Basketball Predictions - 16 Feb

Upset picks are in italics.

NCAA

Northern Illinois at Akron - Zips by 20

Texas Southern at Jackson State - JSU Tigers by 1

Iowa State at Oklahoma State - Cowboys by 16

Providence at UConn - Huskies by 8

(20) Missouri at Georgia - Tigers by 2.5

Florida at (24) Arkansas - Razorbacks by 4.5

Wagner at Mount St. Mary's - Mountaineers by 5.5

Nebraska at Maryland - Terrapins by 11.5

Austin Peay at SE Missouri State - Governors by 2.5

St. Francis (BKN) at Fairleigh Dickinson - Knights by 7

Temple at Tulsa - Golden Hurricane by 6.5

Michigan State at Purdue - Boilermakers by 10

Dayton at Rhode Island - Rams by 6.5

Bowling Green at Ball State - Cardinals by 1.5

Miami (OH) at Toledo - Rockets by 14

Kent State at Western Michigan - Golden Flashes by 10

Xavier at St. John's - Red Storm by 2.5

Northwestern at (5) Illinois - Illini by 14.5

Loyola Marymount at Santa Clara - Broncos by 0.5

La Salle at Saint Louis - Billikens by 16

NBA

Denver at Boston - Nuggets by 2.5

New Orleans at Memphis - Grizzlies by 2

Toronto at Milwaukee - Bucks by 6.5

LA Lakers at Minnesota - Lakers by 12

Portland at Oklahoma City - Trail Blazers by 3

Brooklyn at Phoenix - Suns by 2

Results

NCAA: 8-1 (.889) 2311-871 overall (.726)

Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 205-276 overall (.426)

NBA: 4-3 (.571) 226-177 overall (.561)

Upsets: 41-56 overall (.423)

Basketball Predictions - 27 Feb

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA

Miami at Boston - Celtics by 5
Minnesota at New Orleans - Pelicans by 4
Portland at Chicago - Bulls by 1
San Antonio at Houston - Spurs by 10
Detroit at Milwaukee - Pistons by 2
Golden State at Oklahoma City - Warriors by 3
Memphis at Phoenix - Grizzlies by 4
Brooklyn at Utah - Jazz by 10

