Weekly Picks: First Edition

This being the first of many editions, I will pick weekly selected college basketball contests to offer predictions. I will tally my record each week, and for an ego trip, see how many I've gotten right over the course of February and March. Check in every Sunday night or Monday morning to scope out the new picks. Anyway, on to the purpose of this post: predictions.

Monday--January 30th

Louisville at VILLANOVA--Wildcats will win at home against a tragically overrated Louisville team. 'Nova by 9.

Texas Tech at KANSAS--The Jayhawks aren't very good, but Texas Tech is struggling immensely this year. Can't pick against Kansas at home unless they're actually playing someone good. Kansas by 7.

Hawaii at UTAH STATE--The Aggies have won five in a row and are 10-0 at home. Hawaii isn't anything special. Utah State by 5.


Tuesday--January 31st

ILLINOIS at Wisconsin--A true test for the Badgers at home against an underrated Illinois team. Dee Brown and company will be too quick and too much for Wisconsin, even in the Kohl Center. Illinois by 8.

Pitt at UCONN--My inner-instinct tells me that Pitt will somehow win this game, even if it's on the road against clearly the best team in the country. But, as I don't want to embarrass myself, I'd rather pick safely. UConn by 7.

South Florida at CINCINNATI--Who cares?

FLORIDA at Ole Miss--The Rebels are winning their way back into tournament discussions, but Florida is just too good. This is a trap game for the Gators, so watch for an upset. Florida by 4.

GEORGETOWN at DePaul--Another really tough matchup in the Big East. DePaul is a tough team with a lot of heart, and Georgetown has shown their ability to win regardless of the opponent. This is a test game for the Hoyas, win on the road, and maybe wrap up a tournament bid. Georgetown by 9.

Wake Forest at MIAMI--Miami is decent. Wake Forest was overrated to start the season and is now officially garbage. Miami by 10.


Wednesday--February 1st

Virginia at NC STATE--The Wolfpack are the second best team in the ACC. Virginia will be better soon, but this year is another tough one for the Cavaliers. NC State by 15.

IOWA at Purdue--Purdue is struggling to dress ten scholarship players. Iowa is on the brink of clinching a tourney bid. There couldn't be a bigger trap game. Hopefully for Iowa, their defense will show up with their jump shooting. Iowa by 12.

Notre Dame at WEST VIRGINIA--The Mountaineers rely on three-point shooting and a tough, trapping 1-3-1. Notre Dame struggled against Wofford but gave Pitt, Villanova, and Georgetown a run for their money. West Virginia by 7.

Rutgers at SYRACUSE--The Orangemen arguably have the hardest conference schedule in the nation. This game will not be easy, but I expect 'Cuse to rebound and win at home after a treacherous slew of losses. Syracuse in a close one by 2.

Vanderbilt at TENNESSEE--One of the hottest teams in the country, Tennessee, takes on one of the several very mediocre teams in a weak SEC. Blowout city. Tennessee by 18.

Seton Hall at PROVIDENCE--The Friars are better than people think, so watch for a major letdown by the Pirates after their big weekend. Providence by 6.

KENTUCKY at Mississippi State--Kentucky is garbage. If they even make the tournament, which they will solely based on the name across their chest, they will lose right away. In the meantime, Mississippi State is rebuilding. Kentucky by 6.

TEXAS A&M at Oklahoma--Letdown Game of the Week. Oklahoma, coming off a huge win against Texas, plays a very good Texas A&M team. The Aggies shock the Norman faithful. Texas A&M in a thriller by 3.

Auburn at LSU--One of the best unranked teams in the country, LSU will mop the floor with a young but improving Auburn team. LSU by 17.

St. John's at MARQUETTE--Two of the Big East's biggest surprise teams meet in Wisconsin for a conference showdown. Marquette will win only because they are home. Expect a good one. Marquette by 4.

Northwestern at INDIANA--Uh oh, the Hoosiers are mad and Northwestern is coming to town. Yeah, let's play "Can Northwestern score 50 points on a furious Indiana defense?" Of course not, Indiana by 25.

MICHIGAN at Penn State--Michigan is an NCAA tournament team in my opinion. Penn State just isn't a basketball school. Michigan by 16.

DUKE at Boston College--BC has the talent but Duke actually wins gamest. Expect BC to perform decently on their home floor, but Duke is in another league altogether. Duke by 13.

