January 17, 2021 Results:

What we got right:

College Basketball:

#5 Iowa at Northwestern - Northwestern’s slide continues. The Wildcats have now lost five straight games, albeit all five losses were to top 25 teams. Luka Garza had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawkeyes in the 96-73 win. Iowa improves to 12-2 with the win, with their only losses being to #1 Gonzaga and Minnesota in overtime.

UCF at #11 Houston - We were one point off in our prediction. We said the Cougars were going to win 74-58, and they ended up winning 75-58. We haven’t nailed a score perfectly this year, but we are getting closer. Houston was up 45-19 at halftime and cruised the rest of the way.

NBA:

Utah at Denver - We were right in that this would be a close game that the Jazz would win. Neither team had more than a ten point lead the entire game. This game could have been more lopsided if Utah could have made their free throws. They went only 16-28 from the free throw line. That didn’t cost them here, but it could down the road.

New Orleans at Sacramento - De’Aaron Fox had 43 points for the Kings, but it wasn’t enough in a 128-123 loss to the Pelicans. New Orleans had a 17 point lead late in the third quarter but held on for dear life late in this game. It wasn’t until Nickeil Alexander-Walker made two free throws with five seconds left that this game was over.

NFL:

Cleveland at Kansas City - It wasn’t quite the offensive explosion that we expected, but Cleveland did cover the 9.5 point spread in the 22-17 loss to the Chiefs. We were nervous when the score was 19-3 at halftime, but the Browns came back scored a touchdown early in the third and then the Chiefs lost Patrick Mahomes. Once we saw Chad Henne in the game we liked our chances. Henne made the plays he needed too, including that 13 1/2 yard run on 3rd and 14 with just over a minute left in the game. Hats off to the Browns, who played well, but just didn’t get enough plays from their defense for one last drive. Kansas City now hosts Buffalo with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

Tampa Bay at New Orleans - If this was the last game for Drew Brees, he sure didn’t do out on a high note. Brees threw for only 134 yards and had three interceptions in the 30-20 loss. Two of his interceptions set up the Buccaneers for touchdowns, while the last one iced the game away. Tom Brady only had 199 yards passing himself, but he did not turn the ball over. That was the difference in this game. Tampa Bay now heads to Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers, while New Orleans heads home wondering if that was Drew Brees’ last game in the NFL. We say it was and farewell to an amazing career.

What we got wrong:

College Basketball:

#20 Virginia Tech at Wake Forest - We were right in saying the Demon Deacons were going to stay winless in ACC play. We were wrong in that this game was a lot closer than we expected. Virginia Tech went 4-18 from behind the three point arc, got outrebounded 37-30, and had more turnovers in this game. The fact that they won this game with stats like that is surprising, but they found a way to get it done.

NBA:

New York at Boston - Even Kemba Walker’s return for the Celtics could not help them in this one. Walker scored 9 points on 3-13 shooting in the 105-75 home loss to the Knicks. Jaylen Brown did have a big game for Boston in scoring 25 points, but he got no help. The Knicks were led by Julius Randle’s 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Chicago at Dallas - Another outcome we didn’t expect, the Bulls dominated the Mavericks 117-101. Luca Doncic had 30 points in the first half and ended up with another triple double, but it was Chicago who led the entire way inthis one. The Bulls got 29 points and 10 rebounds from Lauri Markkanen in the win, and improved their record to 5-8. Dallas fell to 6-6 with the loss.

Indiana at Los Angeles Clippers - We said the Clippers should dominate this game, but didn’t think they would. They proved us wrong. The beat a shorthanded Pacers team 129-96 to win their fourth game in a row. Los Angeles shot 55% from the field put the clamps on the Pacers defensively in this lopsided win.

* Please note the Philadelphia at Oklahoma City game was postponed due to Covid concerns.