Many believe the Big Ten is rather down this season outside of Wisconsin, yet the conference could lead the nation potentially with eight bids to the NCAA Tournament. Part of that number might depend on what happens in Sunday's matchup between bubble teams Michigan State and Illinois. The Illini are 12-1 at home, their best start there under Coach John Groce. Illinois is attempting a home-and-home sweep of the Spartans for the first time since 2006. Here's a look at that game and two others that caught my eye on Sunday.

No. 9 Utah at Oregon (+6)

This Pac-12 game tips at 3 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 1. It's a big one for the Ducks as they are currently among ESPN Bracketology's "First Four Out." They would no doubt move up a category with an upset of the Utes, who still have a shot at the Pac-12 regular-season title as well as a No. 2 seed in the Big Dance. They are currently projected as a No. 3 in the South.

Oregon (19-8, 9-5) better win this game because it closes with three straight tough ones on the road: California, Stanford and rival Oregon State. The Ducks have won five of six and come off a 73-60 home win over Colorado on Wednesday in what could have been a look-ahead game. The Ducks shot nearly 60 percent in taking a 39-22 halftime lead and Colorado never got closer than five in the second half. Oregon's Joseph Young, the Pac-12's leading scorer, led the way with 23 points. Young, a transfer from Houston, is one of six active players to have scored 2,000 career points, joining Tyler Haws (Brigham Young), Antoine Mason (Auburn), Chasson Randle (Stanford), D'Angelo Harrison (St. John's) and Johnny Dee (San Diego). Utah (21-4, 11-2) could find itself in sole possession of first in the Pac-12 when it takes the court if Arizona is upset at home by UCLA on Saturday. The Utes have won five straight, each by at least 10 points. One of the nation's stingiest defenses allowed just 37 at Oregon State on Thursday in a 10-point win. Utah hasn't allowed more than 72 points in a game yet.

This is the only scheduled meeting. Oregon won in Salt Lake City last year 70-68 in overtime on a breakaway dunk with one second left. That Ducks team is better than this one and this Utah team is much better than last year's.

Key trends: Utah is 10-1 ATS in its past 11 after allowing less than 50 points in its previous game. The Utes have covered seven of their past 10 on the road. Oregon is 5-1 ATS in its past 6 at home vs. teams with a winning road record. The Ducks are 2-8 ATS in their past 10 against teams with a winning record. The favorite has covered five of the past eight meetings.

Why take the underdog: A win here probably gets the Ducks into the Dance. I think they pull the upset.

Florida State at No. 2 Virginia (-15.5)

It's a 6:30 p.m. start for this ACC matchup on ESPNU. FSU is likely headed to the NIT, while it's hard to see how Virginia doesn't get a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance barring a collapse. Currently the Cavs are projected as the East No. 1 and the No. 2 overall seed behind Kentucky.

FSU (15-12, 7-7) is on its second two-game ACC winning streak of the season, beating lightweights Georgia Tech and Boston College. The Eagles' Olivier Hanlan lit up the Noles for 32 points on Wednesday but got little help as FSU prevailed 69-60. BC led by five at the half but Hanlan had only nine points in the second half on 2-for-7 from the field. Devin Bookert led Florida State with 18 points, and led by his four 3-pointers the Seminoles shot 66.7 percent (8-for-12) from beyond the arc. FSU has shot a combined 27 of 56 (48.2 percent) from 3-point range over its last four games. The only loss in that stretch was a close one at home to Duke. Virginia (24-1, 12-1) has won five straight since a home loss to Duke. The Cavs beat visiting Pittsburgh 61-49 on Monday. It was a season-low points for Pitt, the 11th team this season that Virginia has held to a season low in scoring. UVa ranks first nationally in scoring defense at 50.8 points per game, which is the third-lowest average in the shot clock era (since 1986). The 24-1 start matches the best in school history.

Last season, UVa defeated Florida State 62-50 in Tallahassee, 78-66 in Charlottesville and 64-51 at the ACC Tournament in Greensboro.

Key trends: FSU has covered four straight on the road. It is 4-1 ATS in its past five vs. teams with a winning record. Virginia is 2-5 ATS in its past seven. The home team has covered four of the past five meetings.

Why take the favorite: FSU may not reach 50 points.

Michigan State at Illinois (+1.5)

The Big Ten Network shows this game at 7:30 p.m. The Spartans have gotten themselves off the bubble with strong play of late, as they are a No. 8 seed in the Midwest, but a couple of losses in a row gets them right back on it. Illinois is currently among the "Last Four Byes" and a No. 11 seed in the South.

Illinois (17-9, 7-6) had the Big Ten's bye this week and had four-game winning streak soundly snapped last Saturday in a 68-49 loss at Wisconsin. The Illini had held all four opponents during the winning to under 60 points and 40 percent shooting; the Badgers hit on 50.9 percent of their shots. In six of its seven Big Ten wins this year, and each of the last five, Illinois has allowed 58 points or fewer. Michigan State (18-8, 9-4) is tied for second in the loss column in the Big Ten and obviously getting the No. 2 seed would be nice because that way you avoid Wisconsin until the Big Ten title game if both get there. The Spartans won their third straight and fifth in past six games with an 80-67 victory at Michigan on Tuesday. Branden Dawson dominated with 23 points, a season high, and 13 rebounds, and MSU shot 62 percent to complete the season sweep. Michigan State was 21-for-26 on shots in the paint, with four dunks. Sparty also turned the ball over just eight times, its second-lowest total in Big Ten play.

Illinois upset Michigan State 59-54 in East Lansing on Feb. 7 when leading scorer Rayvonte Rice was still suspended (back now). Malcolm Hill led the Illini with 19 points. Spartans second-leading scorer Travis Rice was just 2-for-10 for six points. In addition, the Spartans were only 7-for-18 from the free-throw line. They are one of the worst in the nation from the charity stripe.

Key trends: The Spartans are 5-2 ATS in their past seven road games. They are 2-6 ATS in their past eight vs. clubs with a winning record. Illinois has covered five of its past seven at home. MSU has covered only one of the past nine meetings.

Why take the favorite: Illini tough at home.

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