January 26, 2021 Picks:

College Basketball:

#24 Oklahoma at #4 Texas (-4) - The Sooners have won three games in a row to move into the top 25, and now head to Austin to face a Texas team itching to get back on the court. It has been 10 days since the Longhorns last played a game, and they will be without head coach Shaka Smart as he goes through Covid protocols. We like the way the Sooners are playing and are worried about the Longhorns not having their head coach, so give us the Sooners to pull off their second straight victory over a top-10 opponent. Pick: Oklahoma 78 Texas 74

Kentucky at #9 Alabama (-7) - Usually when you see Alabama favored over Kentucky you are talking football, not basketball. Not this year. Nate Oats’ Crimson Tide have won nine games in a row and face a Kentucky team that is still trying to figure it out. Part of us wants to pick the Wildcats to cover, but in the end we think Alabama has too much fire power. Pick: Alabama 82 Kentucky 69

Mississippi St at #18 Tennessee (-9.5) - Both of these teams have dropped two straight games, but the fall for Tennessee has been startling to watch. The Volunteers have forgot how to score the basketball, and now face a Mississippi St team that is solid defensively. We are going with Tennessee to win, but for Mississippi St to cover. Pick: Tennessee 71 Mississippi St 67

Dayton at #22 Saint Louis (-9) - Saint Louis hasn’t played a game in over a month, but because teams around them lost they jumped into the top 25. Nine points is too much for a team that last played on December 23rd, 2020. We expect the Bilikens to show a little bit of rust, and while they will win the game, it will be by less than nine. Pick: Saint Louis 76 Dayton 72

#12 Missouri at Auburn (-2) - We know that people had high hopes for the Auburn Tigers this year, but with the way these two teams are playing right now should they be favored? We say no. Missouri has been playing better than Auburn the last few weeks, and we expect that continue in this one. Missouri gets the road win. Pick: Missouri 80 Auburn 73

NBA:

Los Angeles Clippers at Atlanta (-5) - No, that is not a misprint. The Hawks are five point favorites over the Clippers. The reason why is because Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are both expected to miss this game. If that is the case, and we think it is, the Clippers will not have enough firepower to hang with the Hawks. Pick: Atlanta 117 Los Angeles Clippers 109

Washington at Houston (-3.5) - The Wizards are just happy to playing basketball again. With just one game in the last two weeks, Washington is expected to show some rust. Houston looked great in its last game, a 133-108 demolishing of the Mavericks. We are picking the Rockets to continue their hot streak and cover the spread here. Pick: Houston 123 Washington 115

New York at Utah (-11.5) - We love the way the Jazz are playing right now. They have won eight in a row and are up there with the Lakers and Clippers for the best record in the NBA. With all that being said, we feel like this line is too big. The Knicks are not a bad basketball team, and they play hard for their coach. We like the Jazz to win, but the Knicks to cover in this one. Pick: Utah 122 New York 116

Happy picking everyone!