Picks for Best Games on Saturday, January 26th
Today is the day of the SEC/ Big 12 Challenge, which means we are guaranteed ten good matchups between those two leagues. I will have picks for all those games, as well as all the other good matchups taking place throughout the day. I will be formatting this differently as I will feature the SEC/ Big 12 games at the top and the rest of the picks will be below those pick’s.
SEC/ Big 12 Challenge Picks
Alabama at Baylor
Noon ET on ESPNU
Line: Baylor -3.5
Pick: Baylor
Against the Spread: No pick
Final Score Prediction: Baylor 67 Alabama 64
Why this pick? Baylor will tend to keep teams close even while potentially winning, I think the Bears win but even 3.5 points will be hard for them to cover.
Iowa State at Ole Miss
Noon ET on ESPN
Line: Ole Miss -1
Pick: Iowa State
Against the Spread: Iowa State
Final Score Prediction: Iowa State 76 Ole Miss 60
Why this pick? The Rebels are starting to cool down as a team, Iowa State is a dominant team, I think the Cyclones win handily.
Florida at TCU
Noon ET on ESPN2
Line: TCU -4
Pick: TCU
Against the Spread: TCU
Final Score Prediction: TCU 78 Florida 64
Why this pick? The Gators are hit or miss, TCU is more consistent, I think I will take TCU but I am not feeling confident about it.
Texas at Georgia
2 PM ET on ESPN2
Line: Texas -4.5
Pick: Texas
Against the Spread: Texas
Final Score Prediction: Texas 76 Georgia 64
Why this pick? This Texas team is starting to figure things out on the offensive side of the ball, now would be a good time to take the Longhorns.
South Carolina at Oklahoma State
2 PM ET on ESPNU
Line: Oklahoma State -3.5
Pick: South Carolina
Against the Spread: South Carolina
Final Score Prediction: South Carolina 67 Oklahoma State 66
Why this pick? This one will be close but I think the Gamecocks will pull this one out.
Kansas State at Texas A&M
PM ET on ESPN
Line: Kansas State -4.5
Pick: Kansas State
Against the Spread: Kansas State
Final Score Prediction: Kansas State 79 Texas A&M 60
Why this pick? Anyone picking Texas A&M should be checked to see if they have a concussion, Kansas State is a really easy pick here.
Vanderbilt at Oklahoma
4 PM ET on ESPN2
Line: Oklahoma -10
Pick: Oklahoma
Against the Spread: Vanderbilt
Final Score Prediction: Oklahoma 67 Vanderbilt 60
Why this pick? This Sooners team is better than Vanderbilt but they also don’t win games by more than 10.
West Virginia at Tennessee
4 PM ET on ESPN
Line: Tennessee -16.5
Pick: Tennessee
Against the Spread: West Virginia
Final Score Prediction: Tennessee 71 West Virginia 59
Why this pick? The Volunteers aren’t playing their best basketball, now might be a good time to pick West Virginia to cover.
Arkansas at Texas Tech
6 PM ET on ESPN2
Line: Texas Tech -10
Pick: Texas Tech
Against the Spread: Arkansas
Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 65 Arkansas 59
Why this pick? The Red Raiders don’t really blow teams out, this might be a game to pick a cover.
Kansas at Kentucky
6 PM ET on ESPN
Line: Kentucky -6
Pick: Kentucky
Against the Spread: Kentucky
Final Score Prediction: Kentucky 73 Kansas 64
Why this pick? This is a matchup where I would pick whoever is playing at home, in this one Kentucky is so pick the Wildcats.
SEC/ Big 12 Challenge Prediction: 7-3
Other Picks
Virginia at Notre Dame
1 PM ET on CBS
Line: Virginia -11.5
Pick: Virginia
Against the Spread: Virginia
Final Score Prediction: Virginia 73 Notre Dame 55
Why this pick? Virginia is just another class of team, they win this one handily.
Marquette at Xavier
2 PM ET on Fox Sports 1
Line: Marquette -2.5
Pick: Marquette
Against the Spread: Marquette
Final Score Prediction: Marquette 76 Xavier 65
Why this pick? The Golden Eagles will look to stay right with Villanova in the Big East race by winning this game.
Washington at Oregon State
4 PM ET on the PAC-12 Network
Line: Oregon State -1.5
Pick: Washington
Against the Spread: Washington
Final Score Prediction: Washington 67 Oregon State 56
Why this pick? Tournament teams win these types of games, I think Washington is a tournament team.
LSU at Missouri
6 PM ET on the SEC Network
Line: LSU -4.5
Pick: LSU
Against the Spread: LSU
Final Score Prediction: LSU 78 Missouri 62
Why this pick? LSU is playing on another level right now, this seems like the smart pick.
Syracuse at Virginia Tech
8 PM ET on ESPN
Line: Virginia Tech -5.5
Pick: Syracuse
Against the Spread: Syracuse
Final Score Prediction: Syracuse 68 Virginia Tech 67
Why this pick? The Orange are playing too good right now to pick against them.
Arizona State at USC
8 PM ET on ESPN2
Line: USC -2.5
Pick: Arizona State
Against the Spread: Arizona State
Final Score Prediction: Arizona State 85 USC 76
Why this pick? Both teams are playing well right now but I still think Arizona State is the better team right now.
Auburn at Mississippi State
8:30 PM ET on the SEC Network
Line: Mississippi State -1.5
Pick: Mississippi State
Against the Spread: Mississippi State
Final Score Prediction: Mississippi State 76 Auburn 67
Why this pick? The Tigers can’t win big games, this is a big game. Mississippi State should win this game.
Yesterday’s Picks: 2-0
Year to date: 226-173-13