January 23, 2021 Picks:

College Basketball:

#8 Houston (-12) at Temple - Houston has been bludgeoning opponents in conference play, and now plays a Temple team that has only played three games so far this month. We have been picking the Cougars to win but not cover quite a bit. That changes today. Pick: Houston 77 Temple 62

#9 Kansas (-1) at Oklahoma - These two teams met two weeks ago in Kansas and the Jayhawks eked out a 63-59 win. Now they face each other again in Norman, with Kansas coming off two straight losses. We like the Jayhawks to right the ship today and get the season sweep of the Sooners. Pick: Kansas 74 Oklahoma 70

#23 UConn at #11 Creighton (-8) - This like feels about five points too high to us. We think Creighton should be favored, but not by eight points. Creighton is limping into this game, having lost two in a row. We feel like they will get the win here, but won’t be by enough to cover. Pick: Creighton 79 UConn 75

#16 Virginia Tech at Syracuse (-1) - Another line that seems strange to us. Yes, the game is in the Carrier Dome, but without the fans there it will make a huge difference. Syracuse hasn’t been lighting the league on fire lately, while Virginia Tech has won their last three games. Give us the Hokies to get the road win. Pick: Virginia Tech 73 Syracuse 67

#2 Baylor (-9) at Oklahoma State - Baylor looks to stay unbeaten against a Cowboys team that has played ranked foes tough all year. The lost to Texas by three, West Virginia by three, and TCU by one. We think the Bears will win, but this will be closer than people anticipate. Give us the points. Pick: Baylor 83 Oklahoma State78

Maryland at #17 Minnesota (-6) - We learned from our mistake last week in picking against the Golden Gophers at home. Minnesota is still undefeated on their home floor, and that won’t change today. Maryland needs to get some wins if they are to sneak into the NCAA tournament, but they will have to find them elsewhere. Pick: Minnesota 85 Maryland 72

Providence at #3 Villanova (-11) - Providence doesn’t get blown out in conference play, and Villanova still has played only one game in the last month. This is another game where we like the favorite to win, but not cover. Pick: Villanova 76 Providence 70

#20 Clemson at Florida State (-6.5) - This line struck us as odd when we first saw it. Then we realized Clemson has lost two games in a row and hasn’t been competitive in either one, and Florida State is coming off three straight wins. If this game were on Monday, Florida State would be the ranked team. It isn’t, and they aren’t, but they will be after knocking off the Tigers today. Pick: Florida State 80 Clemson 67

#15 Ohio State at #10 Wisconsin (-5) - This is a battle between two ranked Big Ten teams, as the Buckeyes and Badgers square off in Madison. These two teams have similar resumes and we predict a close one here. We are going to take the Badgers to win, but not by five points. Pick: Wisconsin 72 Ohio State 69

#14 West Virginia (-11) at Kansas State - This line couldn’t be high enough for us. Kansas State has lost five games in a row, and the closest one was a seven point loss to fellow Big Twelve doormat TCU. The Mountaineers are coming off a hard fought two point loss to Texas, but haven’t played a game in two weeks. This is another rust vs rest situation, but we will say Bob Huggins will have his team ready to go. Pick: West Virginia 85 Kansas State 63

#24 UCLA (-5) at Stanford - The Bruins had to scratch and claw to beat Pac-12 bottom feeder California on Thursday. Now they face a much stiffer test in Stanford. Even though the Cardinal have lost two games in a row, we are still going to pick them to hand UCLA their first conference loss of the season. Pick: Stanford 74 UCLA 71

Mississippi St at #18 Alabama (-9.5) - With the way the Crimson Tide are playing right now, would anyone pick against them? Alabama has won eight games in a row, including a perfect 7-0 in SEC play, and they have been running everyone out of the gym. That culminated earlier this week when dropped 105 points on LSU. Give us the Tide here. You can have the points. Pick: Alabama 91 Mississippi St 77

Georgia Tech at #13 Virginia (-8.5) - Both of these teams last game was a dominating win over Clemson. Virginia won 85-50, while Georgia Tech won 83-65. Now the Yellow Jackets and Cavaliers battle each other. We love the way Virginia is playing, but Georgia Tech is no slouch. We predict a tight defensive game won by Virginia, but Georgia Tech does enough to cover. Pick: Virginia 65 Georgia Tech 61

#19 Missouri at #6 Tennessee (-8.5) - These two teams met earlier in the season in Columbia, with Tennessee rolling to a 73-53 win. Now the rematch is set in Knoxville. Tennessee’s last game was a head scratcher, a 75-49 loss to Florida where they look disinterested. We are guessing Rick Barnes had some choice words for his team, and they will be ready to play today. Pick: Tennessee 79 Missouri 66

Pacific at #1 Gonzaga (-26) - Oh Gonzaga. Today will be the day we finally get a game right involving the Bulldogs. Pacific will grind this game out, slow the game down, and keep possessions at a minimum. That is what you have to do to keep it close against Gonzaga. Gonzaga will win, but it won’t be by 26 points as the Tigers plan will work. Pick: Gonzaga 85 Pacific 64

Oregon State at #21 Oregon (-9) - Oregon hasn’t played in two weeks, and now faces rival Oregon State in Eugene. The Beavers are coming off of two straight wins, including an upset win against USC earlier this week. We feel like this game has the Ducks written all over it, so give us Oregon to cover. Pick: Oregon 82 Oregon State 70

NBA:

Philadelphia (-7) at Detroit - The name of today is back to backs. Both of these games are playing the second game of a back to back, with Philadelphia beating Boston and Detroit losing to Houston last night. You always worry about the 76ers on second nights of back to backs, but not against a Detroit team that is doing the same. Give us Philadelphia here. Pick: Philadelphia 114 Detroit 102

Miami at Brooklyn (-7.5) - Two more teams playing the second night of back to back games, but in this one it looks like the Nets will have Kevin Durant back. That will be enough to cover against a short handed Miami team that will be exhausted after playing against the Raptors yesterday. Pick: Brooklyn 111 Miami 94

New Orleans (-8) at Minnesota - We don’t think Vegas could set the line high enough for us to pick the Timberwolves right now. Minnesota has lost four games in a row and has been a dumpster fire so far this season. Now they are playing Zion Williamson on the second night of a back to back? Give us the Pelicans. Pick: New Orleans 112 Minnesota 98

Golden State at Utah (-7.5) - Utah puts their seven game winning streak on the line against Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Utah has won these games with beautiful offensive basketball, and we don’t see that changing here. Utah will continue to shoot the lights out and will get their eighth win in a row. Pick: Utah 117 Golden State 105

Los Angeles Lakers (-9.5) at Chicago - The Bulls have won three games in a row, but are playing the second night of a back to back against a Lakers team coming off a win against Milwaukee. Even though we like the way Chicago is playing, we are still going to go with LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Lakers to win by double digits. Pick: Los Angeles Lakers 124 Chicago 111

Houston at Dallas (-9) - Two more teams coming off wins last night, the Rockets and Mavericks square off in Dallas tonight. The big question is whether or not Christian Wood will play for Houston. We don’t think he is going to play in this one, but we still feel like this game will be closer than the nine point spread. Pick: Dallas 122 Houston 116

Denver (-2.5) at Phoenix - These two teams played an overtime game the previous night, and now square off again. We picked the Nuggets last night and will pick the Nuggets again tonight. Pick: Denver 119 Phoenix 115

Happy picking everyone!