January 2, 2021 Picks

College Basketball:

#8 Texas at # 3 Kansas (-4) - This is one of the two games in the country featuring two ranked teams, Texas and Kansas square off in a Big 12 battle. Both teams have one loss, with Kansas losing to #1Gonzaga in the opener and Texas falling to #4 Villanova. The line is Kansas by four and if this game was in Texas it would be a really tough choice. Since this game is at Phog Allen the pick Kansas is going to cover. Pick: Kansas 82 Texas 74

#11 Creighton (-4) at Providence - Providence has dropped their last two games and now faces one of the best teams in the conference. Even though this game is in Rhode Island, Creighton will still cover the four point spread. Pick: Creighton 82 Providence 68

#12 Missouri at Arkansas (-6.5) - This line makes absolutely no sense. Arkansas’ best win is against Auburn, and their non-conference schedule was hot garbage. Missouri has great wins against Oregon and Illinois, and somehow is an underdog against the Razorbacks. Missouri stays hot and hands Arkansas their first loss of the season. Pick: Missouri 71 Arkansas 65

#2 Baylor (-15) at Iowa State - Iowa State hasn’t played a game since December 20th, and now that they are back on the court their reward is the Baylor Bears. Baylor hasn’t really played anyone but has boat raced every team they have played so far. That continues in Ames. Pick: Baylor 87 Iowa State 69

#10 Iowa at #14 Rutgers (Pick em) - There is no line on this game as it is between two teams that appear to be evenly matched. In evenly matched games you usually pick the team that has the best player. In this game that is Luka Garza with the Hawkeyes. Even though the game is in New Jersey, Iowa still gets the win. Pick: Iowa 86 Rutgers 82

#9 West Virginia at Oklahoma (-1) - Another game where the favorite is not the team that is ranked. West Virginia has the two best losses in the country in Gonzaga and Kansas, and they were in the game late against the #1 Bulldogs. Both of Oklahoma’s losses are pretty solid as well, so this should be an entertaining game. This is going to be a defensive battle and the Sooners come out on top in a tight one. Pick: Oklahoma 74 West Virginia 71

Oklahoma State at #13 Texas Tech (-8) - Oklahoma State has lost two games in a row after a 6-0 start. The Red Raiders will make it three in a row and the Cowboys will start 0-3 in conference play. Pick: Texas Tech 81 Oklahoma State 68

Alabama at #7 Tennessee (-10) - Tennessee is undefeated, including a 20 point win against #12 Missouri. Alabama lost to Western Kentucky. Volunteers win big in this one. Pick: Tennessee 88 Alabama 67

Purdue at #15 Illinois (-8.5) - The last two games that Purdue has played have both been down to the wire. This game will be the same. Illinois will get the win with some big plays down the stretch, but they will not cover. Pick: Illinois 77 Purdue 72

San Francisco at #1 Gonzaga (-19.5) - Gonzaga may be the best team in the country but the Dons always give them fits. The Dons know how to play the Bulldogs, slowing the game down and making them work every possession. Gonzaga will win, but they will not cover. Pick: Gonzaga 86 San Francisco 73

#17 Michigan State (-8.5) at Nebraska - Both of these teams are 0-3 in Big Ten play. One of those is surprising (Michigan State) and one of them is not (Nebraska). This is a get right game for the Spartans as they finally get a win in conference play, and Nebraska’s struggles continue. Pick: Michigan State 82 Nebraska 65

Stanford at #21 Oregon (-5.5) - We haven’t picked an upset yet, and why not do it in the Pac-12. The conference is a hodgepodge of mediocre teams. On any given night any team can get a win (Except for the Washington Huskies. They are terrible.) Just a gut feeling on this one but the Cardinal take down the Ducks on that hideous court. Pick: Stanford 77 Oregon 70

College Football:

Tax Slayer Gator Bowl: #23 North Carolina State vs Kentucky (-2.5) - A 4-6 Kentucky team is somehow a favorite against an 8-3 NC State team. College coaches always look for something to motivate their players, and this slight by Vegas might be what NC State will use. While Kentucky has played a more challenging schedule than NC State, they haven’t been competitive against any legitimate competition. In what might be the easiest pick in all sports of the day, NC State takes the victory. Pick: North Carolina State 37 Kentucky 24

Outback Bowl: Ole Miss vs Indiana (-9.5) - Another game featuring an SEC team with a losing record. Ole Miss is a very entertaining team and Lane Kiffin has had a couple of weeks to prepare for Indiana. That being said, Indiana seems like a team of destiny this season, with their only loss being to an Ohio State team that just made the National Championship game. While Ole Miss will cover, Indiana gets the win. Pick: Indiana 31 Ole Miss 28

Play Station Fiesta Bowl: #25 Oregon vs #10 Iowa State (-5) - Oregon is the saving grace for the conference, with their only game being Colorado getting blasted by Texas. This is another Pac-12/Big-12 matchup and while this game will be closer, it will be another black eye for the Pac-12 as they go winless this bowl season. Pick: Iowa State 28 Oregon 20

Capital One Orange Bowl: #5 Texas A&M (-7.5) vs #13 North Carolina - The Aggies are still mad about being left out of the College Football Playoff and they are going to take it out on the Tar Heels. Texas A&M lost their second game of the season to Alabama and hasn’t looked back since. That will continue against a Tar Heels team that hasn’t beat anyone of note other than an overrated Miami team. Pick: Texas A&M 41 North Carolina 24

NBA

Sacramento at Houston (-5) - These two teams played a few nights ago with the Rockets winning by three. The Kings have already beaten the Nuggets twice and have looked better than they have in recent seasons. Despite that the Rockets will cover as James Harden and Christian Wood will have great games. Pick: Houston 114 Sacramento 108

New York at Indiana (-9) - Other than aberration against the Bucks, the New York Knicks have played exactly like everybody thought they would. They have already lost to the Pacers once this season, and today will make it two. Victor Oladipo has looked like his old self through the first five games of the season, and that won’t change here. Pick: Indiana 119 New York 104

Oklahoma City at Orlando (-8) - Orlando has been one of the bigger surprises so far in this young season, starting 4-1. Included in those four wins is a win against the Thunder earlier this week. The Magic beat the Thunder by 11 points in Oklahoma City. They will win by more than eight in Orlando. Pick: Orlando 107 Oklahoma City 94

Charlotte at Philadelphia (-9.5) - Charlotte and Atlanta are the only teams playing the second night of back to back today. Yesterday they lost to Memphis by 15, and the 76ers are a better team than the Grizzlies. Philadelphia has started this season well and that continues here. Pick: Philadelphia 123 Charlotte 108

Cleveland at Atlanta (-6.5) - Atlanta beat Brooklyn by 18 points yesterday, and are somehow only a 6.5 point favorite against the lowly Cavaliers. Cleveland has lost two in a row after a 3-0 start, with one of those losses being to the Knicks. The Hawks have looked good out of the gate, and today that surprising start keeps moving forward. Pick: Atlanta 111 Cleveland 100

Toronto (-1.5) at New Orleans - This is a rematch of the opening game of the season, pitting the Raptors against the Pelicans. The Pelicans won that game, and today the Raptors exact revenge. Toronto has gotten off to a slow start this season, but it is only a matter of time before they start playing better. They are too talented and have too good a coach to continue to struggle. It starts tonight. Pick: Raptors 108 Pelicans 99

Happy picking everyone!