College Basketball Picks

Consistency, thy name is not Baylor. The Bears put an end to Arizona’s 52-game nonconference home winning streak on Dec. 15, but then turned around and lost at home to Stephen F. Austin. Baylor’s biggest problem is that the Bears are simply abysmal when they have to play a midrange or outside game. Will that be the case with the 7 footer Bol Bol?

The Blue Devils average 93.6 points per game and are second only to Gonzaga — the one team they’ve lost to. How will Texas Tech get the points they need to win… or at least help us beat our bookie and stay within 8.5?

The X-factor here is N.C. State’s preparation. How ready are the Wolfpack for this game after playing one of the weakest schedules in the nation? State coach Kevin Keatts has brought his team along slowly in his second season, knowing that the Pack still aren’t ready to challenge the best in the ACC and outside the conference until they’ve played together for at least a few weeks. Sportsbooks have this game as a pick’em and DJ has your hoops pick.

Duke’s freshman trio continues to destroy opponents, and the Blue Devils haven’t really experienced resistance since their loss to Gonzaga, winning each game by at least 20 points. However, it’s hard to gauge how rusty Duke will be for this game, given that the Blue Devils haven’t played anyone since beating Yale on Dec. 8. What is pretty certain is that Duke’s offense will continue to run through freshmen R.J. Barrett and Zion Williamson, who each average over 20 points per game and have proven to be unstoppable. Bovada lists Duke at -31. Can bettors find value in this pick?

This is the time of year when Michigan State starts to get dangerous. Tom Izzo always puts his team through a gauntlet in November and December to toughen it up for Big Ten play, and if the Spartans come through it relatively unscathed, they become a load to bring down for the rest of the year. Escaping with only losses to Kansas and Louisville qualifies as relatively unscathed, and Michigan State looks like it’s going to be dueling with Michigan for Big Ten supremacy all season long. That means demolishing teams like Green Bay but is there betting value at -26.5? DJ has a pick and analysis.