NCAA Basketball Predictions - 27 Nov

Upset picks are in italics.

East Tennessee State vs. Middle Tennessee - Buccaneers by 10.5

Auburn vs. (1) Gonzaga - Bulldogs by 5.5

(4) Virginia vs. San Francisco - Cavaliers by 8

Norfolk State at James Madison - Dukes by 3.5

Toledo at Xavier - Musketeers by 6

Ohio at (8) Illinois - Illini by 10.5

Northwest U at Oregon State - Beavers by 25.5

FAU vs. Jacksonville State - Owls by 14.5

Evansville vs. Prairie View - Panthers by 3

Troy vs. Western Carolina - Catamounts by 10.5

Western Kentucky vs. (15) West Virginia - Mountaineers by 1.5

(6) Kansas vs. Saint Joseph's - Jayhawks by 19.5

Sam Houston State at (14) Texas Tech - Red Raiders by 23.5

Central Connecticut vs. Army - Black Knights by 2.5

Flagler at FIU - Golden Panthers by 19.5

Charleston Southern vs. Eastern Kentucky - Colonels by 19

Lamar at Tulane - Green Wave by 16

Rice at Incarnate Word - Owls by 13

Abilene Christian vs. Austin Peay - Governors by 0.5

George Mason vs. Belmont - Bruins by 8

South Dakota vs. Drake - Bulldogs by 16.5

Boise State at (17) Houston - Cougars by 22.5

(22) UCLA vs. Pepperdine - Waves by 0.5

East Carolina at Charlotte - 49ers by 6

Chicago State vs. North Carolina A&T - Aggies by 12

Seattle vs. William Jessup - Redhawks by 20

Navy at Maryland - Terrapins by 24

Bryant at Syracuse - Orange by 17

Bradley vs. Oakland - Braves by 18.5

UNC Wilmington at UNC Asheville - Bulldogs by 11

Texas Permian Basin at UTSA - Roadrunners by 25.5

UC Davis at Santa Clara - Broncos by 10

La Salle vs. Saint Peter's - Peacocks by 16.5

Toccoa Falls at Georgia State - Panthers by 28.5

Arkansas State at Marshall - Thundering Herd by 13.5

Seton Hall at Louisville - Cardinals by 11.5

Utah State vs. Northern Iowa - Panthers by 11.5

Towson vs. Buffalo - Bulls by 1.5

Southern at (5) Iowa - Hawkeyes by 16.5

Howard vs. Queens (NC) - Bison by 0.5

Greenville vs. UMKC - Kangaroos by 25.5

Grambling at Arizona - Wildcats by 19.5

Northern Colorado vs. SE Missouri State - Bears by 21.5

North Florida at NC State - Wolfpack by 11.5

New Mexico State at Arizona Christian - Aggies by 27

Carver at Appalachian State - Mountaineers by 26

Richmond vs. Morehead State - Spiders by 13

Fresno State at Pacific - Tigers by 8.5

South Dakota State vs. Saint Mary's - Gaels by 7

Fairleigh Dickinson at (24) Rutgers - Scarlet Knights by 21

Bethesda at Cal Poly - Mustangs by 7.5

Valparaiso at Vanderbilt - Crusaders by 2.5

UC Irvine at San Diego State - Aztecs by 9.5

Mobile at South Alabama - Jaguars by 30.5

Nicholls vs. Idaho State - Colonels by 0.5

Longwood at Wake Forest - Demon Deacons by 23.5

UNC Greensboro vs. Little Rock - Trojans by 11.5

UT Arlington at Louisiana Tech - Bulldogs by 12

Eastern Illinois at Marquette - Golden Eagles by 6.5

Hartford at UConn - Huskies by 14

Evangel at Missouri State - Bears by 31.5

Mercer at Georgia Tech - Yellowjackets by 10

Colorado at Kansas State - Wildcats by 11.5

Arkansas-Pine Bluff at (7) Wisconsin - Badgers by 40

VCU vs. Memphis - Tigers by 9

Results

NCAA: 17-9 (.654) 105-28 overall (.789)

