January 30, 2021 Results:

What we got right:

College Basketball:

#10 Texas Tech at LSU - LSU was ahead by seven points with 1:14 on the clock and lost by five. Texas Tech went on a 12-0 run in that last 74 seconds to snatch the victory away from the Tigers. This was an entertaining, back and forth contest between two good teams. The Red Raiders just made the shots when it counted to get the win.

Florida at #11 West Virginia - We really like the way Florida is playing right now. They handled West Virginia’s suffocating defense, and actually pressed the Mountaineers the whole game. The result is they did to West Virginia what West Virginia does to other teams. They wore them down in the second half, outscoring them by 10 in the final frame, to take home the 85-80 win.

Auburn a #2 Baylor - We finally got a Baylor game right. We have been picking them to win but not cover for quite sometime, and today that finally happened. They still won by double digits, 84-72, but they did not cover the 14.5 point spread. Baylor just wore Auburn down, the way they have done to every team they have played this season.

#15 Kansas at #18 Tennessee - What is wrong with Kansas? The Jayhawks lost for the fourth time in five games, and are in danger of falling out of the top 25 for the first time in forever. The biggest problem with Kansas right now is they don’t have anyone on offense that scares you. Tennessee exacted some revenge after losing to Kansas the last two seasons, winning 80-61.

Oregon State at #23 UCLA - This game was not pretty. UCLA won despite shooting just 32% from the fields. The 57-52 win did nothing to prove us that the Bruins belong in the top 25. The only reason they are is they are winning games against very mediocre conference competition. The Pac-12 won’t have any teams make it past the second round of the tournament, which is embarrassing for a power five conference.

#1 Gonzaga at Pepperdine - Two in a row for us in picking the Bulldogs, and once it again it came down to a single point. Gonzaga got a dunk from Anton Watson with 38 seconds left to get over the 21 points spread, and won the game 97-75. Just make Gonzaga Baylor happen already.

NBA:

Portland at Chicago - While we were wrong in saying the Bulls were going to win, they covered the 2.5 point spread in the 123-122 loss to the Blazers. Damian Lillard hit a three pointer as time expired to give the Blazers the one point victory. Lillard dropped 44 points in the win, while Lauri Markkanen scored 31 for the Bulls in the loss.

Houston at New Orleans - Christian Wood scored 27 points as the Rockets extended their winning streak to a season high five games with a 126-112 victory over the Pelicans. We have said we like the way this Rockets team looks now that they traded James Harden, and a playoff berth is not out of the question.

Sacramento at Miami - Another game where picked the underdog to win, and while the Kings didn’t get the victory, they covered the spread in losing by a single point. The 105-104 game marked the return of Jimmy Butler for the Heat, who scored 30 points after missing the last ten games.

Memphis at San Antonio - The extra rest did help Memphis, as they won their sixth game in a row, a 129-112 win over the Spurs in San Antonio. Ja Morant had 19 points and 11 assists for Memphis, while De’Anthony Melton chipped in 20 points off the bench. The Grizzlies held DeMar DeRozan in check, holding the Spurs leading score to just five points.

Detroit at Golden State - The Warriors jumped out to a double digit lead at the end of the first quarter, and never looked back in dispatching the Pistons 118-91. Stephen Curry hit six three pointers on his way to 28 points, and the Pistons didn’t have the energy to mount a comeback in their third game in four days.

What we got wrong:

College Basketball:

#9 Alabama at #24 Oklahoma - This game had the feel of a Sweet 16 matchup with two solid teams trading baskets the entire second half. This was a game of runs, and the final run was made by the Sooners, as they held off Alabama 66-61. This wasn’t the offensive game we expected, especially from Alabama, but this contest did have some tension in the final moments. You can’t ask for more than that.

TCU at #12 Missouri - We still say that Missouri is not the 12th best team in the country, and we will be picking them to lose in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as either a 4 or 5 seed. The Tigers needed overtime to beat TCU 102-98, and they allowed the Horned Frogs to score 30 more points than their season average. Yes Missouri got the win, but they did not impress us at all.

#14 Wisconsin at Penn State - The Big Ten proves once again that is the deepest conference in College Basketball, with bottom feeder Penn State knocking off the Badgers, 81-71. If Wisconsin wants to be taken seriously as a team that can make a deep run in March, they can’t lose these type of games.

#3 Villanova at Seton Hall - Villanova won its ninth straight game in beating the Pirates 80-72. This game came down to free throws. Villanova made eight more free throws than Seton Hall, and won the game by eight. The Pirates couldn’t stop the penetration of the Villanova guards, and every time they got in the paint they got fouled. Then they made their free throws. Villanova always is one of the best free throw shooting teams in the country, and this year is no different.

#15 Florida State at Georgia Tech - Florida State had its five game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Yellow Jackets, who took the Seminoles down 76-65. Georgia Tech held Florida State to 13 points below its season average as they handed the Seminoles just their second conference loss.

#8 Virginia at #20 Virginia Tech - Virginia lost for the first time in eight games, losing to rival Virginia Tech 65-51. Usually it is the Cavaliers holding teams in the fifties, but in this one they got a test of their own medicine. The Hokies held Virginia to just 36% shooting and Virginia attempted only four three throws the entire game. When you only shoot four free throws, but you shoot 28 three point shots, you need to readjust your strategy.

#21 Minnesota at Purdue - Purdue looked locked in and focused, while Minnesota looked like it was enjoying its week long break. The Boilermakers stymied the Gophers, winning 81-62 to move into a three way tie for fourth place in the Big Ten. Purdue, at 7-4 in conference and 12-6 overall, looks to be heading back to the NCAA Tournament, while Minnesota needs to figure some things out in a hurry, as they are now 4-6 in conference play.

#17 Creighton at DePaul - This game was closer than we anticipated, as the DePaul hung around against Creighton. After the first 20 minutes the game was deadlocked at 29 apiece, before Creighton found another gear in the second half, pulling away for the 69-62 victory. We still are wary of Creighton, who seems to play to the level of their competition. That is not a good recipe for advancing in March.

NBA:

Milwaukee at Charlotte - LaMelo Ball scored a career high 27 points in leading the Hornets to a 126-114 victory over the Bucks. The loss was the second in two night for Milwaukee, who drop to 11-8 on the season. That isn’t the record the class of the Eastern Conference should have, and we still think Milwaukee is a good team, we no longer think they are going to make the NBA Finals.

Los Angeles Lakers at Boston - This was a tight game throughout, with neither team having more than a ten point lead the entire game. Defense was the name of the game in this one, as this was one of the rare occasions in the NBA where the winning team didn’t score 100 points. The Lakers scored just enough, winning 96-95. We can’t wait for round two in Los Angeles later this season.

Phoenix at Dallas - Chris Paul had 27 points and 12 assists to help Phoenix hand Dallas its fifth straight loss. Luca Doncic had 29 points for the Mavericks, but with Kristaps Porzingis not playing, he didn’t have his usual running partner. Dallas now drops to 8-12, and needs to turn it around if they are to make the playoffs.