Saturday is The Day in college basketball, and this weekend is no exception. Packed wall-to-wall with interesting action, the entire college hoops machine will be going full throttle, and it is a gambler's paradise for noon into the wee hours of the evening.

This Saturday the Big 12 is front-and-center on the college hoops landscape and will deliver the two most important games of the day. Ten-time defending league champion and No. 14-ranked Kansas heads to Austin to take on the preseason Big 12 favorite, No. 18 Texas, at 2 p.m. in a crucial top-tier game. Later No. 20 Oklahoma, coming off a failed comeback at KU on Monday, heads to Waco to take on No. 21 Baylor at 6 p.m. Only in the Big 12 does the eighth-place team show up in the Top 25, and the OU-Baylor game will be a contrast in styles.

Those two games will dot the marquee. However, there are several other under-the-radar games that I'll be monitoring closely as the day progresses. Here is a quick look around the country at some of the other major and mid-major games that will have my attention, with spreads for each game:

Oklahoma State (+2.5) at Kansas State (Noon)

The Big 12 is an absolute bear. These two teams have both had cups of coffee in the Top 25, and K-State is currently just one game back of the conference lead. They had a sweet four-game winning streak snapped Tuesday when they let one slip away at Iowa State. The Cowboys have been a disaster on the road this year, losing all three league road games and dumping four of their last five games outside of Oklahoma. The Cowboys have an experienced backcourt and already took down the Wildcats once this year in Stillwater back on Jan. 3. However, the home team is 14-3 ATS in the last 17 meetings, and I don't know that OSU can hold up on the inside.

Texas A&M (+4) at Tennessee (1 p.m.)

Would you believe me if I told you that the Volunteers were in second place in the SEC, just a single game behind Kentucky? Now they are at home hosting an Aggies team that as 12-5 overall and 3-2 in the league is in a logjam in the middle of the league. The Vols have won eight of their last nine games, and they are 5-1 ATS in their last six. A&M actually pulled the sweep in this series last year. I think that this one is going to be a grinder and a low-scoring game. Good teams win ones they are supposed to. How good are the Vols?

Northeastern (+4) at William & Mary (2 p.m.)

Huge game in the Colonial. Northeastern is the best team in the league and currently in first place. William & Mary is just a game off the pace, and they are undefeated at home this year. These are two experienced teams that feature deft offensive execution. This one will also feature two of the best players in the league, the Tribe's Marcus Thornton and the Huskies' Scott Eatherton. William & Mary pulled the sweep last year, and they are 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings. But the underdog is 8-3 ATS in the last 11 meetings and we'll see how this one pans out.

Akron (+3.5) at Western Michigan (2 p.m.)

The Zips were the preseason favorite to win this league but have really struggled since dismissing top player Demetrius Treadwell. Akron just cannot win on the road. They are 0-4 in true road games, and they took an awful loss at Northern Illinois on Wednesday. Western Michigan is outstanding in Kalamazoo, and this is a rematch of an overtime game in last year's MAC semifinals. Akron needs this game more. But I won't believe that they can win on the road until I see them do it. Also, I could've put the Bowling Green-Toledo in this spot as well since that features the top team in the East (Bowling Green) against the struggling preseason favorite in the West (Toledo). It is basically the reverse of this Akron-WMU game.

Georgetown(+1) at Marquette (2:30 p.m.)

For all the love tossed the Big 12's way this year, the Big East is just as big, just as bad, and just as deep of a conference as any in the nation. Georgetown pulled off a huge blowout upset of Villanova on Monday. But now they are in a killer letdown spot on the road against a Marquette team that's better than its record suggests. Can the Hoyas stay hot? The Golden Eagles have been a cash cow for bettors of late, going 4-1 ATS in their last five games and 7-3 ATS in their last 10. Marquette is 7-2 ATS at home, and the underdog has cashed five of the last seven between these foes.

New Mexico (+5.5) at Wyoming (4 p.m.)

The Lobos scored a huge win over UNLV earlier this week; can they steal another crucial road win? Wyoming has been great at home in recent years, including a 13-1 mark this season. However, they lost an emotional game in Laramie to San Diego State last Wednesday and then needed triple-overtime to hold off Fresno State last Saturday. New Mexico is the defending Mountain West champions and the better-established program in this league. Wyoming is the upstart. Who is going to stake their claim in this conference?

Miami (+3) at Syracuse (4 p.m.)

On paper this looks like another solid Syracuse team. They are 14-5 overall and have won eight of their past nine. But Miami represents the best team they have faced in over a month, and the Orange have been winning with smoke and mirrors. Miami is just 5-5 in its last 10, but they won at Cameron Indoor, they nearly won at Notre Dame, and they took Virginia to the wall before falling in double-overtime. These two teams are at a crossroads, and someone is going to come out with some solid momentum after this one is done.

Robert Ferringo is a member of the Basketball Writer's Association of America and a professional sports handicapper for Doc's Sports. He is considered one of the best college basketball handicappers in the country and has an unmatched streak of six straight winning college basketball seasons. His $100-per-Unit clients banked $10,890 in profit with his sides and totals last year alone. There is no better moneymaker in the nation and Robert is looking forward to another amazing season. You can sign up for his college basketball picks and get more information here.

Read more articles by Robert Ferringo