Upsets: 0-4 (.000) 2-18 overall (.100)

Basketball Predictions - 2 Jan

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA

Brooklyn at Boston - Celtics by 12
Phoenix at Sacramento - Kings by 2
Oklahoma City at Charlotte - Thunder by 2
Detroit at Indiana - Pacers by 5
Orlando at Cleveland - Cavaliers by 5
Milwaukee at Minnesota - Timberwolves by 4
New Orleans at Dallas - Mavericks by 6
Houston at San Antonio - Spurs by 16
Memphis at Utah - Jazz by 5
Denver at Golden State - Warriors by 17
Philadelphia at LA Clippers - Clippers by 15

College Basketball

DePaul at Seton Hall - Pirates by 13
(19) West Virginia at Kansas State - Mountaineers by 11
James Madison at Delaware - Dukes by 5
Houston at Temple - Owls by 4
Penn State at Michigan - Wolverines by 18
Florida State at Clemson - Seminoles by 3
Georgia Tech at (7) North Carolina - Tar Heels by 14
North Florida at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 9
Charlotte at Old Dominion - Monarchs by 21
Saint Joseph's at Richmond - Spiders by 8
Binghamton at Penn - Quakers by 5
Chattanooga at Citadel - Mocs by 9
Jacksonville at Western Michigan - Broncos by 14
(9) Butler at (6) Xavier - Musketeers by 5
Holy Cross at Navy - Midshipmen by 7
Webber International at Stetson - Hatters by 23
San Jose State at Air Force - Falcons by 8
Brown at Maine - Bears by 3
Tennessee at Auburn - Tigers by 2
Norfolk State at Alabama - Crimson Tide by 12
Texas at Texas Tech - Red Raiders by 4
Gardner-Webb at Longwood - Bulldogs by 4
UNC Asheville at Liberty - Bulldogs by 12
NC State at Virginia Tech - Hokies by 5
UMKC at South Carolina Upstate - Kangaroos by 1
Boston U at Lehigh - Mountain Hawks by 3
Winthrop at Coastal Carolina - Chanticleers by 11
Rutgers at Wisconsin - Badgers by 19
Loyola (MD) at Lafayette - Greyhounds by 1
Iona at Quinnipiac - Gaels by 5
Judson at Northern Illinois - Huskies by 33
Northern Kentucky at Green Bay - Phoenix by 12
UIC at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 31
Loyola (CHI) at Indiana State - Sycamores by 8
Montana State at Northern Arizona - Bobcats by 4
LIU Brooklyn at Mount St. Mary's - Mountaineers by 4
East Tennessee State at Western Carolina - Catamounts by 3
Samford at Mercer - Bears by 6
Syracuse at (13) Miami (FL) - Hurricanes by 20
Dayton at Duquesne - Flyers by 4
Eastern Washington at North Dakota - Eagles by 2
Bucknell at Army - Black Knights by 10
Savannah State at Missouri - Mizzou Tigers by 19
Cleveland State at Oakland - Golden Grizzlies by 22
(1) Michigan State at Minnesota - Spartans by 19
Youngstown State at Detroit - Titans by 12
Morehead State at Murray State - Racers by 1
St. John's at (12) Providence - Friars by 23
South Carolina State at Miami (OH) - Redhawks by 8
Idaho at Northern Colorado - Vandals by 7
UMBC at NJIT - Highlanders by 16
Portland at Santa Clara - Broncos by 1
TCU at Oklahoma State - Cowboys by 8
(23) Baylor at (2) Kansas - Jayhawks by 16
Charleston at William & Mary - Tribe by 4
Drexel at Elon - Phoenix by 10
Tulsa at (22) Cincinnati - Bearcats by 14
Presbyterian at Campbell - Camels by 14
Maryland-Eastern Shore at Pittsburgh - Panthers by 33
Indiana at Nebraska - Hoosiers by 6
Wright State at Milwaukee - Panthers by 13
Eckerd at Florida Gulf Coast - Eagles by 31
Houston Baptist at Northwestern State - Huskies by 6
Oakland City at Bowling Green - Falcons by 29
Evansville at Missouri State - Aces by 9
