Wisconsin-Purdue among 7 things to watch on loaded weekend of Top 25 college hoops

It's already a really, really good college basketball season and while this weekend isn't stuffed with great games, there's a lot to look forward to.

As you settle in to watch some NFL playoffs and get ready for the national title game in football, know that we've got you covered for college hoops.

Here's your guide for what to look into on Saturday and Sunday (all times ET).

1. Game of the weekend: Wisconsin-Purdue

The Boilermakers play host to the Badgers in a big-time Big Ten affair. The Boilers (13-3, 2-1) won Thursday night at Ohio State, marking the first time in seven years they accomplished that feat. It sets up a game between the two teams considered to be the favorites to win the Big Ten. (I haven't forgotten about you, Michigan State.)

Wisconsin last won at Purdue in 2014. The Badgers (13-2, 2-0) are coming off a road win at Indiana. Beating Purdue on the road would cement them as the league favorite. Ethan Happ vs. Caleb Swanigan (you've gotta read this on Swanigan and the huge numbers he's putting up) could be a really interesting matchup. (Sunday, 4:30 p.m. on CBS and free live streaming on CBSSports.com)

2. Undefeated watch

We're now down to two teams. Gonzaga and Baylor. The No. 2 Bears (14-0, 2-0 Big 12) will move up to No. 1 come Monday if they manage to hold off Oklahoma State (10-4, 0-2).If you're curious, Baylor's best start in school history came in 2011-12, when the Bears began 17-0. (Saturday, 7 p.m. on ESPN2)

No. 5 Gonzaga (15-0, 3-0 WCC) will try to move to 16-0 with a road game against Portland (9-6, 2-1). The Zags improved to 15-0 with a road win vs. San Francisco on Thursday night. (Saturday, 10 p.m.)

3. Winning streaks on the line

There are nine teams in America who have won nine or more games in a row. Here's who they are, how many consecutive games they have won and who they play this weekend, and when.

• No. 5 Gonzaga: 15 (at Portland, Saturday, 10 p.m.)
• No. 2 Baylor: 14 (vs. Oklahoma State, Saturday, 7 p.m. on ESPN2)
• No. 3 Kansas: 13 (vs. Texas Tech, Saturday, 7:15 p.m. on ESPN2)
• New Mexico State: 12 (at Chicago State, Saturday, 3 p.m.)
• No. 15 Oregon: 12 (at Washington State, Saturday, 7 p.m. on Pac-12 Network)
• UT-Arlington: 11 (at Texas State, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.)
• No. 12 Florida State: 10 (vs. Virginia Tech, Saturday 2 p.m.)
• SMU: 9 (vs. South Florida, Saturday, 5 p.m. on ESPNews)
• No. 13 Wisconsin: 9 (at No. 20 Purdue, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. on CBS and free live streaming on CBSSports.com)

So of those nine teams, if I set the over/under on 2.5 losing this weekend, you dare take the under?

My guesses as to who takes losses this weekend: Wisconsin and Florida State (got a weird feeling). All others keep winning.

4. Dennis Smith watch

The NC State freshman just had a sizzling triple-double on Wednesday night. If he goes off at UNC on Saturday, he'll be a lock for national player of the week awards, and he'll have a firm case as a top-five, if not top-four, freshman season so far. It's the No. 2 game of the weekend, in my eyes, behind Wisconsin vs. Purdue.

No. 14 UNC (13-3, 1-1 ACC) barely got a win at Clemson. Now it can try to play big brother to NC State (12-3, 1-1). This one is fascinating to me. Smith vs. Joel Berry could be realllllll good. And the teams have some nice, dynamic frontcourt matchups. If anything, this game isn't getting enough hype heading. (Saturday, 8 p.m. on ESPN)

Here's some Dennis Smith for ya:

5. Kansas goes for 2,200 all-time wins

Only one other program -- take a guess; yep, Kentucky -- has won 2,200 games. If Kansas beats Texas Teach inside Phog Allen on Saturday (likely), then the Jayhawks will join the club.

Here are the top five teams in all-time victories and their losses, too:

1. Kentucky: 2,217-684

2. Kansas: 2,199-837

3. North Carolina: 2,190-777

4. Duke: 2,100-866

5. Syracuse: 1,952-871

6. Big A-10 game on Friday night

The Atlantic 10 is having its worst season in a half-decade, if not longer. But Dayton and Rhode Island have the coaching and the talent to be second-weekend NCAA Tournament teams. If Rhode Island -- the preseason favorite at CBS Sports -- can steal this, then the league will be the Rams' to lose. We get the revenge game in Kingston on Feb. 10.

Dayton is 53-15 in the league since Feb. 1, 2014. Charles Cooke and Kyle Davis will go up against E.C. Mattthews and Hassan Martin. Should be a really good one, I think. Dayton's lost three games this season by a total of nine points. URI 2-0 in A-10 play and 10-4 overall, its only road win coming against middling Saint Louis. Dayton has one of the best defenses in the league, and URI has the best offense. So let's do this. (Friday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2)

Another interesting Friday night game: Oakland-Valpo. That could wind up being one of the biggest games of the season that league too. Valpo is the favorite but Oakland is capable. This is under the radar but an important mid-major tilt. (Friday, 9 p.m. on ESPN2)

7. Four games with big conference considerations

It's sometimes hard to see how early January games should carry a lot of meaning, but we'll wrap it up with this. These four tilts could wind up being huge for teams' NCAA Tournament resumes.

No. 22 Cincinnati at Houston: The Cougars need to prove themselves as a legit at-large team. Cincinnati is the class of the AAC so far. It would be better for the conference if Houston won this game. The Cougars are 12-3 but their only win over a team reasonably projected to make the NCAAs is Rhode Island. (Saturday, 9 p.m. on ESPNU)

Michigan State vs. Penn State: It means something for MSU, which is playing this game at the Palestra in Philadelphia (that's really cool), and will need to win in order to keep pace in the Big Ten. A loss here, and it will probably be seen by most as a Wisconsin-or-Purdue league. (Saturday, 1 p.m. on ESPN)

Maryland at Michigan: I'm not sure what to make of either of these teams. Maryland is 13-2 but just lost at home to Nebraska. But, Melo Trimble will be the best player on the floor. Michigan is 11-4 but doesn't play reliable defense. Michigan is expected to win, but Maryland would do wonders for its numbers and reputation if it can steal this one. (Saturday, 3:15 p.m. on ESPN2)

California at No. 25 USC: After Cal got handled at UCLA on Thursday night, the Golden Bears will need a win here to keep themselves alive in the Pac-12 race and to have any sort of hope to building an at-large case. For USC, a win here means staying at the top of the Pac-12 and continuing to legitimize itself as a top-20 team in America. Late tip on Sunday, but an important one out West. (Sunday, 10 p.m. on ESPNU)