Picks for Best Games on Saturday, March 9th
It is the last Saturday of the regular season, meaning that there are all sorts of great games to pick from. The headline game is Duke at North Carolina, although my eyes will be on Belmont-Murray State and Michigan-Michigan State. All of these games, plus a bunch of other great games makes today a big day. Here are my against the spread picks for all of the days best games.
Villanova at Seton Hall
Noon ET on FOX
Line: Villanova -2.5
Pick: Villanova
Against the Spread: Villanova
Final Score Prediction: Villanova 72 Seton Hall 65
Why this pick? This is a coin flip game but I will rely upon Villanova to win a big game.
Tennessee at Auburn
Noon ET on ESPN
Line: Tennessee -1.5
Pick: Tennessee
Against the Spread: Tennessee
Final Score Prediction: Tennessee 73 Auburn 65
Why this pick? Auburn hasn’t beat a Top-20 team yet this year, they aren’t going to get their first of the season against this Tennessee team.
Syracuse at Clemson
Noon ET on CBS
Line: Clemson -5
Pick: Syracuse
Against the Spread: Syracuse
Final Score Prediction: Syracuse 69 Clemson 68
Why this pick? This will be close, I just think it is more likely that Syracuse wins this game, as Clemson blows another game.
TCU at Texas
Noon ET on ESPN2
Line: Texas -6
Pick: Texas
Against the Spread: Texas
Final Score Prediction: Texas 76 TCU 65
Why this pick? I don’t think TCU has the bodies to stay up with Texas, the Longhorns just are too physical and they are playing well.
Florida at Kentucky
2 PM ET on CBS
Line: Kentucky -10
Pick: Kentucky
Against the Spread: Florida
Final Score Prediction: Kentucky 68 Florida 60
Why this pick? This game will be close and low-scoring, the Wildcats win but not by double-digits.
Baylor at Kansas
2 PM ET on ESPN
Line: Kansas -7.5
Pick: Kansas
Against the Spread: Kansas
Final Score Prediction: Kansas 78 Baylor 65
Why this pick? Picking against Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse is a bold strategy, I’m not being bold with this game.
Texas Tech at Iowa State
2 PM ET on ESPN News
Line: Texas Tech -2
Pick: Texas Tech
Against the Spread: Texas Tech
Final Score Prediction: Texas Tech 76 Iowa State 64
Why this pick? With the way these two teams are playing right now, picking Texas Tech is the easy choice.
Louisville at Virginia
4 PM ET on ESPN
Line: Virginia -13
Pick: Virginia
Against the Spread: Virginia
Final Score Prediction: Virginia 76 Louisville 54
Why this pick? Virginia on senior day should put on a show, they win this one handily.
UCF at Temple
4 PM ET on ESPN2
Line: Even
Pick: Temple
Against the Spread: Temple
Final Score Prediction: Temple 72 UCF 59
Why this pick? The Knights are playing well as of late but I think they have a down game and they lose to a desperate Temple team.
Arizona State at Arizona
4 PM ET on CBS
Line: Arizona -1
Pick: Arizona
Against the Spread: Arizona
Final Score Prediction: Arizona 84 Arizona State 76
Why this pick? Picking Arizona State to win a big road game for their at-large stakes is going to be a no from me.
St. John’s at Xavier
5 PM ET on FOX
Line: Xavier -2.5
Pick: Xavier
Against the Spread: Xavier
Final Score Prediction: Xavier 78 St. John’s 72
Why this pick? The Musketeers won at the Lou Carnesecca Center a couple weeks ago, I think they should be able to win a home game.
Duke at North Carolina
6 PM ET on ESPN
Line: North Carolina -3.5
Pick: North Carolina
Against the Spread: North Carolina
Final Score Prediction: North Carolina 76 Duke 70
Why this pick? Likely no Zion in this game, plus North Carolina is playing at home. This is the best time to pick Duke to lose.
Oklahoma at Kansas State
6 PM ET on ESPN2
Line: Kansas State -7
Pick: Kansas State
Against the Spread: Kansas State
Final Score Prediction: Kansas State 76 Oklahoma 64
Why this pick? Oklahoma is coming off a big win against Kansas, plus the Wildcats know that they win the Big 12 with a win, they will probably show out for this one.
Belmont vs. Murray State
8 PM ET on ESPN2
Line: Belmont -2
Pick: Belmont
Against the Spread: Belmont
Final Score Prediction: Belmont 83 Murray State 76
Why this pick? This will be an entertaining game that will probably go back and forth, I think Belmont is able to make the last push to win this game.
Michigan at Michigan State
8 PM ET on ESPN
Line: Michigan State -3.5
Pick: Michigan
Against the Spread: Michigan
Final Score Prediction: Michigan
Why this pick? I think the Wolverines win this game as payback for the game a Michigan State won two weeks ago.
Yesterday’s Picks: 5-3
Year to date: 348-295-17