February 12, 2021 Picks:

College Basketball:

#6 Illinois (-14.5) at Nebraska - The Cornhuskers are still looking for their first win in Big Ten play. It won’t come today. The only question is whether Illinois will cover the 14.5 point spread. We think they will. The Fighting Illini are playing their best basketball of the season, and that will continue today against an outmatched Nebraska team. Pick: Illinois 84 Nebraska 66

NBA:

Minnesota at Charlotte (-3.5) - The Timberwolves have dropped three straight games and are just 2-11 on the road this season. Karl Anthony-Towns is back for Minnesota, but we don’t think that will matter much in this game. Towns will get his points, but the Hornets will cover the spread. Pick: Charlotte 116 Minnesota 108

New York (-2.5) at Washington - Both of these teams come into this game struggling, as the Knicks and Wizards are both 3-7 in their last 10 games. This is a fascinating matchup between a New York team that allows only 104 points a game going up against Washington and their league worst defense, as they allow 121 points per game. We like the Knicks to get the win here, especially since it sounds like Bradley Beal won’t be playing in this game for Washington. Pick: New York 108 Washington 97

San Antonio at Atlanta (-2) - In terms of averages, the Hawks and Spurs are evenly matched. This is going to be a close game, so the question is who will be able to make big shots down the stretch. We like Trae Young and the Hawks to pull away in the last few minutes and earn a win in the four to seven point range. Pick: Atlanta 115 San Antonio 110

New Orleans at Dallas (-3) - Dallas has won three games in a row to get back in the playoff picture, and now face a Pelicans team that is still trying to find its rhythm. New Orleans has showed flashes of the type of team they can be this season, but those have been few and far between. We like Luca and the Mavericks to get their fourth win in a row. Pick: Dallas 121 New Orleans 113

Los Angeles Clippers (-6.5) at Chicago - These two teams square off for the second time this season. The first meeting was won by the Clippers 130-127, when Zach LaVine had 45 points in the loss for the Bulls. LaVine has been on fire as of late, and has led the Bulls in wins in two of their last three games. We don’t think it will be enough to beat the Clippers, but we do think it will be enough to keep the game close. Pick: Los Angeles Clippers 117 Chicago 113

Detroit at Boston (-8) - Both of these teams are playing the second night of back to back games. Since that is the case, the depth of both teams will be tested. Boston has more depth than Detroit, so this game will be a double digit win for the Celtics. Pick: Boston 119 Detroit 106

Oklahoma City at Denver (-12) - The Thunder are coming off back to back overtime losses to the Lakers, and now face a Nuggets team coming off a 38 point win in their last game. We like the Thunder to keep this game close, but the Nuggets to get the win. Pick: Denver 114 Oklahoma City 109

Milwaukee at Utah (-2.5) - This is the first time we can remember that the Bucks are underdogs. That is what happens when you play a team as hot as the Jazz are right now. Utah has already beat Milwaukee once this season, a 131-118 game that saw Donovan Mitchell go off for 32 points. We can’t pick against the Jazz with the way they are playing right now. Pick: Utah 127 Milwaukee 121

Memphis at Los Angeles Lakers (-7) - The Lakers are coming off three straight overtime wins, and now face a Grizzlies team looking for a statement win. The Lakers have won six games in a row, and will make it seven tonight. The young Grizzlies will keep the game close, but it will be the veteran leadership of the Lakers that will lead them to victory. Pick: Los Angeles Lakers 112 Memphis 107

Cleveland at Portland (-3.5) - The Cavaliers come into this game having lost five games in a row, and the main reason why is their inability to stop anyone. The lowest an opponent has scored in those five games was the 119 points the Suns scored earlier this week. We think that trend will continue and Portland will win both games in their back to back. Pick: Portland 123 Cleveland 116

Orlando at Sacramento (-8.5) - On one hand we don’t think the Kings should be favored this much over anyone. On the other hand the Magic are missing four key players and are playing the second night of back to back games. For the first time this season, we predict that Sacramento will win a game by double digits. Pick: Sacramento 117 Orlando 104

Happy picking everyone!