College Basketball

Ole Miss at Georgia - Bulldogs by 5
Texas Tech at (2) Kansas - Jayhawks by 15
Gardner-Webb at Liberty - Flames by 1
Cincinnati at East Carolina - Bearcats by 10
UCF at Temple - Owls by 13
Georgia Tech at Boston College - Yellowjackets by 8
UMBC at New Hampshire - Wildcats by 14
Butler at Georgetown - Bulldogs by 1
Rhode Island at Dayton - Flyers by 11
Holy Cross at Boston U - Terriers by 12
Colgate at Lafayette - Raiders by 2
Loyola (MD) at American - Eagles by 2
Western Kentucky at UAB - Blazers by 13
Lehigh at Army - Black Knights by 4
VCU at George Washington - Colonials by 2
Towson at UNC Wilmington - Seahawks by 10
Wright State at Cleveland State - Raiders by 3
The Citadel at VMI - Keydets by 7
IPFW at IUPUI - Mastodons by 2
Appalachian State at Georgia State - Panthers by 9
(3) Oklahoma at (25) Texas - Sooners by 1
Elon at Delaware - Phoenix by 2
Winthrop at Campbell - Eagles by 1
NC State at Syracuse - Orange by 8
Rutgers at Northwestern - Wildcats by 22
(11) Louisville at (12) Miami (FL) - Hurricanes by 2
Maine at Binghamton - Bearcats by 9
(1) Villanova at Marquette - Wildcats by 9
Davidson at Fordham - Rams by 1
George Mason at La Salle - Patriots by 1
FIU at FAU - Golden Panthers by 1
(9) Arizona at (22) Utah - Utes by 3
Eastern Michigan at Ball State - Cardinals by 5
Fairfield at Saint Peter's - Peacocks by 5
Bradley at Indiana State - Sycamores by 17
Loyola (CHI) at Drake - Bulldogs by 1
Northern Iowa at Evansville - Aces by 6
Illinois State at Wichita State - Shockers by 18
Furman at Western Carolina - Catamounts by 2
South Carolina at Mississippi State - Bulldogs by 3
William & Mary at James Madison - Dukes by 7
Sacramento State at North Dakota - Fighting Hawks by 7
New Mexico State at UMKC - Aggies by 4
Kent State at Miami (OH) - Golden Flashes by 2
St. Francis (PA) at Sacred Heart - Pioneers by 6
Fairleigh Dickinson at Central Connecticut - Knights by 7
Bucknell at Navy - Midshipmen by 2
Morgan State at Coppin State - Eagles by 1
Eastern Washington at Idaho - Vandals by 3
Pepperdine at Loyola Marymount - Waves by 2
(16) Kentucky at Vanderbilt - Commodores by 3
(21) Texas A&M at Missouri - Aggies by 9
Southern Utah at Northern Arizona - Lumberjacks by 6
Charleston at Hofstra - Pride by 8
Northeastern at Drexel - Huskies by 2
Longwood at Radford - Highlanders by 12
(23) Notre Dame at Florida State - Seminoles by 1
(10) Maryland at (20) Purdue - Boilermakers by 8
DePaul at Providence - Friars by 14
Buffalo at Ohio - Bobcats by 5
Massachusetts at St. Bonaventure - Bonnies by 14
North Carolina Central at Bethune-Cookman - Wildcats by 6
Delaware State at Maryland-Eastern Shore - Hawks by 10
Mount St. Mary's at St. Francis (BKN) - Terriers by 4
Robert Morris at Wagner - Seahawks by 14
Wofford at East Tennessee State - Buccaneers by 8
Nicholls State at McNeese State - Cowboys by 5
High Point at Presbyterian - Panthers by 7
Coastal Carolina at UNC Asheville - Bulldogs by 7
Western Michigan at Northern Illinois - Huskies by 9
UCLA at Stanford - Cardinal by 3
Bryant at LIU Brooklyn - Blackbirds by 13
New Orleans at Abilene Christian - Wildcats by 5
Central Arkansas at SE Louisiana - Lions by 4
Samford at Chattanooga - Mocs by 16
Auburn at Alabama - Crimson Tide by 12
Louisiana Lafayette at South Alabama - Ragin Cajuns by 8
Louisiana Monroe at Troy - Warhawks by 4
Lamar at Incarnate Word - Cardinals by 9
Morehead State at Jacksonville State - Eagles by 5
Oral Roberts at South Dakota State - Jackrabbits by 14
Boise State at San Diego State - Aztecs by 4
Harvard at Brown - Bears by 1
North Carolina A&T at Florida A&M - Rattlers by 3
(14) West Virginia at Oklahoma State - Mountaineers by 7
Kansas State at (17) Iowa State - Cyclones by 9
Richmond at Duquesne - Dukes by 1
Marshall at Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 2
North Dakota State at Denver - Pioneers by 1
Cornell at Princeton - Tigers by 23
Howard at Hampton - Pirates by 11
South Carolina State at Savannah State - Bulldogs by 1
Alabama State at Prairie View A&M - Panthers by 1
(7) North Carolina at (3) Virginia - Cavaliers by 4
Southern at Alcorn State - Jaguars by 3
Texas State at Arkansas Little Rock - Trojans by 19
UTEP at Charlotte - 49ers by 5
UC Riverside at Long Beach State - 49ers by 12
Rice at Louisiana Tech - Bulldogs by 15
Hartford at Albany - Great Danes by 24
Vermont at Stony Brook - Seawolves by 14
Houston Baptist at Stephen F Austin - Lumberjacks by 17
Central Michigan at Toledo - Rockets by 12
Youngstown State at Northern Kentucky - Norse by 11
Columbia at Penn - Lions by 3
Arkansas at Tennessee - Volunteers by 4
SE Missouri State at Austin Peay - Governors by 14
UT Arlington at Arkansas State - Mavericks by 9
Wyoming at UNLV - Rebels by 12
Gonzaga at BYU - Cougars by 3
(19) Baylor at TCU - Bears by 5
Dartmouth at Yale - Bulldogs by 17
UTSA at Old Dominion - Monarchs by 24
North Texas at Southern Miss - Golden Eagles by 2
Missouri State at Southern Illinois - Salukis by 12
Tennessee Martin at Murray State - Racers by 6
Texas A&M-CC at Sam Houston State - Bearkats by 4
South Dakota at Western Illinois - Leathernecks by 4
Florida at LSU - Gators by 1
Eastern Kentucky at Tennessee Tech - Golden Eagles by 6
Alabama A&M at Texas Southern - Tigers by 14
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Grambling State - Tigers by 8
Mississippi Valley State at Jackson State - Tigers by 18
Portland State at Northern Colorado - Vikings by 1
San Jose State at Utah State - Aggies by 10
Pacific at Santa Clara - Broncos by 1
Montana at Weber State - Wildcats by 9
UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Fullerton - Gauchos by 4
Portland at San Diego - Pilots by 1
Montana State at Idaho State - Bengals by 3
Fresno State at New Mexico - Lobos by 9
Grand Canyon at CSU Bakersfield - Roadrunners by 7
Utah Valley at Seattle - Redhawks by 5
Saint Mary's at San Francisco - Gaels by 9
CS Northridge at Hawaii - Warriors by 16
UC Irvine at UC Davis - Anteaters by 3

