February 3, 2021 Picks:
College Basketball:
#5 Houston (-16.5) at East Carolina - These two teams are going in opposite directions. Houston has won eight games in a row, while the Pirates have dropped five straight. Houston has been bludgeoning opponents during this win streak and we see no reason why today will be any different. Pick: Houston 78 East Carolina 59
South Carolina at #22 Florida (-8.5) - Florida looked dead in the water to us as the calendar turned to 2021, but has been playing very good basketball as of late. They have won four games in a row, including a big road win over West Virginia in a game the Gators dictated the pace. We like Florida to stay hot and win by double digits. Pick: Florida 82 South Carolina 69
LSU at #10 Alabama (-8.5) - Alabama looks to bounce back from its loss to Oklahoma, as they face an LSU squad they beat by 30 two weeks ago. Alabama is still undefeated in conference play, and while we don’t think they will win this game by 30, they will still cover the 8.5 point spread. Pick: Alabama 83 LSU 71
#16 Virginia Tech (-4) at Pittsburgh - Virginia Tech is flying high off its big win over Virginia, and now heads to Pittsburgh to face a Panther team that has dropped three straight games. Despite the opposite trajectories, we think this is a game Pitt can win. In fact, we are going to pick it to happen. Pick: Pittsburgh 71 Virginia Tech 69
Kentucky at #18 Missouri (-4.5) - Kentucky is 5-10 this year and is not going to make the NCAA Tournament. We still don’t like this Missouri team even though they are the 18th ranked team in the country. Give us the Wildcats to shock the Tigers and pull off the upset win in Columbia. Pick: Kentucky 71 Missouri 67
#3 Villanova (-10) at St. John’s - We keep picking against Villanova and they keep proving us wrong. We don’t know much about St. Johns, but they have won four games in a row. We are once again going with the Wildcats to win the game but not cover, as St. Johns keeps this game close. Pick: Villanova 78 St. Johns 72
#14 Virginia (-6.5) at NC State - Virginia looks to bounce back from its first conference loss of the season as they square off with the Wolfpack. Before that Virginia Tech game, the Cavaliers were rolling. Was it just a poor performance, or was it something that should worry Virginia fans? We are going to go with the first one, as they get back in the win column here. Pick: Virginia 72 NC State 58
Georgetown at #15 Creighton (-14) - Georgetown is terrible this year, but we can’t trust Creighton in games with this large of a spread. While the Hoyas may not have won many games this year, they usually keep things close. For that reason we are going with Creighton to win but Georgetown to cover. Pick: Creighton 82 Georgetown 73
NBA:
Philadelphia (-7) at Charlotte - Both of these teams come into this game on three game winning streaks, as the 76ers and Hornets battle it out in Charlotte. The Hornets are 10-11 this year, which is exceeding most peoples expectations, but in this one they will get the full force of the 76ers team. Because of that give us Philadelphia by double digits. Pick: Philadelphia 116 Charlotte 104
Indiana at Milwaukee (-8) - Indiana is playing the second game of back to back games against a Milwaukee team that should be well rested. We predict this game to be close for a half before the Pacers run out of steam and the Bucks win by double digits. Pick: Milwaukee 122 Indiana 108
Dallas (-1.5) at Atlanta - You won’t fool us again Dallas. The Mavericks have been teasing us all year but we aren’t falling for it again. Give us Trae Young and the Hawks to beat Doncic and the Mavericks. Pick: Atlanta 118 Dallas 113
Los Angeles Clippers (-8) at Cleveland - If I am a Clippers fan, I’m worried about this game. Los Angeles is coming off a hard fought loss to the Nets and now are playing a Cleveland team that has had extra rest. Plus, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard might be a little restricted as they just came back after missing a handful of games. All of this adds up to the Cavaliers keeping it closer than expected. Pick: Los Angeles Clippers 112 Cleveland 109
Washington at Miami (-8.5) - The Wizards are also playing the second night of back to back games, and we like them a lot less than the Clippers. This line could have been set at 14 and we still probably would have picked the Heat. At 8.5? Sign us up. Pick: Miami 128 Washington 111
New York at Chicago (-2) - These two teams played two nights ago, with the Bulls getting a 110-102 win. We picked the Knicks then and we are going to pick the Knicks again today. Now that New York has had a day of rest, they will be ready to go, and will keep the Bulls under 100 points. Pick: New York 103 Chicago 97
Houston (-7) at Oklahoma City - We have talked many times about how much we like this new look Rockets team. The Rockets have won six games in a row, and are doing most of their damage on the defensive end. That is not something we ever thought we would say about Houston. Now they face an offensively challenged Thunder team. Give us the Rockets to get their seventh win in a row tonight. Pick: Houston 115 Oklahoma City 102
Minnesota at San Antonio (-8.5) - These two teams have played twice already this season, splitting the two games. The Spurs win was in overtime, so it appears Minnesota knows how to play them. We still think the Spurs will win, but it will be closer than the spread indicates. Pick: San Antonio 108 Minnesota 104
Phoenix (-3.5) at New Orleans - We absolutely hate the way the Pelicans are playing right now. They are wasting the athleticism of Zion Williamson with this slow down approach. Phoenix has won three games in a row and Chris Paul is playing his best basketball of the season. Give us the Suns. Pick: Phoenix 118 New Orleans 111
Boston (-1.5) at Sacramento - The only reason no one is talking about how bad the Kings defense is, is because of how historically bad the defense of the Nets has been since they acquired James Harden. Even though Boston played last night, we still like them to get the win over the Kings in this one. Pick: Boston 117 Sacramento 108
Happy picking everyone!