Larry Ness
Utah vs. Oregon St.
Pick: Utah
The 17-9 Utah Utes are 8-6 in Pac 12 play and are in the running for a top-four finish in conference play, which would give them a first-round by in the upcoming Pac 12 tourney. They travel to Corvallis Sunday evening to face an Oregon State team which opened the season by going 4-9 in non-conference play but remains winless in Pac 12 games so far, at 0-14.
Oregon State's season ended for all practical purposes when 6-8 forward Tres Tinkle (20.2-8.3), the coach's son, broke his wrist after six games. Guards Thompson (16.1 & 4.4) and McLaughlin (11.2) plus the 6-10 Eubanks (14.8 & 8.4) are quality players but the Beavers just don't have enough talent to break through in Pac 12 contests.
Utah may have to play without its best player as well, the 6-9 Kuzma (15.7 & 10.2). He missed Thursday’s 79-61 loss at No.7 Oregon after spraining an ankle in practice the previous day, Kuzma has a Pac-12-high15 double-doubles on the season but his availability is expected to be a game-time decision. The 6-8 Collette (14.4-4.9) is a nice frontcourt partner for Kuzma plus Utah has a deep group of perimeter players in guards Bonam (12.7), Daniels (10.5-4.8 ), Barefield (9.4), Zamora (7.5) and Van Dyke (5.1). What I like most about this team is its efficiency, as Utah makes 50.6 percent of its shots, ranking 4th in the nation.
The Utes were no match for the Ducks on Thursday but this game and a visit to Colorado next Thursday (Utah's lone game next week), are almost "musts" if the Utes want that first-round Pac 12 tourney bye.
Will Rogers
DePaul vs. Butler
Pick: DePaul
The set-up: The DePaul Blue Demons are coming to the end of yet another disappointing season, as they visit No. 24 Butler on Sunday, just 8-18 overall, including a woeful 1-12 in Big East play. The Bulldogs are 20-6 on the season, including 9-5 in Big East games.
DePaul: The Blue Demons come into this contest having lost nine in a row, as well as 14 of their last 15. DePaul is a team which struggles to score (69.3 PPG ranks 273rd) plus defends poorly (74.3 PPG allowed ranks 230th). That's an 'ugly daily double' and pretty much sums up its season. Guards Cain (15.8 & 4.4) and Garrett (14.8 & 3.2 APG) are solid but there's not much else other than the 6-7 McCallum (10.0 & 6.7).
Butler: The Bulldogs are hoping for an easy win here, as they've lost three of their last five. Butler shot 57.6 percent and matched its season high with 13 three-pointers in Wednesday's 110-86 win over St. John's. Butler continues bring its best player off the bench, as forward Kelan Martin leads the team in scoring (15.5) and rebounding (5.6). Fellow 6-7 forward Andrew Chrabascz (11.9 & 4.7) is the only other Bulldog who averages double digits in points but five Bulldogs chip in between 6.7 and 9.9 PPG.
The pick: OK, DePaul is 0-7 SU on the road this season and limps in on not only on a nine-game losing streak, but will be playing its fourth consecutive ranked opponent, after losing the first three by a combined 59 points! That said, the line here is approaching three 'TDs' and let's not forget that in the first meeting between these schools this year, Butler needed overtime to escape with a 70-69 victory.
Anthony Michael
Maryland +6
Love the Terps here since they are 7-1 ATS their last 8 road games and they are 13-3-2 ATS their last 18 Big 10 games. Wisconsin is struggling lately losing their last 2 games SU and failing to cover their last 4 in a row. With these 2 strong defenses look for the points to be the difference here in getting this cover.
The Gold Sheet
San Diego State -13
A couple of years ago, UNLV was still competitive vs. SDSU. But the recent Rebels downturn is reflected in the fact they have not been within single digits in the last three series losses. To wit: UNLV only scoring 53 ppg the last three vs. Steve Fisher's defense, which again put the clamps on the Rebs at Thomas & Mack on Jan. 17 in a 64-51 win. Fisher is hoping his team's recent Viejas Arena romp past Nevada will provided a needed spark down the stretch for SDSU, which is starting to get needed production from 6-10 jr. Malik Pope (DDs in 4 of recent 5-game stretch after missing considerable action earlier in the season.
Dave Essler
Boston +2
Analysis: This is BU's last home game of the season - that DOES mean something, especially when it's against the Conference leaders and you're one game out in the loss column. BU lives and dies by the three-ball, which is Bucknell's weakest defensive link. This game also quite likely goes over, FWIW.
Wunderdog
Illinois Chicago @ Oakland
Pick: Illinois Chicago +10
Illinois-Chicago is a big dog to Oakland, but they will look to control the tempo with defense. Illinois-Chicago is third in the Horizon League in field goal shooting defense, while the offense is tops in three-point shooting (38.5%) and fourth in free throws. Illinois-Chicago is on a 12-5 spread run, as well as 16-7-1 ATS in conference play. The Flames and the Oakland Golden Grizzlies engaged in a defensive slugfest when they met January 8. Illinois-Chicago led by six at the break, controlling the pace, as Oakland came back for a 58-57 win. It was the second lowest point total for the normally high-scoring Golden Grizzlies. Oakland shot 34% and Illinois-Chicago won the rebounding battle 56-41.
