There's a new #1 team this week, and for the first time since the preseason, a team from the East tops the rankings. The Pacers have the league's best record and spent this week beating up on the Kings and Knicks while the Spurs and Thunder went down to Portland and Memphis, respectively. Here are this week's full rankings:
|
Rank
|
LW
|
Team
|
Record
|
Rating
|
Predic
|
Ch
|
Seed
|
|
1
|
3
|
Indiana
|
31-7
|
-7.99303
|
65-17
|
+1
|
1E
|
|
2
|
1
|
San Antonio
|
31-9
|
-7.75157
|
61-21
|
-1
|
1W
|
|
3
|
2
|
Oklahoma City
|
30-10
|
-7.48626
|
61-21
|
+1
|
2W
|
|
4
|
4
|
LA Clippers
|
28-13
|
-5.9756
|
56-26
|
|
4W
|
|
5
|
5
|
Portland
|
30-9
|
-5.67008
|
58-24
|
-1
|
3W
|
|
6
|
6
|
Golden State
|
25-16
|
-4.99641
|
52-30
|
-2
|
5W
|
|
7
|
7
|
Minnesota
|
18-21
|
-4.39245
|
45-37
|
-3
|
|
|
8
|
8
|
Miami
|
28-11
|
-4.06562
|
54-28
|
-1
|
2E
|
|
9
|
9
|
Houston
|
26-15
|
-3.42079
|
50-32
|
+1
|
6W
|
|
10
|
11
|
Toronto
|
20-18
|
-2.52722
|
49-33
|
+1
|
3E
|
|
11
|
10
|
Phoenix
|
22-17
|
-2.28795
|
46-36
|
-2
|
8W
|
|
12
|
12
|
Dallas
|
24-17
|
-2.15062
|
47-35
|
+1
|
7W
|
|
13
|
13
|
Memphis
|
20-19
|
-0.83712
|
42-40
|
+2
|
|
|
14
|
15
|
Denver
|
20-19
|
-0.04282
|
40-42
|
-1
|
|
|
15
|
14
|
Atlanta
|
20-19
|
0.511418
|
41-41
|
-2
|
4E
|
|
16
|
16
|
New Orleans
|
15-23
|
1.043069
|
36-46
|
-1
|
|
|
17
|
18
|
Washington
|
19-19
|
1.502475
|
41-41
|
+2
|
5E
|
|
18
|
19
|
Sacramento
|
14-24
|
2.015642
|
32-52
|
+3
|
|
|
19
|
17
|
Chicago
|
18-20
|
2.165366
|
38-44
|
-1
|
6E
|
|
20
|
20
|
New York
|
15-25
|
3.908948
|
33-49
|
|
8E
|
|
21
|
21
|
Boston
|
14-27
|
4.088648
|
31-51
|
-1
|
|
|
22
|
23
|
Brooklyn
|
16-22
|
4.199715
|
34-48
|
+2
|
7E
|
|
23
|
24
|
Charlotte
|
17-24
|
4.564972
|
32-50
|
+1
|
|
|
24
|
22
|
Detroit
|
16-23
|
4.74285
|
32-50
|
-1
|
|
|
25
|
28
|
Utah
|
14-27
|
4.945152
|
28-54
|
+3
|
|
|
26
|
25
|
LA Lakers
|
15-25
|
5.167879
|
28-54
|
|
|
|
27
|
27
|
Cleveland
|
15-25
|
6.152534
|
29-53
|
|
|
|
28
|
26
|
Orlando
|
10-30
|
6.520113
|
24-58
|
-3
|
|
|
29
|
29
|
Philadelphia
|
13-26
|
9.116633
|
25-57
|
|
|
|
30
|
30
|
Milwaukee
|
7-31
|
9.707923
|
17-65
|
-1
|
|
Sacramento was the hottest team this week, winning twice this week for the second straight time, and they nearly beat Memphis on the road last night. They beat Cleveland by 44 on Sunday, the largest margin of victory for any team this season, not bad for a team with virtually no shot at the playoffs.
Utah also won twice this week and came very close to making it a perfect 3-0 before their big rally fell short late in San Antonio. The Jazz are no longer the worst team in the West, passing the Kobe-less Lakers today in my rankings.