Central Connecticut at Bryant - Bulldogs by 13
Sacred Heart at Robert Morris - Colonials by 3
VMI at Furman - Paladins by 10
Wagner at St. Francis (PA) - Red Flash by 1
Arkansas at (20) Texas A&M - Aggies by 12
Saint Louis at Rhode Island - Rams by 15
(15) Duke at Boston College - Blue Devils by 16
St. Francis (BKN) at Fairleigh Dickinson - Knights by 10
Lamar at Nicholls State - Cardinals by 1
Notre Dame at (5) Virginia - Cavaliers by 15
George Mason at VCU - Rams by 17
Abilene Christian at Central Arkansas - Bears by 2
Arkansas State at South Alabama - Jaguars by 2
Arkansas Little Rock at Troy - Trojans by 9
Tennessee State at SE Missouri State - Tigers by 8
Georgia State at Texas State - Bobcats by 5
Sam Houston State at Incarnate Word - Cardinals by 5
High Point at Charleston Southern - Panthers by 4
Marquette at Georgetown - Hoyas by 5
Eastern Illinois at Jacksonville State - Gamecocks by 6
Memphis at (24) South Carolina - Gamecocks by 7
Wyoming at Nevada - Wolf Pack by 11
BYU at Pacific - Cougars by 9
UCF at East Carolina - Pirates by 9
Iowa at (14) Purdue - Boilermakers by 13
Northeastern at UNC Wilmington - Seahawks by 7
Holy Names at UC Davis - Aggies by 29
Alabama A&M at Grambling State - Tigers by 1
Alabama State at Jackson State - Tigers by 15
Colorado State at Boise State - Broncos by 13
Albany at Cornell - Great Danes by 6
Yale at Hartford - Bulldogs by 14
Ole Miss at (10) Kentucky - Wildcats by 13
Lipscomb at Akron - Zips by 23
(11) Iowa State at (3) Oklahoma - Sooners by 13
Hofstra at Towson - Tigers by 5
Columbia at Stony Brook - Seawolves by 14
Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech - Bulldogs by 24
Point Loma at UC Santa Barbara - Gauchos by 38
Canisius at Marist - Golden Griffins by 5
Oberlin at Kent State - Golden Flashes by 35
Fairfield at Manhattan - Stags by 4
Niagara at Siena - Saints by 17
UNC Greensboro at Wofford - Terriers by 10
McNeese State at Stephen F Austin - Lumberjacks by 22
Boyce at Tennessee Martin - Skyhawks by 27
Purdue-North Central at IPFW - Mastodons by 33
Connecticut at Tulane - Huskies by 11
South Florida at (17) SMU - Mustangs by 35
Loyola Marymount at Pepperdine - Waves by 10
Georgia at Florida - Gators by 15
(4) Maryland at Northwestern - Wildcats by 4
CSU Bakersfield at UC Riverside - Highlanders by 6
Davidson at St. Bonaventure - Bonnies by 6
Northern Iowa at Southern Illinois - Salukis by 5
Eastern Kentucky at Austin Peay - Governors by 5
Our Lady of the Lake at UT Rio Grande Valley - Vaqueros by 16
Georgia Southern at UT Arlington - Mavericks by 22
Appalachian State at Louisiana Lafayette - Ragin Cajuns by 17
SIU Edwardsville at Tennessee Tech - Golden Eagles by 10
Southern at Texas Southern - Tigers by 1
Alcorn State at Prairie View A&M - Panthers by 10
LSU at Vanderbilt - Commodores by 25
Montana at Southern Utah - Grizzlies by 1
Idaho State at Weber State - Wildcats by 24
San Diego Christian at Utah Valley - Wolverines by 25
New Mexico at Fresno State - Bulldogs by 2
San Diego State at Utah State - Aggies by 2
Cal State East Bay at Cal State Fullerton - Titans by 31
San Diego at Saint Mary's - Gaels by 27
(16) Villanova at Creighton - Wildcats by 7
Sacramento State at Portland State - Hornets by 2
Morgan State at CS Northridge - Toreros by 8
Howard at Hawaii - Warriors by 14
New Mexico State at UC Irvine - Anteaters by 9
Gonzaga at San Francisco - Bulldogs by 11

