Breaking down this year's expanded BracketBusters

	Bucknell's Chris McNaughton shocked Kansas with this shot in NCAA Tournament last season, but he'll be tested by talented NIU. AP

Couch potatoes and sports fanatics, get ready. Order your wings, lots of them. Load up on your beverages. Stretch thoroughly and hunker down. You're not going anywhere for the next 48 hours.

This weekend is the fourth annual BracketBusters, and ESPN has expanded the pool to 100 teams from 18 conferences. Thirteen games will be televised on four ESPN networks.

The idea for BracketBusters started in 2003. There were nine games, pitting 18 teams from the Missouri Valley, Western Athletic, Mid-American and Horizon League against each other. BracketBusters offered two key incentives. First, it gave small programs a rare opportunity to be on national television. Second, depending on the matchup, it was a chance for teams to improve postseason seedings through a higher RPI.

As for the fans, the loyal ones from small schools would bask in the spotlight, if only for one weekend, while college hoops diehards would have a shot at finding the next Cinderella team.

BracketBusters has been helpful in many cases, especially in the Missouri Valley. Over the past three seasons the league has a 26-11 overall record in games scheduled in this event and a 9-3 record in games actually making the television series.

But is it too large? Some think so.

The expanded format has caused a backlash. The pairings for BracketBusters are announced just two weeks before the games are played -- the idea being that the top mid-majors will be competing. Having unexpected travel plans on the schedule can be frustrating. Also, now that there are so many low-major teams included, it's more likely a team will not boost its RPI. Finally, the overwhelming television schedule is enough to make even the most devoted fans become dizzy.

So is it worth it? Creighton coach Dana Altman sees both sides. "I have mixed emotions on it," he says. "I liked it a bit earlier when they had fewer teams. The original thought was eight teams and have four games. Now it's progressed to 100 teams and it's a wide-open deal. I am not sure where it is headed. For the most part, it's good. It gives a lot of attention to smaller programs. We get a number of games on TV. I am concerned it is way too large."

For now, let's focus on the positive. Here are five games to watch on Saturday:

1. No. 24 Bucknell (21-3 overall, 12-0 Patriot League) at Northern Iowa (21-6, 11-5 MVC), 12 p.m. ET, ESPN2

This showdown is the centerpiece of the weekend. Both teams made noise at last year's NCAA tournament -- Bucknell sent Kansas home shocked after Chris McNaughton sank a jump hook in the paint with 10.5 seconds remaining, and Northern Iowa nearly upset Wisconsin, losing 57-52. Each team has all five of its starters back and has cracked the top 25 rankings this season for the first time ever. Both have already proven themselves to be tough contenders going into March: The Bison took down Syracuse (at the Carrier Dome), DePaul (at Allstate Arena) and St. Joe's; the Panthers upset Iowa and LSU (in Baton Rouge).