Pick of the Day

Jackson State

The Tigers are still in the running for the top spot in the SWAC and the #16 seed that comes with it, and they are hosting Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, a team with 5 wins on the season, all coming against other teams in one of the weakest conferences in the country.

Prediction Results

NBA: 7-1 (.875) 570-298 overall (.657)
Upsets: 3-0 (1.000) 53-83 overall (.390)
College Basketball: 11-0 (1.000) 3854-1279 overall (.751)
Pick of the Day: 98-6 (.942)

NBA Rankings - 25 Jan

Indiana gave up the top spot in the rankings after just one week after their biggest loss of the season on Wednesday night at Phoenix. That allowed the top two in the West to jump ahead and jockey back and forth over the last few night to try to take back the top spot they've held for most of the season. Here are my full current rankings:

Rank	LW	Team	Record	Rating	Predic	Ch	Seed
1	2	San Antonio	33-10	-8.23571	62-20	+1	1W
2	3	Oklahoma City	34-10	-8.12946	62-20	+1	2W
3	1	Indiana	34-8	-7.77539	65-17		1E
4	4	LA Clippers	30-15	-5.97626	55-27	-1	4W
5	5	Portland	32-11	-5.72126	58-24		3W
6	7	Minnesota	21-21	-5.08912	47-35	+2	7W
7	6	Golden State	26-18	-4.97959	52-30		5W
8	8	Miami	31-12	-3.71702	54-28		2E
9	9	Houston	29-16	-3.71445	51-31	+1	6W
10	11	Phoenix	24-18	-2.87072	47-35	+1	8W
11	10	Toronto	22-20	-2.08072	47-35	-2	3E
12	12	Dallas	25-20	-1.70928	46-36	-1
13	13	Memphis	21-20	-0.93856	42-40
14	14	Denver	20-21	-0.03889	40-42
15	15	Atlanta	22-20	0.7635	42-40	+1	4E
16	16	New Orleans	17-25	1.416095	35-47	-1
17	17	Washington	21-21	1.696476	40-42	-1	5E
18	18	Sacramento	15-27	1.726322	32-50
19	19	Chicago	21-21	2.001261	38-44		6E
20	22	Brooklyn	19-22	3.332893	36-46	+2	7E
21	21	Boston	15-30	4.0264	31-51
22	20	New York	16-27	4.193578	32-50	-1
23	24	Detroit	17-26	4.60479	32-50
24	26	LA Lakers	16-28	4.669213	29-53	+1
25	23	Charlotte	19-26	4.752963	33-49	+1	8E
26	25	Utah	14-29	5.289425	27-55	-1
27	27	Cleveland	16-27	6.169115	29-53
28	28	Orlando	12-32	6.434853	24-58
29	29	Philadelphia	14-29	9.09932	25-57
30	30	Milwaukee	8-34	9.736729	17-65

This week's hottest team has been the Minnesota Timberwolves, who won all three of their games after losing 3 straight the week before. Two of those wins may have come against cellar-dwelling Utah, but the Wolves won last night against the Warriors in Oakland by a point, the first time all season Minnesota has won a game decided by fewer than 4 points.

The Nets have finally come to life in the new year, winning 9 of 10 since the calendar changed, including wins over Golden State, Miami, and Oklahoma City. Brooklyn was my preseason #2 in the East, but they haven't lived up to that so far, but it's not a stretch to see this team make it to #3 before the season is over.

