February 27, 2021 Picks:
College Basketball:
#3 Michigan (-7.5) at Indiana - Michigan has won seven straight games over Indiana, and looks to make it eight as they on the road to face the Hoosiers. The average margin of victory in those seven games has been 17 points. We don’t think it will be 17 today, but it will be over eight. Pick: Michigan 86 Indiana 75
#14 Texas at #18 Texas Tech (-3.5) - Texas Tech is one of the worst ranked teams against the spread this season. The Red Raiders have dropped three straight games, while Texas got an overtime win its last game against Kansas. Give us the Longhorns to not only cover, but win outright. Pick: Texas 72 Texas Tech 68
#25 Tennessee (-7.5) at Auburn - Auburn has won five straight games against Tennessee, but this is the first matchup this year between Bruce Pearl and his former team. We think that streak will end today, but it won’t be eight points. Give us the Tigers to cover. Pick: Tennessee 74 Auburn 69
#5 Illinois at #23 Wisconsin (-5) - This line looked to us like the wrong team is favored. Illinois bounced back from a loss earlier this week to Michigan State by beating Nebraska on Thursday, but this is a much tougher test. With that being said, we like Illinois to go into Madison and get the win. Pick: Illinois 73 Wisconsin 67
LSU at #20 Arkansas (-5) - This is matchup between two high powered offenses in the SEC, as both LSU at Arkansas come into this game averaging over 82 points a game. This game will have a lot of fireworks, but in the end it will be the Razorbacks earning their sixth win in a row. Pick: Arkansas 85 LSU 78
Oklahoma State at #7 Oklahoma (-5) - This is the first of two consecutive matchups between the Cowboys and the Sooners, as they square off in Norman today. Oklahoma State has won three games in a row, including an impressive win over Texas Tech in its last game. Oklahoma is coming off an inexplicable loss to Kansas State in its last game. We like Oklahoma to bounce back and get the win in Bedlam. Pick: Oklahoma 79 Oklahoma State 71
Kansas State at #10 West Virginia (-15) - Kansas State has won two games in a row since losing eleven in a row, and Tuesdays win over Oklahoma was a huge confidence boost for Bruce Weber’s team. West Virginia is coming off back to back wins themselves, and will make it three in a row today. It will be by less than 15 points however. Pick: West Virginia 75 Kansas State 64
#11 Florida State (-2.5) at North Carolina - This is a rematch of a game played last month, which Florida State won by 7 points. Florida State plays a lot better at home than they do on the road, but they have won two straight road contests. North Carolina is coming off a non-conference loss to Marquette in its last game. Give us the Seminoles to cover the spread here. Pick: Florida State 80 North Carolina 72
Wake Forest at #16 Virginia Tech (-10.5) - Virginia Tech comes into this game having won five in a row against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have lost four straight games over all, including its last game where it scored only 39 points. Wake Forest has struggled to score the basketball during their losing streak, and Virginia Tech does have a good defense. We like Virginia Tech by double digits. Pick: Virginia Tech 73 Wake Forest 59
Boise State at #22 San Diego State (-6) - Do we dare pick against San Diego State for the fourth straight game? We are 0-3 in Aztec games the last two weeks, and we have picked them to not cover the spread each time. Boise State took San Diego State to overtime on Thursday before losing by 12. That game was close in regulation. We think this one will be as well. Pick: San Diego State 76 Boise State 73
#13 Creighton (-4.5) at Xavier - Creighton has won four straight games, and looks to keep pace with Villanova in the Big East. With a win today the Blue Jays will be tied with the Wildcats atop the conference. This is the second matchup between these two teams, with Creighton earning a five point win in their first matchup. They will win by more than that today. Pick: Creighton 81 Xavier 73
#6 Alabama (-6) at Mississippi St - Alabama looks to stay atop the SEC, while Mississippi St looks to get some revenge after a loss to the Crimson Tide earlier this season. This is a matchup between one of the better offenses in the conference (Alabama) against one of the better defenses in the conference (Mississippi St) so it is a matter of which team will impose their will on the other. We like the Crimson Tide. Pick: Alabama 82 Mississippi St 71
So Illinois at #19 Loyola Chicago (-19) - These two teams played last night and the line was the exact same. We picked the Salukis to cover, and got it right as Loyola won 60-52. We are doing the same thing today. Loyola Chicago will win, but So Illinois will cover. Pick: Loyola Chicago 69 So Illinois 58
#2 Baylor (-3.5) at #17 Kansas - Baylor came back from its three week hiatus earlier this week, and was definitely rusty in doing so. They trailed Iowa State by 17, eventually coming back to win by seven. Kansas is a much tougher test, but now that Baylor has a game under its belt they shouldn’t be as rusty. Give us Baylor to cover the spread. Pick: Baylor 76 Kansas 68
#19 USC (-4.5) at Utah - Utah has lost four games in a row to find themselves toward the bottom of the Pac-12, while USC is competing with crosstown rival UCLA for the conference crown. USC is coming off a loss to Colorado in its last game, so the Trojans will come out hyper focused in this game. We like USC to cover the spread. Pick: USC 77 Utah 65
Loyola Marymount at #1 Gonzaga (-25) - Gonzaga has won 19 in a row against Loyola Marymount, 27 in a row overall, and 50 in a row at home. They put all three streaks on the line when they host the Lions in Spokane. Gonzaga will win, but we think it will be by less than 25 points. Pick: Gonzaga 87 Loyola Marymount 70
NBA:
Cleveland at Philadelphia (-11) - Cleveland has won two games in a row since their nine game losing streak, but it was against two subpar teams. Now they have a real challenge as they go on the road to face Philadelphia. This is the second matchup this season between these two teams and the Cavaliers got a 24 point win in round one. That will not be the case in this one. Pick: Philadelphia 123 Cleveland 107
Minnesota at Washington (-4.5) - The Wizards are 7-3 in their last ten games and are playing their best basketball of the season, while the Timberwolves are well…. the Timberwolves. Minnesota has lost six in a row. It will be seven in a row after tonight. Pick: Washington 121 Minnesota 112
New Orleans (-4.5) at San Antonio - This is the third game in four days for the Pelicans. This is the second game in thirteen games for the Spurs. San Antonio will obviously be more rested when these teams face off today, and that is the main reason why we are picking the Spurs to not only cover, but win outright. Pick: San Antonio 112 New Orleans 106
Indiana at New York (Even) - New York is coming off that 140 point explosion in its last game against the Kings, and is building momentum as we inch closer to the all-star break. Anyone who reads this probably knows who we are picking to win this game. Pick: New York 110 Indiana 104
Utah (-10.5) at Orlando - Utah lost last night, which probably means a seven game winning streak is coming. It will start tonight as they face a Magic team that has dropped two straight. The question is, will it be by enough to cover the spread? We say yes it will Jazz by double digits. Pick: Utah 122 Orlando 105
Denver (-7) at Oklahoma City - This is the third matchup this season between the Nuggets and the Thunder. Denver is 2-0 this season against Oklahoma City, but their last matchup was just a two point affair. We think the Thunder come ready to play in this game and beat Denver for the first time this season. Pick: Oklahoma City 109 Denver 104
Dallas at Brooklyn (3.5) - We can’t pick against the Nets now, even with Kevin Durant missing another game. Even without Durant, Brooklyn has won eight games in a row to move within a half game of Philadelphia for the best record in the Eastern Conference. Defense will be optional in this game, but we like the Nets. Pick: Brooklyn 128 Dallas 120
Happy picking everyone!