big Ten standings, and Ohio State cannot afford to drop this crucial home contest with a trip to the Jack Breslin looming at the beginning of March. Sullinger continues to be a dominant force both in terms of scoring and on the boards, and with another big performance should be able to help keep the Spartans down with the Buckeyes listed as the obvious pay head bookie favorites.

The sites listed on the sportsbook reviews will have the odds for both of these games, and they should both be very entertaining, but just be sure to consider how big of an impact both of these games will have on the Big 12 and Big Ten this season before placing a bet. There is no such thing as a guarantee in college basketball, and when the stakes are the highest, that is usually when the most unpredictable things can happen.