Happy Friday everyone. We have 8 NBA games on the ticket today, plus a college football game to pick. We are also going to be making our first college basketball picks of the season today. Who do we like? Take a look!
NBA:
Denver at Boston (-4.5):
Both of these teams have won four of their last five games. They are two of the hottest teams in the NBA and are at the top of their respective conferences. This is a tough one but we are going to go with the home Celtics to cover. Barely. Pick: Boston 114 Denver 109
Phoenix (-7.5) at Orlando:
Phoenix is really good. Orlando is really bad. The pieces are there for the Magic, but they are so young that it is taking time for them to gel. They don’t have a reprieve tonight as the Suns come to Orlando. Even without Chris Paul we like Phoenix by double digits in this one. Pick: Phoenix 119 Orlando 107
Detroit at New York (-8.5)
Detroit is really bad and has not won a road game yet this season. That being said should the Knicks be favored by this much? They are coming off a 27 point loss to the Nets! We expect New York to win, but Detroit to cover. Pick: New York 107 Detroit 102
Toronto (-5) at Oklahoma City:
Pascal Siakam is still out for the Raptors, but so far they have gone 2-1 with him out of the lineup. The Thunder are coming off a heartbreaking double overtime loss to the Bucks. Oklahoma City has lost four games in a row, and we think it will be five tonight. Toronto will cover the spread. Pick: Toronto 111 Oklahoma City 101
Milwaukee at San Antonio (-2):
Giannis and Jrue Holiday are still out of the lineup for Milwaukee. That didn’t matter last game in the aforementioned double overtime game against the Thunder. San Antonio is looking to get back in the win column after five straight losses. We don’t think it happens today. Pick: Milwaukee 105 San Antonio 98
Minnesota at Memphis (-4):
These are two teams that are heading in opposite directions. The Grizzlies are 4-1 in their last five games with the only loss being a narrow defeat to the Celtics. The Timberwolves are 1-4 in their last five games with the only win coming against the lowly Rockets. We think that both trends continue and Memphis covers the spread. Pick: Memphis 122 Minnesota 108
Cleveland at Golden State (-1.5):
Cleveland has lost their last two games on a long road trip to the west coast, and now has to face a Warriors team that righted the ship against Sacramento after four consecutive losses. The Warriors have had an extra two days of rest as well, and we think that will help them as they pull away late against the Cavaliers. Pick: Golden State 113 Cleveland 106
Sacramento (-3.5) at Los Angeles Lakers:
LeBron James will miss this game with a strained adductor muscle. The Lakers were bad with James in the lineup. They will be even worse with him gone. Give us the Kings. Pick: Sacramento 120 Los Angeles Lakers 104
NCAA Basketball:
Michigan State vs #2 Gonzaga (-11.5):
This game is being played on the USS Abraham Lincoln and we heard that wind could be a factor. If we were betting men we would take the under. This will be a close game where weather is a factor (Don’t say that often in college basketball) where Gonzaga will win, but it will be by single digits. Pick: Gonzaga 71 Michigan State 64
BYU at #19 San Diego State (-11):
The other semi-interesting matchup of the college basketball slate is in the same city, as San Diego State and BYU square off. Both of these teams are looking to make an early statement, and we like the Aztecs to win, but not cover in this one. Pick: San Diego State 76 BYU 68
NCAA Football:
Colorado at #8 USC (-34.5):
USC has looked underwhelming in their last three games, and now they look to right the ship against a Colorado team that has won once all year. We like the Trojans, but man five touchdowns is a lot of points. They win comfortably, but don’t cover the huge spread. Pick: USC 38 Colorado 13
Happy picking everyone!