Since August, Saturdays have been largely taken over by football, but with the college football season ending and the NFL conference title game scheduled for Sunday, this Saturday shifts its focus entirely to basketball.
The NBA features seven games starting at noon ET and concluding with the final matchup at 9:30 p.m. ET. This Saturday also marks the conclusion of the NBA’s Rivalry Week Series, spotlighting three games, including the New York Knicks versus the Philadelphia 76ers and the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Dallas Mavericks.
On the college basketball front, there are three highly anticipated top-ranked clashes. No. 22 North Carolina State will compete against No. 14 Virginia, No. 12 Texas Tech goes head-to-head with No. 6 Houston, and No. 11 Illinois takes on No. 4 Purdue.
While basketball is the highlight this Saturday, the NHL will also host nine games for hockey fans.
Here’s a quick preview of the key games to watch and bet on for Saturday, January 24th.
NBA Top Pick – New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Time: 3 p.m. ET | Location: Philadelphia | TV: ABC | Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
Prediction: SportsLine’s model favors the Knicks moneyline, projecting them to win 63% of simulations, earning a strong “A” rating.
The Eastern Conference is led by the Detroit Pistons, but both the Knicks (26-18) and 76ers (24-19) are aiming to climb the ranks. New York has hit a rough patch, losing seven of their last ten games, while Philadelphia maintains a .500 pace over the same span. Notably, the 76ers have won the first two matchups this season. Road performance is crucial — the Knicks are 8-12 away, but the 76ers actually perform better on the road (12-7) than at home (12-12), making Saturday’s game a must-win for Philly.
College Basketball Highlight – Houston Cougars vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Time: 2 p.m. ET | Location: Lubbock | TV: ESPN | Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
Prediction: SportsLine’s model gives a slight edge to Texas Tech on the moneyline.
Houston (17-1) has been dominant in Big 12 play, holding a 5-0 record, with their only setback coming against Tennessee. Texas Tech (15-4), also a top-tier team, is undefeated at home and riding a four-game winning streak. Despite Houston’s strong form, Texas Tech is favored to win in 45% of the simulations.
College Basketball Spotlight – Illinois vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Time: 3 p.m. ET | Location: West Lafayette, Indiana | TV: ABC | Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
Prediction: SportsLine picks Purdue to cover -4 points with a moneyline win, also backed by expert Matt Severance.
Both teams boast just a single conference loss, with Purdue ranked No. 4 nationally. The Boilermakers seek redemption after a recent comeback loss to UCLA. Illinois is on an eight-game winning streak and is tournament-bound. The prediction model favors Purdue, which covers the spread nearly 70% of the time.
Looking Ahead: NFL Conference Championship Games
While the focus is largely on basketball this Saturday, the NFL playoffs continue with two key conference titles on Sunday.
New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos
Time: 3:30 p.m. | Location: Denver | TV: CBS | Streaming: Paramount+
The Broncos will rely on backup QB Jarrett Stidham after Bo Nix’s injury, facing a tough Patriots defense. The model favors Denver for the moneyline in nearly half the simulations, though an expert predicts the game’s total points to stay under 42.5.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks
Time: 6:30 p.m. | Location: Seattle | TV: Fox | Streaming: Fubo (free trial)
This will be the third meeting of the season between these NFC West rivals, with close results each time. The SportsLine model leans toward a Seahawks win, but expert Eric Cohen expects the Rams to pull off an upset, citing quarterback Matthew Stafford’s strong recent performances compared to Sam Darnold’s struggles and injury.
Fan Take:
This Saturday’s basketball action is a must-watch for fans eager to see intense rivalries and high-stakes matchups, from the NBA’s Rivalry Week finales to ranked college showdowns that could reshape postseason expectations. How these teams perform may not only influence playoff trajectories but also signal shifts in basketball power dynamics this season.