Ken Thomson
Georgia Tech +2.5
The Jackets look for their 5th straight home Conference win. Pastner has done a nice job with this Tech team especially at home in the ACC. The Jackets have home wins vs. North Carolina, Florida State, Notre Dame & Clemson and look to add the Orange to that list. Should be close throughout but the crowd should help GT get the W!
Eric Schroeder
My free Sunday winner is on the Creighton Blue Jays minus the number against the Georgetown Hoyas.
Just five games left in the regular season, and while the Hoyas are playing for the dancing resume in next month's big tournament, Creighton is arguably playing for a highly favorable seed.
Both teams are in must-win mode.
The 20th-ranked Blue Jays (21-5, 8-5 Big East) is in revenge mode against Georgetown (14-12, 5-8, as the Hoyas won the first meeting behind a stingy defense. Creighton was limited to a season-worst 1-for-19 shooting from three-point range in a 71-51 shellacking.
Georgetown is dealing with injuries, and won't be able to withstand the offensive onslaught Creighton will bring.
Lay the chalk.
4* CREIGHTON
Brad Wilton
Thought about backing the revenging host today in Creighton, but then thought better of it, as I think the Blue Jays will indeed get their revenge win, but I think they are laying a few points too many today to the visiting Hoyas.
Georgetown has won 4 of their last 6 games straight up, and they have covered 3 straight when listed as the underdog. That underdog stretch includes their 71-51 home pounding of the Jays back on January 25th as the small home underdog.
The Blue Jays are only 3-4 both straight up and against the spread their last 7 games contested (G-Town meeting included), so can't really trust them laying this many hoops.
Hoyas plus the points the call today.
1* GEORGETOWN
Chris Jordan
My free play is on the West All Stars in the NBA All Star Game, as I'm banking on the Golden State Warriors contingent, not to mention the MVP candidates on the roster, to pace this one.
Do I need to remind everyone just how dominating the West was a year ago, in a 196-173 win that saw Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder win the MVP for the second consecutive year? I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see the triple-double machine make it three in a row, with how well he has been playing. Nor would I be surprised to see Houston's James Harden or possibly someone from Golden State.
But it is Westbrook averaging a triple-double, with 31.1 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per contest and 10.1 assists per night. And, he was not selected as an All-Star starter. Not only is he suiting up alongside former teammate Kevin Durant, he'll be coached by Warriors coach Steve Kerr.
He will go off, and put whomever he wants in the spotlight. Despite the East being bolstered by the best player on the planet, LeBron James can't do it alone.
Westbrook is going to get Pelicans big man Anthony Davis involved and, I think, will help him win the MVP award. Westbrook's assist number will be high, while Davis' scoring output will soar.
Play the West in this year's All-Star Break.
1* WEST
Jack Brayman
I'm going to play the NBA All-Star Game under the posted number. I know this game brought us 369 points last year, but let's not forget that included Kobe Bryant's final appearance.
This year there is a lot more tension. I mean, I know this is supposed to be a weekend of camaraderie and everyone gets together to chill and have fun, but once this game starts the rivalries kick in.
And with the West, there are rivalries within.
The East is going to want to slow the pace, and keep the ball out of the West's hands, given all the scorers it has. There are plenty of defensive specialists on the East who can make things difficult, during those stretches in the All-Star Game, that the players take it more serious than as if they were playing in a Harlem Globetrotters game.
This number is a bit high, and I'll play this under.
1* East/West Under
Brandon Lee
Georgetown vs. Creighton
Play: Creighton -6½
The Bluejays are worth a look here at home against the Hoyas. Creighton isn't viewed the same since they lost Watson to a season-ending injury, but this is still a talented team that is capable of beating Georgetown on their home floor by more than 10 points. The Bluejays are 11-3 at home this season and are going to be hungry for a victory after a poor showing on the road at Seton Hall last time out. Georgetown is just 5-6 on the road and a mere 1-5 ATS in their last 6 off a win. Creighton is 6-0 ATS in their last 6 home games when they come in having lost 2 of their last 3 games.
Braxton Myles
Syracuse vs. Georgia Tech
Play: Syracuse -2
Syracuse hasn't had a game in 4 days so they should be well rested coming into this game today. Syracuse is on a two game losing streak coming into this game and I look for them to get back on track and get the W here. Syracuse is 2-0 SU in this series in the last two seasons and on average are putting up 9 more PPG than Georgia Tech this season. This should be a great conference game between these two teams today with Syracuse taking the W home, I am going all in on Syracuse today and you should too!
Black Widow
Utah vs. Oregon State
Play: Oregon St +14
Bets against favorites of 10 or more points off a road loss by 10 points or more, a good team winning 60% to 80% of their games against a terrible team winning 20% or less are 62-24 ATS since 1997. The Utes are just 3-4 SU & 2-5 ATS in their last seven games overall. They are laying too big of a number here on the road with this 14-point spread Sunday.
Dave Price
Georgetown vs. Creighton
Play: Georgetown +7
Georgetown remains on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament despite its 14-12 record due to its strength of schedule. A road win at Creighton today would help the Hoyas' cause. They have been playing much better of late with four wins in their last six contests. They beat both Marquette (by 18) and Creighton (by 20) at home, while also upsetting Butler (by 4) on the road. Creighton is just 3-4 since losing star PG Mo Watson Jr to a season-ending injury. The Bluejays are very beatable right now and shouldn't be laying 7 points to the Hoyas.