College GameDay: Picks for Saturday's Conference Tournament games

ESPN College GameDay preluded a loaded slate of conference tournament games on Saturday. Featuring multiple showdowns with huge implications, Rece Dave, Jay Bilas, Seth Greenberg and LaPhonso Ellis gave their insight on Saturday’s biggest games.

First, action-packed Day 3 in the SEC Tournament saw top-seeded Auburn fall to Texas A&M. Now, we are just one day away from the championship game. The other top three seeds all advanced, and you can see the full results from Day 3 here. The Aggies and Arkansas Razorbacks will get the day started at 1 p.m. before Kentucky and Tennessee tip things off shortly after to close the afternoon.

Next, Day 4 of the 2022 Big Ten Tournament is setting up to be a huge set of semifinal games.

Friday saw three of the top four teams go down, including the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. This is the first time in Big Ten Conference tourney history that both the one and two seeds have failed to make the semifinals. What’s at stake for the remaining teams? Well, obviously a spot in the Big Ten Conference championship game on Sunday, but also a chance to increase their seeding for the Big Dance. No. 9 Indiana takes on No. 5 Iowa, while No. 3 Purdue faces No. 7 Michigan State.

Finally, the Pac-12, ACC and Big 12 are preparing for their tournament finals. In the Pac-12 Tournament, No. 1 Arizona faces No. 2 UCLA. As for the ACC Tournament, No.1 Duke and No. 7 Virginia Tech square-off with everything on the line. In the Big 12 Tournament, No. 1 Kansas is up against No. 3 Texas Tech.

As you can see, a bevy of tremendous games are on-tap for Saturday. Here’s who College GameDay has in Saturday’s showdowns.

College GameDay: Picks for Saturday’s Conference Tournament games

ACC Tournament Final — Virginia Tech vs. Duke: “I have Virginia Tech,” stated Ellis. “Virginia Tech’s played one more game, but they won’t give into the fatigue.”

“I just think Duke right now — Coach K’s Senior Night didn’t go the way it was supposed to go. Tonight, he wants to hang a banner. Those players want to hang a banner for him. So when they go back to Cameron, they’re going to see part of their legacy hanging up in that rafters,” stated Greenberg.

As you can see, Ellis and Greenberg are on opposite ends. Bilas isn’t picking the game, as he’s on the call.

Big 12 Tournament Final — Texas Tech vs. Kansas: “I like Kansas to win the game,” stated Bilas. However, Greenberg and Ellis are riding with the Red Raiders.

Pac-12 Tournament Final — UCLA vs. Arizona: “UCLA is healthy. When they’re healthy, they’re a Final Four, National Championship team,” stated Greenberg. Everyone is riding with the Bruins.

Big East Tournament Final — Creighton vs. Villanova: “I’ve got Villanova. I think Brandon Slater is one of the most underrated players in the country. Villanova has multiple guys that can back you down and make plays. They can move the ball, and their spacing is fantastic,” stated Bilas. Both Greenberg and Ellis agree with their colleague.

CGD Crew Picks:

Jay Bilas: Kansas, UCLA, Villanova

LaPhonso Ellis: Virginia Tech, Texas Tech, UCLA, Villanova

Seth Greenberg: Duke, Texas Tech, UCLA, Villanova