On-Court Obsession: Busted Busters

Saturday is a busy day for college basketball. On any Saturday during the season, there can be well over 40 games on TV. Unfortunately, many are completely unwatchable. Every Friday, FanHouse puts together a handy guide of the best options for how to spend your Saturday on the couch watching college hoops.

There's no avoiding it: the Bracket Busters format is in a down year. It's not down because the games will be boring, or because no team will provide some foreshadowing of what it might be capable of in the NCAA Tournament.

Bracket Busters is down because there are just not that many teams in the mid-majors that have been that good this season. The number of teams capable of earning at-large bids from mid-major conferences is on the very low side.

That means these games do not mean much one way or the other for the teams. For almost all the teams taking part in this event, it will still come down to winning the conference tournaments to get into the NCAA Tournament.

Still, there's plenty to watch, so let's get to the top choices:

11 AM ET
Northeastern-Wright State, ESPN2: Things start early. Northeastern is one of three teams from the Colonial that seems most likely to be headed to the NCAA Tournament; Wright State, less so, but it was there not too long ago and has a great fan base.

Liberty-Old Dominion, ESPNU: Seth Curry is almost as much fun to watch as his older brother.

12 PM ET
Butler-Davidson, ESPN: The highlight game of Bracket Busters is much less inspiring with both teams coming off of losses. Add in Steph Curry's uncertain status and this may turn out to be a big disappointment from an entertainment perspective. For Davidson, more than Butler, though, this is a must-win game if it wants to make a better case for an at-large bid.

Notre Dame-Providence, Full Court, MASN or SNY: This is essentially a bubble elimination game for both teams. Notre Dame has only one conference road win. If it doesn't get this one, its only other shot would be at UConn. Providence needs every win possible with their schedule.

Boston College-Miami, FoxSports Florida and South, CSN, or NESN: Miami has to win out if it hopes to keep a glimmer of hope to make the NCAA. BC has been streaky all season.

1PM ET
Buffalo-Vermont, ESPN2: Buffalo sits atop the MAC while Vermont rules America East. Neither team, though, is making the NCAA without winning its conference tournament.

Tennessee-Kentucky, CBS: Someone has to win the SEC East division. Right?

Baylor-Oklahoma State, Full Court and Big 12 affiliates: Baylor is off the bubble (in a bad way), but Oklahoma State still has a chance. Baylor could put a wrench in that.

2 PM ET
Marquette-Georgetown, ESPN: This is the only remaining game for Marquette against a Big East team that's in the lower-eight portion of the conference standings. Georgetown has to win at home to keep whatever slim hopes remain based on its strong computer numbers.

Louisville-Cincinnati, Full Court, Fox Sports Ohio and Cincinnati, MASN and MSG: Louisville is playing for seed, while Cincy really needs a win against a Big East team that will finish above .500 in the conference.

3PM ET
Northern Iowa-Siena, ESPN2: Siena is one of the few mid-major teams that has an argument to get an at-large bid. Northern Iowa is tied at the top of the Missouri Valley Conference. This is one of the few games that can actually impact the chances for either team.

San Diego State-New Mexico, Versus: Neither team is going to win the Mountain West Conference, but get to know them as either could end up as the rep after the conference tournament takes place.

4 PM ET
Utah State-St. Mary's, ESPN2: The "what if" game. What if Patty Mills was healthy? What if Utah State had not lost last week to Boise State? This would have been the game of Bracket Busters. It is still a big game that both teams probably feel they absolutely need to make their case for an at-large bid. It just had the potential to be bigger.

Wisconsin-Green Bay-Long Beach State, ESPNU: Green Bay just knocked off Butler and is only one game back in the Horizon League. LBS is tied at the top of the Big West. Neither team is going the NCAA Tournament without winning its conference. Still, this should be a good game.

6 PM ET
Boise State-Portland State, ESPNU: Okay, this is a stretch, so maybe it is time to go have some dinner. Still, Boise beat Utah State last week and is third in the WAC. The same place where Portland State resides in the Big Sky. Plus, the Vikings did beat Gonzaga this year.

7 PM ET
Washington-USC, Fox Sports Prime Ticket, Northwest and Arizona: USC still has a chance to make an at-large claim. The Trojans need more big wins as they are only 1-4 against RPI top-25 teams. Washington is trying to rebound after losing to UCLA on Thursday.

8 PM ET
Florida State-Virginia Tech, Sun Sports, Fox Sports South and CSN alternative: Virginia Tech seems to live on the bubble. It has the opportunities with the four of the top five teams in the conference on the schedule. This is at home, so it is almost a must-win game.

9 PM ET
Oklahoma-Texas, ESPN: ESPN's primetime game is a rivalry game and a must-win for the home team. The lack of a true point guard has made life difficult for the Longhorns -- that and inconsistent effort all-around. Still, you know that Texas would love to be the team to end Oklahoma's perfect run through the Big 12.

9:30 PM ET
George Mason-Creighton, ESPNU: Two teams that have made their reputations by shocking people in the NCAA Tournament, and each is at or near the top of its conferences. Creighton really could use this game to give it a chance for an at-large bid.

11 PM ET
BYU-UNLV, CBS Sports Channel: A late-night treat from the Mountain West to end things. UNLV has disappointed, but it is dangerous. BYU is trying to catch Utah for the top of the conference.