Pick of the Day

Valparaiso

The Crusaders are opening conference play today in the Horizon League against UIC, which has the worst overall record in the conference, while Valpo has the best, so this should be an easy win for the favorites.

Prediction Results

NBA: 4-1 (.800) 314-180 overall (.636)
College Basketball: 8-1 (.889) 1955-495 overall (.798)
Upsets: 2-0 (1.000) 147-141 overall (.510)
Pick of the Day: 47-1 (.979)

Predictions - 26 Jan

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA

Portland at Brooklyn - Trail Blazers by 7
Sacramento at New York - Kings by 2
Orlando at Memphis - Grizzlies by 11
Philadelphia at New Orleans - Pelicans by 15
Minnesota at Oklahoma City - Thunder by 14
Boston at Utah - Jazz by 5
Denver at LA Clippers - Clippers by 13

College Basketball

Army at American - Eagles by 7
Syracuse at (15) North Carolina - Tar Heels by 17
High Point at Presbyterian - Panthers by 9
Cleveland State at Oakland - Golden Grizzlies by 1
Wright State at Detroit - Titans by 9
Delaware State at NC Central - Eagles by 19
Nicholls State at Northwestern State - Demons by 15
Howard at Bethune-Cookman - Wildcats by 1
Hampton at South Carolina State - Bulldogs by 4
Coppin State at North Carolina A&T - Aggies by 6
Sam Houston at Abilene Christian - Bearkats by 12
Central Arkansas at New Orleans - Privateers by 19
McNeese State at Incarnate Word - Cardinals by 15
SF Austin at Lamar - Lumberjacks by 9
Texas A&M-CC at SE Louisiana - Lions by 10
Maryland-Eastern Shore at Florida A&M - Hawks by 17
Norfolk State at Savannah State - Spartans by 10
Gardner-Webb at Campbell - Camels by 3
Milwaukee at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 20
Southern at Alabama State - Hornets by 7
Alcorn State at Alabama A&M - Bulldogs by 10
(17) Texas at (9) Iowa State - Cyclones by 4
Texas Southern at Mississippi Valley State - Tigers by 17
Prairie View at Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Golden Lions by 2
Projected correct: 18/24

Prediction Results

NBA: 9-2 (.818) 456-211 overall (.684)
College Basketball: 22-4 (.846) 2763-871 overall (.760)
Upsets: 3-2 (.600) 225-248 overall (.476)
Pick of the Day: 68-2

Pick of the Day

Valparaiso

The Crusaders are hosting the Milwaukee Panthers tonight, and Valpo is once again a favorite to win the Horizon League, just like every year, while Milwaukee is floating closer to the bottom.

NBA MVP Rankings - 4 Mar

The MVP rankings have changed a bit since I last updated them at the end of December, with injuries felling a couple contenders, but the top 3 remain unchanged, and the race shouldn't be as close as many are saying it should be. Here are my current top 10 MVP contenders:

1. (1) Kevin Durant - OKC - 31.6 P, 7.7 R, 5.6 A, 1.5 S, .507 FG, .396 3P, .880 FT

2. (2) LeBron James - MIA - 27.5 P, 7.0 R, 6.4 A, 1.5 S, .583 FG, .384 3P, .746 FT

3. (3) Paul George - IND - 22.6 P, 6.4 R, 3.5 A, 1.8 S, .439 FG, .376 3P, .865 FT
4. (7) Blake Griffin - LAC - 24.2 P, 9.8 R, 3.5 A, 1.1 S, .532 FG, .700 FT
5. (5) Kevin Love - MIN - 26.6 P, 13.2 R, 4.1 A, .462 FG, .380 3P, .823 FT

