It’s February, so college basketball teams are nearing the home stretch of conference play.  Here are my picks for some of this weekend’s games involving ESPN/USA Today Top 25 teams.

#1 Kentucky at Vanderbilt— On Saturday night, college hoops fans will cast their glances on Nashville, where the host Commodores will try to knock off the best team in the country with ESPN’s College Gameday in the house.  Vanderbilt’s stellar perimeter duo of John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor will give Kentucky problems, but the Wildcats should be able to expose the Commodores’ lack of an elite point guard.  Pick: Kentucky

#12 Michigan State at #3 Ohio State— A classic physical Big Ten match-up between the Buckeyes and Spartans should be entertaining, but Michigan State doesn’t have enough help for Draymond Green.  Pick: Ohio State

#6 Baylor at #4 Missouri— The last time that these two teams met was in Waco, where the Tigers emerged with a one-point victory.  Baylor will be hungry for revenge, but the uber-talented Bears simply cannot seem to beat elite competition.  Pick: Missouri

#20 Virginia at #5 North Carolina— If the Tar Heels had beaten Duke on Wednesday, I might be inclined to pick Virginia here.  However, they didn’t beat the Blue Devils, so Carolina is no longer ripe for a let-down performance.  The Cavaliers, a defense-oriented squad, couldn’t be more different than the offensive juggernaut Tar Heels.  Offense wins in this one.  Pick: North Carolina

Wichita State at #15 Creighton— Bluejays star Doug McDermott is having an incredible season, shooting almost 62% from the floor and 50% from three-point range and averaging 23 points per game.  Creighton has lost its last two games while the Shockers have won 11 of their past 12 games with the one loss coming in triple-overtime to Drake.  Wichita State lost at home to the Bluejays earlier this season, but the Shockers will win this time at Creighton in a shootout.  Pick: Wichita State.