January 30, 2021 Picks:

College Basketball:

#9 Alabama (-3.5) at #24 Oklahoma - The hottest team in the SEC is facing the hottest team in the Big 12 (Minus Baylor) as the Sooners and Crimson Tide square off in Norman. These two teams are always talked about in College Football, but now they are making noise in College Basketball. We can’t go against Alabama with how well they are playing, but the game will be fun. Pick: Alabama 79 Oklahoma 71

#10 Texas Tech (-3.5) at LSU - The Red Raiders are coming off two straight losses to top ten teams, and now face the Tigers in a non-conference showdown. LSU has quietly had a solid season, with an 11-4 record, but the only game against a ranked foe they have played was a big loss. We don’t expect a 30 point loss like they had to Alabama, but we do expect Texas Tech to win. Pick: Texas Tech 77 LSU 68

Florida at #11 West Virginia (-4.5) - Florida has won three games in a row, and is starting to find its stride. Now they face a stiff challenge with a road game against the Mountaineers. We like the way the Gators are playing, so we are going to go with them to pull off the upset. Pick: Florida 71 West Virginia 66

TCU at #12 Missouri (-10) - TCU was competitive in their last game against Kansas, but before that they had three straight losses by over 15 points. We expect the old TCU to come back, and Missouri to win comfortably, bouncing back from their loss against Auburn earlier this week. Pick: Missouri 85 TCU 68

#14 Wisconsin (-4) at Penn State - This line feels like it is too low to us. Yes, Penn State just lost by four to Ohio State, but we feel like the Badgers are going to have an easier time here. Wisconsin’s calling card is its defense, and it will have Penn State in fits all game long. Pick: Wisconsin 73 Penn State 59

#3 Villanova (-5) at Seton Hall - These two teams played a couple weeks ago and Seton Hall had a chance to win the game late. Now they face off again in New Jersey, with the Wildcats as a five point favorite. We predict another close game that Villanova will win, but it will be by less than five points. Pick: Villanova 76 Seton Hall 73

Auburn at #2 Baylor (-14.5) - We have picked Baylor to not cover the spread in quite a few games this year, and that will be the case once again today. Auburn won their last game against a ranked Missouri team, but they haven’t played a team quite like this. Baylor will win, but it won’t be by 15 points. Pick: Baylor 86 Auburn 75

#15 Florida State (-4) at Georgia Tech - Florida State has won five games in a row and looks to be the second best team in the ACC. Georgia Tech has lost two straight, and it will be three after today. Give us the Seminoles, you can have the points. Pick: Florida State 79 Georgia Tech 71

#8 Virginia (-5) at #20 Virginia Tech - The class of the ACC plays its conference rival when Virginia and Virginia Tech square off today. The Hokies are looking to prove that they belong in the top half of the conference, but with the way Virginia is playing right now it won’t matter. Virginia beats Virginia Tech for their eighth straight win. Pick: Virginia 74 Virginia Tech 62

#15 Kansas at #18 Tennessee (-3) - Kansas snapped a three game losing streak with their victory over TCU earlier this week, and now face a Volunteer team that has also scuffled as of late. We like the Volunteers to right the ship in this one, as we just don’t like what we see from Kansas right now. Pick: Tennessee 75 Kansas 67

Oregon State at #23 UCLA (-11.5) - No team should be favored by double digits in the Pac-12 Conference, that is how crazy this season is going. Even though UCLA is the best team in the conference record wise, if they don’t take this game seriously they will lose to the Beavers. Oregon State will keep this game close, but in the end it will be too much Bruins. Pick: UCLA 76 Oregon State 70

#21 Minnesota at Purdue (-2) - Minnesota plays its first game in a week, and is looking to get back in the win column after a tough loss to Maryland last Saturday. Purdue also hasn’t played a game in a week, so both of these teams should come in well rested. Give us the Gophers in a tight one to get the road win over the Boilermakers. Pick: Minnesota 78 Purdue 74

#1 Gonzaga (-21) at Pepperdine - We are flying high with Gonzaga after finally getting one of their games right two days ago. Now they face a Pepperdine team they have already beaten by 25. Give us another big Bulldogs win, as they stay undefeated and the #1 team in the country. Pick: Gonzaga 102 Pepperdine 75

#17 Creighton (-10) at DePaul -This the first time we have picked a DePaul game this season. We don’t know a lot about them, but we do have a lot of intel about Creighton. Creighton hasn’t been playing well, but this is going to be a get-right game for the Blue Jays. Expect Creighton to dominate this one. Pick: Creighton 84 DePaul 68

NBA:

Portland at Chicago (-2.5) - Both of these teams are looking to break two game losing streaks as the Bulls and Blazers square off in Chicago. These are two similar teams that struggle defensively, so expect a lot of points in this one. We expect Chicago to score a few more, just because they are healthier. Pick: Chicago 128 Portland 122

Milwaukee (-8.5) at Charlotte - Both of these teams played last night, with Charlotte winning and Milwaukee losing. The Bucks won’t lose two in a row, the only question is by how much will they win by? We expect it to be double digits so give us the Bucks, you can have the points. Pick: Milwaukee 127 Charlotte 112

Houston (-1) at New Orleans - New Orleans is coming off a big win against Milwaukee, and now takes the court for a second time in two nights against the Rockets. Houston has won four games in a row, and we expect them to make it five today. We like the way Christian Wood and Victor Oladipo are playing together, and think Houston has a shot at the playoffs despite trading James Harden. Pick: Houston 123 New Orleans 115

Sacramento at Miami (-4.5) - Miami still doesn’t know if Jimmy Butler is playing. Despite that, they are a favorite against a Kings team coming off a win against Toronto. We like the young Kings, and playing a second night of back to back games shouldn’t bother them as much because of their age. Give us Sacramento to not only cover, but win. Pick: Sacramento 112 Miami 105

Los Angeles Lakers (-2) at Boston - The game of the day involves these two storied rivals, but two straight losses for the Lakers has knocked a little shine off of this game. The Lakers are coming off an inexplicable loss to the Pistons, and you better believe that LeBron James will have them ready to play. It will be a close game, but give us the Lakers to get back in the win column. Pick: Los Angeles Lakers 119 Boston 115

Memphis at San Antonio (-3.5) - Memphis has won five games in a row since a 2-6 start, and puts their win streak on the line against a San Antonio team that has won three games themselves. Both of these teams are playing well, but we think the extra rest will be help the Grizzlies overcome the spread. Don’t forget San Antonio is one of the oldest teams in the league, so playing back to back games is not in their wheelhouse. Pick: Memphis 124 San Antonio 116

Phoenix at Dallas (-1.5) - The Mavericks are coming into this game having lost four games in a row, and now face a Phoenix team still looking to get Chris Paul and Devin Booker to mesh. We don’t know what is going on with Dallas, but we they will figure it out at some point. Rick Carlisle is too good of a coach. So why not today? Pick: Dallas 123 Phoenix 117

Detroit at Golden State (-4.5) - Detroit is coming off its biggest win of the season, a 107-92 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. We know we say this a lot, but the Pistons don’t have an answer for Stephen Curry. We expect a big game for Curry and a win for the Warriors. Pick: Golden State 119 Detroit 107

Happy picking everyone!