Bracketology 2020: Georgia/Kentucky, Baylor/Florida among key matchups

TEMPE, ARIZONA - DECEMBER 14: Anthony Edwards #5 of the Georgia Bulldogs handles the ball against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the first half of the NCAAB game at Desert Financial Arena on December 14, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Bulldogs 79-59. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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EAST LANSING, MI – JANUARY 17: Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

2. Michigan State (14-4, 6-1) at Indiana (14-4, 4-3) – Thursday, Jan 23

NET rankings: Michigan State (8), Indiana (49)

Despite having 15 total losses and an 8-12 conference record a year ago, Indiana nearly made the NCAA Tournament thanks to a pair of massive wins over Michigan State. They look to do the same this time around, improving on a solid resume that can still use some help. The Hoosiers don’t have any bad losses and a big win over Florida State. Still, the metrics don’t love Indiana and with the entire rest of the schedule against teams in the NCAA Tournament picture, they’ll need to take care of the home games.

The Spartans are perfectly fine, standing on top of the Big Ten with a current top-10 NET ranking. The Big Ten is good enough up and down that the top team (likely Michigan State) can make a great case for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But the Spartans will have to steal some home games just like this and go on a run in a pretty winnable stretch of games the rest of this month.

1. Georgia (11-6, 1-3) at Kentucky (13-4, 4-1) – Tuesday, Jan 21

NET rankings: Georgia (73), Kentucky (27)

Having lost three of the last four including a 32-point drubbing against Mississippi State, Georgia is in danger of falling out of the bubble. Their best wins to date are Memphis and SMU and both teams have recently suffered defeats of their own. Up next is a must-win matchup on the road at Kentucky, who also has a big game this week of their own at Texas Tech on Saturday.

The Wildcats are safely in the field but their numbers suggest that they’ll be closer to a 6-7 seed than in the top-4. It’ll be hard to change that unless they can avoid any more bad losses, such as at home against the Bulldogs.

Next. Biggest Bracketology Winners of last week. dark

The schedule does Georgia absolutely no favors the rest of the way. They’re not participating in the Big 12/SEC Challenge and only face Kentucky once (as well as LSU) this season. So while the game is in Lexington and in front of Big Blue Nation, this is a game that the Bulldogs have to get. If not, it’s very hard to see a viable path for Anthony Edwards and company to make an at-large case.

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