Toronto was the coldest team this week, losing to Charlotte and the Lakers, both bottom 10 teams, before bouncing back with wins over Dallas and Philly, although the 76ers are worse than either of the teams the Raptors lost to this week. Luckily for them, Toronto plays in the worst division in basketball, so they should have no trouble making the playoffs.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA

Chicago at Charlotte - Bobcats by 1
LA Clippers at Toronto - Clippers by 1
Oklahoma City at Philadelphia - Thunder by 12
Houston at Memphis - Grizzlies by 1
Atlanta at Milwaukee - Hawks by 6
Indiana at Denver - Pacers by 2
Washington at Utah - Jazz by 2
Minnesota at Portland - Trail Blazers by 6

College Basketball

Ohio at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 4
(10) Iowa at Northwestern - Hawkeyes by 12
Florida State at (18) Duke - Blue Devils by 9
Sacred Heart at St. Francis (PA) - Red Flash by 3
Florida Gulf Coast at Kennesaw State - Eagles by 4
Towson at Delaware - Fightin Blue Hens by 11
Xavier at Providence - Friars by 2
Columbia at Cornell - Lions by 14
George Washington at George Mason - Colonials by 4
VCU at La Salle - Rams by 2
(2) Syracuse at Miami (FL) - Orange by 4
St. Francis (NY) at Bryant - Bulldogs by 8
Vanderbilt at Texas A&M - Aggies by 6
Georgia at (14) Kentucky - Wildcats by 18
Texas at (24) Baylor - Bears by 6
(22) Kansas State at (16) Iowa State - Cyclones by 16
(4) Villanova at Marquette - Wildcats by 2
West Virginia at (11) Oklahoma State - Cowboys by 17
Coastal Carolina at Radford - Highlanders by 5
North Florida at USC Upstate - Spartans by 8
Boston at Bucknell - Bison by 4
Charleston at James Madison - Dukes by 3
Valparaiso at Cleveland State - Vikings by 8
Illinois-Chicago at Oakland - Golden Grizzlies by 12
Buffalo at Northern Illinois - Huskies by 1
Wofford at Furman - Terriers by 5
South Dakota at Omaha - Mavericks by 15
Northern Arizona at North Dakota - No Nicknames by 3
Stetson at Mercer - Bears by 27
Notre Dame at Wake Forest - Demon Deacons by 2
Virginia Tech at Virginia - Cavaliers by 21
Hartford at UMBC - Hawks by 1
Tennessee at (6) Florida - Gators by 9
(25) Oklahoma at Texas Tech - Red Raiders by 4
VMI at Winthrop - Eagles by 5
Wagner at Robert Morris - Colonials by 11
Jacksonville at East Tennessee State - Buccaneers by 10
UTSA at UTEP - Miners by 22
American at Army - Eagles by 4
Northern Iowa at Loyola (IL) - Panthers by 5
Western Kentucky at Louisiana-Lafayette - Ragin Cajuns by 11
Sam Houston at Abilene Christian - Bearkats by 8
Northeastern at Hofstra - Pride by 2
William & Mary at Drexel - Dragons by 8
St. John's at Butler - Bulldogs by 7
Nevada at Wyoming - Cowboys by 7
New Mexico at Colorado State - Lobos by 1
Yale at Brown - Bears by 8
Dayton at Rhode Island - Flyers by 3
Saint Joseph's at Richmond - Spiders by 6
Mississippi State at Ole Miss - Rebels by 15
South Carolina at Missouri - Tigers by 13
Maryland-Eastern Shore at Bethune-Cookman - Wildcats by 9
North Carolina Central at Coppin State - NCC Eagles by 9
San Diego at Portland - Pilots by 7
UAB at Tulsa - Golden Hurricane by 10
Central Connecticut State at Fairleigh Dickinson - Knights by 9
Mount St. Mary's at LIU Brooklyn - Blackbirds by 2
Northwestern State at Oral Roberts - Golden Eagles by 9
(9) Wisconsin at Purdue - Badgers by 6
North Dakota State at South Dakota State - Bison by 7
Georgia State at Louisiana-Monroe - Panthers by 1
SIU-Edwardsville at Tennessee-Martin - Skyhawks by 4
SF Austin at Central Arkansas - Lumberjacks by 12
Lamar at Incarnate Word - IW Cardinals by 13
Oregon State at Washington - Huskies by 4
Longwood at Charleston Southern - Buccaneers by 30
Troy at Texas State - Bobcats by 4
