February 16, 2021 Picks:

College Basketball:

#20 Missouri (-3.5) at Georgia - Missouri comes into this game after two consecutive losses, and dropped from #10 to #20 in the rankings. Georgia has also lost two in a row, so this is a big game for both teams in terms of gaining confidence heading into the latter half of SEC play. We like Missouri to get back in the win column and cover the spread. Pick: Missouri 76 Georgia 70

Florida at #24 Arkansas (-4) - Arkansas has won three games in a row to climb into the rankings for the first time this season. They are tied for second place in the SEC, with Florida nipping at their heels behind them. The Razorbacks have won five straight conference games. They will make it six today. Pick: Arkansas 81 Florida 73

Northwestern at #5 Illinois (-12.5) - These two teams are trending in opposite directions. Illinois has won five straight games, while Northwestern has dropped 11 in a row. This is the second meeting between these two teams, with the Illini getting the 81-56 win last month. We expect that Illinois will once again win big. Pick: Illinois 79 Northwestern 62

NBA:

Denver at Boston (-2.5) - Boston has lost two straight games to teams towards the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and now squares off against a Nuggets team that has won two in a row. With the way the Celtics are playing right now they shouldn’t be favored in this game. Give us the Nuggets. Pick: Denver 117 Boston 112

New Orleans at Memphis (Even) - It is Zion Williamson vs Ja Morant round two. Round one went to Williamson and the Pelicans, as they defeated the Grizzlies 118-109 earlier this month. New Orleans has looked terrible their last three games, especially on the defensive end. Give us Memphis to even up the season series at one apiece. Pick: Memphis 122 New Orleans 116

Toronto at Milwaukee (-5.5) - Both of these teams come into this game on losing streaks. The Raptors have dropped their last two games, while the Bucks have dropped three in a row. Milwaukee won the first matchup between these two teams 115-108. We think something similar will happen today. Pick: Milwaukee 119 Toronto 110

Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5) at Minnesota - In one corner you have the Lakers, winners of seven of their last eight but missing Anthony Davis. In the other corner you have the Timberwolves, who got Karl-Anthony Towns back and won their last game but lost their previous four. The Timberwolves are actually better against the spread than the Lakers this season. That is why we expect a close game here. Pick: Los Angeles Lakers 122 Minnesota 119

Portland (-6) at Oklahoma City - This is the second meeting this season between the Blazers and Thunder. The first one was a 125-122 victory for Oklahoma City. Damian Lillard will not let the Blazers lose to the Thunder a second time this season. Expect a big game from Lillard and a Blazers win. Pick: Portland 120 Oklahoma City 109

Brooklyn at Phoenix (-4.5) - Phoenix is 9-1 in its last ten games, and now faces a Brooklyn team missing Kevin Durant and coming off a game last night. We like the Suns to continue to roll as they try and keep pace with the top half of the Western Conference. Pick: Phoenix 124 Brooklyn 116

Happy picking everyone!