The Timberwolves were the coldest team this week, and for the 8th time since Thanksgiving they had a chance to get above .500 and failed, falling at San Antonio in their latest attempt. Unlike before, they didn't bounce back immediately, instead dropping their next two as well, falling to Sacramento and Toronto, and their next two are against the Jazz, who have been hot lately.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
NBA
LA Clippers at Indiana - Pacers by 7
Detroit at Washington - Wizards by 7
Miami at Charlotte - Heat by 7
Philadelphia at Chicago - Bulls by 10
Milwaukee at Houston - Rockets by 16
Utah at Minnesota - Timberwolves by 13
Golden State at New Orleans - Pelicans by 1
Portland at Dallas - Trail Blazers by 1
College Basketball
Toledo at Akron - Rockets by 1
Tennessee at (13) Kentucky - Wildcats by 10
Temple at La Salle - Explorers by 8
SMU at UCF - Mustangs by 6
Tulsa at Marshall - Thundering Herd by 3
Florida State at Virginia - Cavaliers by 4
Boston College at North Carolina - Tar Heels by 17
Delaware at Northeastern - Fightin Blue Hens by 4
Seton Hall at Georgetown - Hoyas by 12
George Mason at Rhode Island - Rams by 4
USC Upstate at Stetson - Spartans by 7
Missouri State at Northern Iowa - Panthers by 15
Hartford at New Hampshire - Wildcats by 1
West Virginia at Kansas State - Wildcats by 2
Manhattan at Fairfield - Jaspers by 9
Arkansas at Georgia - Razorbacks by 7
Texas A&M at Mississippi State - Aggies by 1
(25) Oklahoma at (12) Baylor - Bears by 8
LeMoyne-Owen at (17) Memphis - Tigers by 45
USC at (21) Colorado - Buffaloes by 14
NC State at (23) Duke - Blue Devils by 19
VMI at Campbell - Keydets by 3
Gardner-Webb at Presbyterian - Runnin Bulldogs by 8
Robert Morris at Mount St. Mary's - Mountaineers by 1
Wagner at St. Francis (PA) - Seahawks by 1
Lafayette at American - Eagles by 18
Navy at Colgate - Raiders by 13
Miami (FL) at Georgia Tech - Yellowjackets by 3
Tennessee-Martin at Morehead State - Eagles by 22
Murray State at SIU Edwardsville - Racers by 2
Drexel at UNC Wilmington - Dragons by 4
Marquette at Butler - Bulldogs by 3
Brown at Yale - Bulldogs by 3
Albany at Maine - Great Danes by 8
Alabama at Missouri - Tigers by 7
Vermont at UMBC - Catamounts by 7
Milwaukee at Valparaiso - Crusaders by 7
Miami (OH) at Ball State - Cardinals by 4
Georgia Southern at Appalachian State - Eagles by 1
Samford at Western Carolina - Catamounts by 18
Loyola (IL) at Evansville - Aces by 6
Fordham at (24) Saint Louis - Billikens by 19
Arkansas-Little Rock at Georgia State - Panthers by 13
Northwestern at Indiana - Hoosiers by 15
Bryant at Fairleigh Dickinson - Bulldogs by 3
Western Illinois at North Dakota State - Bison by 20
Austin Peay at Eastern Illinois - Panthers by 1
Dayton at Richmond - Spiders by 1
Texas-Pan American at Chicago State - Cougars by 5
LIU Brooklyn at Central Connecticut State - Blue Devils by 1
(22) Pittsburgh at (2) Syracuse - Orange by 3
Indiana State at (5) Wichita State - Shockers by 15
DePaul at (6) Villanova - Wildcats by 23
(7) Florida at Auburn - Gators by 9
(8) Iowa State at Texas - Cyclones by 5
(9) Oklahoma State at (15) Kansas - Jayhawks by 3
(25) UCLA at Utah - Utes by 3
Longwood at Radford - Highlanders by 21
Lehigh at Holy Cross - Crusaders by 9
Wake Forest at Clemson - Tigers by 14
Central Arkansas at Abilene Christian - Wildcats by 6
Houston Baptist at McNeese State - Cowboys by 9