(20) Pittsburgh at Maryland - Panthers by 4
FAU at FIU - Golden Panthers by 1
DePaul at Seton Hall - Pirates by 9
Mississippi Valley State at Texas Southern - Tigers by 16
Auburn at Arkansas - Razorbacks by 18
Howard at Florida A&M - Rattlers by 10
Hampton at Savannah State - Tigers by 1
Morgan State at North Carolina A&T - Bears by 1
Norfolk State at South Carolina State - Spartans by 1
Miami (OH) at Bowling Green - Falcons by 10
Loyola Marymount at Saint Mary's - Gaels by 13
Alabama State at Alcorn State - Braves by 3
Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Prairie View A&M - Panthers by 6
Illinois State at Indiana State - Sycamores by 10
San Jose State at Boise State - Broncos by 21
Eastern Illinois at SE Missouri State - Redhawks by 17
Alabama A&M at Southern - Jaguars by 20
(21) Michigan at (3) Michigan State - Spartans by 7
Connecticut at Rutgers - Huskies by 9
Campbell at Gardner-Webb - Runnin Bulldogs by 14
UNC Asheville at High Point - Bulldogs by 2
Presbyterian at Liberty - Flames by 17
Southern Miss at Eastern Carolina - Golden Eagles by 6
Tulane at Old Dominion - Monarchs by 14
Holy Cross at Navy - Crusaders by 3
Lafayette at Lehigh - Mountain Hawks by 10
Colgate at Loyola (MD) - Raiders by 2
IUPUI at IPFW - Mastodons by 15
Cal State Northridge at Long Beach State - 49ers by 9
St. Bonaventure at Duquesne - Bonnies by 2
Colorado at Arizona State - Sun Devils by 8
Akron at Central Michigan - Chippewas by 1
UNC Greensboro at Chattanooga - Mocs by 13
Georgia Southern at Davidson - Wildcats by 12
Elon at Samford - Phoenix by 6
Wright State at Youngstown State - Penguins by 6
Western Carolina at Citadel - Catamounts by 4
New Orleans at Texas A&M-CC - Islanders by 7
NJIT at Pennsylvania - Quakers by 8
Charlotte at Rice - 49ers by 6
Marshall at Louisiana Tech - Bulldogs by 23
Middle Tennessee at North Texas - Blue Raiders by 2
Southern Illinois at Missouri State - Bears by 9
Denver at Western Illinois - Leathernecks by 1
Tennessee Tech at Austin Peay - Governors by 1
Eastern Kentucky at Belmont - Bruins by 6
LSU at Alabama - Crimson Tide by 4
Santa Clara at San Francisco - Dons by 6
Georgetown at Creighton - Bluejays by 18
(5) Wichita State at Drake - Shockers by 5
Arkansas-Little Rock at Arkansas State - Red Wolves by 11
South Alabama at Texas-Arlington - Mavericks by 5
Morehead State at Tennessee State - Eagles by 7
Jacksonville State at Murray State - Racers by 13
SE Louisiana at Houston Baptist - Lions by 1
Grambling State at Jackson State - Tigers by 23
(8) Kansas at TCU - Jayhawks by 14
Montana at Weber State - Wildcats by 12
Seattle at Grand Canyon - Antelopes by 5
Texas-Pan American at New Mexico State - Aggies by 22
Sacramento State at Northern Colorado - Bears by 16
Montana State at Idaho State - Bengals by 7
Chicago State at Utah Valley - Wolverines by 17
UMKC at Cal State Bakersfield - Roadrunners by 13
Cal Poly at UC Riverside - Mustangs by 3
Hawaii at UC Irvine - Anteaters by 6
BYU at Gonzaga - Bulldogs by 6
Pepperdine at Pacific - Tigers by 4
Southern Utah at Portland State - Vikings by 18
Fresno State at UNLV - Rebels by 12
UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Fullerton - Gauchos by 5
(7) San Diego State at Utah State - Aztecs by 6

Pick of the Day #77

Jackson State

I lost my perfect season last night after 75 straight to open the season, so tonight I'm playing it safe with the "pick whichever team is playing Grambling State" rule.

Prediction Results

NBA: 8-5 (.615) 413-231 overall (.641)
Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 57-59 overall (.491)
College Basketball: 4-2 (.667) 2667-829 overall (.763)
Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 373-246 overall (.603)