Tag Archives: NCAA Basketball Picks

Kentucky Wildcats VS Florida Gators: NCAA Basketball Preview & Prediction

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The #2 ranked Kentucky Wildcats might seem like a tough team to bet against, but the books have been even with them this year, as the Cats are 7-7 ATS in during their 16 game winning streak to start the season. Don’t get it twisted, the Wildcats will lose one of these days, they play too many good teams and too many close games, but the question is, will that happen in Florida?

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Working for the Gators is the fact that the Wildcats have only played one true road game this season, a win over an out-matched Indiana ball club. The Wildcats have beat up on some teams over the last 10 games, but they barely skipped by the Heels with a 2 point win and a 3 point win over UConn was also a nail-biter. Most recently, over the last two games, they’ve gotten all they can handle from unranked Louisville and Georgia, but came out victorious in both. They didn’t win the rebound battle in either game. When they out-rebound their opponent, the score reflects it.

But the Gators don’t rebound the ball really great either. They’ve been out-boarded in 6 of their last 10 games, and I have a feeling the Wildcats will get them again on the glass. Now, 76% f the public bet likes the Wildcats to cover, and that makes sense as a small spread and an undefeated team. But the Cats should find a way to out-score the Gators, with toughness if not skill. I’ll take them, going with the public.

Kentucky Wildcats (-2) @ Florida Gators

ACC vs Big 10 Challenge: Free NCAA Basketball Picks

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ACC Big 10 Challenge Tuesday Night Games

So what if I have March Madness and it’s merely December 1st, I’ve been known to get a little excited ahead of schedule – but what can I say, there’s something about college basketball that makes it just a little more pure than any other big sport in America. Maybe it’s the rivalries, or the great coaches, or the intense nature and the “there’s always a chance” fashion of college hoops. Maybe it’s the fact that some of these guys will be going heads up against NBA stars next year and holding their own. Unlike some of the other major sports, many of these kids are NBA ready. It’s far from clean, don’t get me wrong, there’s recruiting violations and such, but the game is still pure, and it’s perfect as it is. The ACC-Big 10 Challenge is one of my favorite events of the pre-conference season, and this year has some more great match-ups. Here are my Tuesday Night Predictions….

Wake Forrest Demon Deacons (+11) @ Purdue Boilermakers: The 6th rated Boilermakers are very good, no doubt, they do all the little things well, have some knock down shooters from the outside, and put up a lot of points while beating some very good teams. But athletically, the Deacons can and will play with anyone. They have one of the best players in the ACC (Aminu Al-Farouq) and the kid is coming off a  4 for 18 performance in a big loss last time out. Their best guard was 5 for 15 in that loss. These guys will play better and stick with the Boilermakers.

Northwestern Wildcats (+4.5) @ N.C. State Wolf Pack: The Wildcats are better than people think, especially in the back court. NC State has struggled with guard-centric teams, and with Michael Thompson and Jeremy Nash, the Wildcats can put pressure on NC State. NC State just isn’t as efficient offensively as they need to be. I’ll take the points.

Maryland Terrapins (-4.5) @ Indiana Hoosiers: Until the Hoosiers beat somebody noteable (sorry, no offense to the schools they’ve beaten thus far) I have to go against them against guys like Greivis Vasquez. Greivis hasn’t really caught fire yet, but the season is young, and with a couple early losses, I don’t see Maryland coasting in this game.

Michigan State Spartans (+2.5) @ North Carolina Tar Heels: I hate going against my Tar Heels, but I think this Spartan team has improved from last year’s squad, and with Ty Lawson, Hansborough, and Ellington gone I don’t think the Heels are as good. Both teams have an early season loss, and both will be good all year, I just think the Spartans will be tough for the Heels to handle athletically in the back court.

Virginia Tech Hokies (-2.5) @ Iowa Hawkeyes: I think the Hokies end up being too athletic for Iowa, too fast at guard and just better. I like them to win on the road.

Free NCAA and NBA Basketball Picks: Friday Night

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NCAA Hoops Picks:

Morehead State Eagles (+21) @ Kentucky Wildcats: I know Kentucky got their new coach and a bunch of prized recruits, but this Morehead State team is resilient. They return 4 starters form a year ago, and while they lost a key player in Senior, Leon Buchanan, they have some solid players that have played well against big time competition. Better yet, this team fights, they lost 2 games by more than 20 points last season. The first was just an off night in the 2nd game of the season against Vanderbilt, the 2nd was to Louisville. In the NCAA tournament last season, the Eagles lost by 20 to that same Louisville team. I expect it to take the Wildcats a few games to mesh, and while I fully expect them to win, it wouldn’t surprise me if this one is much closer than 20.

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Wright State Raiders @ Washington Huskies (-14): I just think UW’s overall size and athleticism is too much for the Raiders. It might stay close for a while, but with the way UW gambles and runs the floor, a five point lead could turn into twenty in just a few minutes. Wright State does return 4 starters from last year’s team that finished the season much better than they started. UW loses Justin Dentmon and Jon Brockman, two key cogs in the Huskies success a year ago, but Dentmon’s services will be replaced by fantastic freshman Abdul Gaddy, and Brockman’s absence will only allow the Huskies to run the floor more against lesser teams. UW is long enough to rebound at all positions. I haven’t even talked about Isiah Thomas yet – the sophomore was awesome in his first season with the Huskies, and I only expect him to be better this time around.

NBA Hoops:

Atlanta Hawks (+9) @ Boston Celtics: The first game in ESPN’s double header seems like a great bet. The Hawks are one of the better teams in the East, they play good defense, and this game has definitely turned into a rivalry after a tough playoff match-up. This game is often a close one, finishing 6 points or closer in 5 of the last 8 contests. The road team has won 8 of the last 10, Atlanta has won 3 of the last 5 in Boston. Both teams are coming off a free day. Should be a good one.

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L.A. Lakers @ Denver Nuggets (-3): Gotta like Denver tonight, they haven’t played very well lately, but get the benefit of coming off a long road trip early in the season, and getting to play at home. Whew, what a load off. L.A. didn’t have a real tough game against Phoenix last night, but they still played, and they still are missing their second best player. The Lakers have a chance, of course, they have Mr. Bryant, but I like the Nuggets’ chances. This is the late game on ESPN Friday Night Basketball.

North Carolina Central Eagles vs North Carolina Tar Heels NCAAB Pick

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North Carolina Central Eagles @ North Carolina Tar Heels (-45.5): The Eagles lost 3 of their last 10 games last season by 30 or more points, and not once did they play a team half as talented as the Tar Heels. Most of the “experts” I’ve looked at like the Eagles to keep this one closer than 45, and that’s understandable, but I see a bad Eagles team that lost 3 starters from last season’s squad, including two of their best players in Jamar Briscoe and Bryan Ayala.

The Tar Heels are loaded, but they are coming off a game where they didn’t really dominate as much as people expected. 46 is a hell of a lot of points for a Tar Heel team that is less explosive than last years’ squad. But against this young and unproven in-state team, I think Carolina can lay it on pretty thick.

NCC is a 4 win team from last season, and they’re down 4 contributing seniors from a year ago. North Carolina pounds the post, and that makes it tough to score 100, but they don’t have to hit the century mark to cover here. They can finish any where in teh 90s and do it, because with Carolina’s athletes and an improved defensive look, it would surprise me if the Eagles got over 40 points. They scored in the 40s seven different times last season, most of those came against decent competition.

Take the Tar Heels, they should cover despite the astronomical spread.