6. (4) LaMarcus Aldridge - POR - 23.7 P, 11.2 R, 2.8 A, 1.0 B, .466 FG, .821 FT

7. (9) Lance Stephenson - IND - 14.2 P, 7.4 R, 5.1 A, .498 FG, .341 3P, .699 FT
8. (NR) Carmelo Anthony - NYK - 28.0 P, 8.5 R, 2.9 A, 1.1 S, .453 FG, .424 3P, .839 FT
9. (NR) Stephen Curry - GSW - 24.1 P, 4.4 R, 8.8 A, 1.6 S, .461 FG, .416 3P, .864 FT
10. (NR) DeMar DeRozan - TOR - 22.9 P, 4.5 R, 3.9 A, 1.1 S, .434 FG, .807 FT

Kevin Durant is having his best season in nearly every category, and this is a 3-time scoring champ who has been #2 in the MVP race before. He's got the Thunder in first place despite missing Westbrook for a long time, so the award is his to lose.

LeBron has been amazing lately, and in most seasons he would be a sure MVP, but his team is not in first place, and Durant is putting up better stats in almost every category. To have a chance, he needs to get the Heat past the Pacers, and he probably needs the Thunder to slip up as well.

Kevin Love is having an amazing statistical season, but I don't see him moving past #5 without getting the Wolves into the playoffs. He is among the league leaders in both scoring and rebounding, something we haven't really seen since Shaq's heyday.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

NBA

San Antonio at Cleveland - Spurs by 5
Golden State at Indiana - Pacers by 4
Miami at Houston - Rockets by 4
Philadelphia at Oklahoma City - Thunder by 21
LA Clippers at Phoenix - Clippers by 2
New Orleans at LA Lakers - Lakers by 4

College Basketball

UCF at Temple - Owls by 7
(1) Florida at South Carolina - Gators by 9
Georgia Tech at (7) Syracuse - Orange by 17
(12) Michigan at Illinois - Wolverines by 3
(13) Creighton at Georgetown - Bluejays by 4
(16) Iowa State at Baylor - Bears by 1
Buffalo at Akron - Zips by 3
Ohio at Bowling Green - Falcons by 2
Toledo at Central Michigan - Rockets by 4
Ball State at Eastern Michigan - Eagles by 18
Miami (OH) at Kent State - Golden Flashes by 10
Northern Illinois at Western Michigan - Broncos by 11
Stetson at Florida Gulf Coast - Eagles by 18
Lipscomb at East Tennessee State - Buccaneers by 7
North Florida at USC Upstate - Spartans by 10
Jacksonville at Mercer - Bears by 23
Detroit at Milwaukee - Panthers by 5
Youngstown State at Oakland - Golden Grizzlies by 4
Northern Colorado at North Dakota - No Nicknames by 5
Virginia Tech at Maryland - Terrapins by 15
Miami (FL) at Clemson - Tigers by 9
Illinois-Chicago at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 15
South Florida at Houston - Cougars by 9
Georgia State at Arkansas State - Red Wolves by 2
Alabama at (25) Kentucky - Wildcats by 15
Florida State at Boston College - Seminoles by 5
Marquette at Providence - Friars by 6
Arizona State at Oregon - Ducks by 6

Pick of the Day #114

Valparaiso

The crusaders are hosting Illinois-Chicago tonight in the opening round of the Horizon League tournament, and the Flames only won one conference game this year, and it didn't come on the road.

Prediction Results

NBA: 5-3 (.625) 581-314 overall (.649)
Upsets: 2-1 (.667) 82-89 overall (.480)
College Basketball: 12-4 (.750) 3999-1320 overall (.752)
Upsets: 4-0 (1.000) 666-433 overall (.606)
Pick of the Day: 108-5 overall (.956)