Colorado State at AIR FORCE--Two very good Colorado teams in a big rivalry game. Air Force is too good at home. Air Force by 6.


Thursday--February 2nd

GEORGE WASHINGTON at Xavier--GW has flown under the radar all season, losing only once at NC State. Xavier has done the same however, winning key games and proving their toughness at home. GW upholds their ranking and wins on the road by 5.

North Carolina at MARYLAND--And so the "Over-raaated" chants begin. These two teams will not do anything come March, in fact, neither of them should be ranked. So I guess before I throw up in my mouth, I should say that Maryland wins by 8.

Stanford at OREGON--The Ducks aren't actually that bad. They could make their way onto the bubble by March. Stanford has lost it completely, although the win over Washington may right the ship. Eh, nah, probably not. Oregon by 5.


Friday--February 3rd

DePaul at SOUTH FLORIDA--In an old C-USA matchup, South Florida snags their first Big East conference win at home. They have been close in almost every game, but they just can't get some wins. This game will be different. South Florida by 3.

Canisius at IONA--Iona is actually good this year. They will take care of business at home in New Rochelle with a nice 'W.' Iona by 23.

Saturday--February 4th

UCONN at Indiana--Wait, what? Why are these teams playing in February? Oh well, UConn is the best team in the country and Indiana doesn't know when to show up. UConn by 9.

Florida State at DUKE--I mean, do I really even need to say it? Another snoozer out of the ACC. Duke by 17.

Marquette at VILLANOVA--This is a winnable game for Marquette and certainly a losable one for 'Nova. But 'Nova just has that fantastic guard play. GUARDS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. Villanova by 7.

Kentucky at FLORIDA--The real best team in the SEC against the pretenders from Lexington. Florida will prove their worth as the superior team. Florida by 11.

Texas A&M at TEXAS--The Aggies will put up a good fight, but Texas is too good. I like the new guard setup anyway, and so do the Longhorns. Back on the winning track, Texas by 9.

Arizona at UCLA--Well, Arizona was overrated. UCLA isn't that good. And this game will be boring. UCLA by 7.

MICHIGAN at Iowa--It's tough to pick against a good Iowa team at home. Michigan is on a roll, but this is a big-time contest. It will be close, Michigan by 4.

Notre Dame at LOUISVILLE--Hey, you, ask me if I care. (Do you care?) Hah! Of course not. These teams are not worth my time...and yet, somehow, I'm typing about them and thinking about them now. HYPOCRIT! Louisville by 2.

MIAMI at Georgia Tech--Again, to reiterate, the ACC is not good. So I don't care who wins. Well, I guess while we're here...Miami by 7.

ST. JOHN'S at Providence--I know some people will be mad that I picked against my boys, but St. John's is better than the Friars this year. Tim Welsh needs to exit stage left, immediately. St. John's by 9.


Sunday--February 5th

PITT at Georgetown--Biggest game of the day...hahaha. Just kidding, football fans. But really, this will be a great appetizer before the Super Bowl. Should be a good contest. Pitt by 5 in a gritty one.

Maryland at NC STATE--There are only two good teams in the ACC: NC State and Duke. 'Nuff said. Wolfpack by 9.

OKLAHOMA at Kansas--Remember when I said that Kansas doesn't lose at home unless it's a tough opponent? Enter Oklahoma. Oklahoma=tough opponent. Oklahoma by 11.

Colorado at IOWA STATE--After finally getting some respect, entering the polls at 25th, Colorado hits the road for a tough test at Iowa State. The Cyclones are good at home, so I'm taking them in a "kind of upset." Iowa State by 3 in a good game.

RUTGERS at Seton Hall--These are two up-and-coming clubs in the Big East. Marquette and St. John's are right there too. This will be a nice matchup between the two New Jersey schools. Remember, don't go there, just watch them from a distance. Don't associate with Jersey (just kidding). Rutgers in a thriller by 3.

XAVIER at Saint Louis--C'mon, I wanted to end it nicely. Xavier beats another up-and-coming team in St. Louis. Xavier by 7.


That concludes my picks for this coming week. Make sure you keep track! Hey, maybe you can post your picks in the comment part of this blog and we can compare. Anyway, keep reading and stay posted (haha, get it? Post?)

I am officially off the Budweiser Hot Seat.

ps- How 'bout Northern Iowa finally getting some respect?! Don't blow it now Panthers.