James Madison at William & Mary - Tribe by 10
San Jose State at Wyoming - Cowboys by 15
Duquesne at VCU - Rams by 19
Washington State at California - Golden Bears by 16
Gonzaga at Loyola Marymount - Bulldogs by 8
Delaware State at North Carolina Central - Eagles by 20
Maryland-Eastern Shore at Howard - Bison by 7
Niagara at Quinnipiac - Bobcats by 17
Texas A&M-CC at Nicholls State - Islanders by 1
Ole Miss at South Carolina - Gamecocks by 4
(19) Cincinnati at South Florida - Bearcats by 9
Portland State at Northern Arizona - Lumberjacks by 10
Sacred Heart at St. Francis (NY) - Terriers by 13
Mercer at Lipscomb - Bears by 8
East Carolina at FIU - Golden Panthers by 1
Omaha at South Dakota State - Mavericks by 3
IPFW at South Dakota - Mastodons by 2
Oral Roberts at Incarnate Word - Golden Eagles by 1
Davidson at UNC Greensboro - Wildcats by 2
Mississippi Valley State at Alcorn State - Braves by 12
UNC Asheville at Charleston Southern - Buccaneers by 18
Texas-Arlington at Texas State - Bobcats by 2
Lamar at SE Louisiana - Lions by 10
Michigan at (3) Wisconsin - Badgers by 7
Texas Tech at TCU - Red Raiders by 2
UTSA at Middle Tennessee - Blue Raiders by 23
IUPUI at Denver - Pioneers by 14
Dartmouth at St. John's - Red Storm by 13
Air Force at Colorado State - Rams by 14
Bethune-Cookman at Savannah State - Tigers by 11
Coppin State at Hampton - Pirates by 14
Florida A&M at South Carolina State - Bulldogs by 1
Morgan State at Norfolk State - Spartans by 6
Kent State at Buffalo - Bulls by 5
Alabama A&M at Alabama State - Hornets by 10
Texas Southern at Grambling State - Tigers by 13
UNLV at (10) San Diego State - Aztecs by 15
Prairie View A&M at Jackson State - Tigers by 14
(16) Massachusetts at Elon - Minutemen by 6
High Point at Liberty - Flames by 13
Winthrop at Coastal Carolina - Chanticleers by 7
Kennesaw State at Northern Kentucky - Norse by 10
North Texas at Charlotte - 49ers by 14
Old Dominion at Florida Atlantic - Owls by 2
Rider at Marist - Red Foxes by 2
Jacksonville State at Eastern Kentucky - Colonels by 20
NJIT at North Carolina A&T - Aggies by 5
New Mexico at Fresno State - Bulldogs by 1
Cornell at Columbia - Lions by 28
Saint Joseph's at Pennsylvania - Hawks by 4
George Washington at St. Bonaventure - Bonnies by 4
Massachusetts Lowell at Stony Brook - Seawolves by 19
Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan - Eagles by 1
Chattanooga at Wofford - Terriers by 7
Penn State at Purdue - Boilermakers by 7
Detroit at Youngstown State - Penguins by 9
Furman at Citadel - Bulldogs by 7
Sam Houston at New Orleans - Bearkats by 5
East Tennessee State at Florida Gulf Coast - Eagles by 5
(4) Michigan State at Illinois - Spartans by 6
(20) Creighton at Providence - Bluejays by 6
Rice at Tulane - Green Wave by 5
UTEP at UAB - Blazers by 3
Arkansas State at Western Kentucky - Hilltoppers by 3
SE Missouri State at Tennessee Tech - Golden Eagles by 4
Pacific at Saint Mary's - Gaels by 14
Portland at Pepperdine - Waves by 3
Ohio at Northern Illinois - Bobcats by 3
New Mexico State at UMKC - Aggies by 12
Illinois State at Drake - Bulldogs by 13
Louisiana-Lafayette at Troy - Ragin Cajuns by 5
Louisiana-Monroe at South Alabama - Jaguars by 7
Belmont at Tennessee State - Bruins by 7
Southern at Arkansas-Pine Bluff - Jaguars by 10
(18) Louisville at Connecticut - Cardinals by 1
Southern Utah at Weber State - Wildcats by 31
Northern Colorado at Montana - Bears by 1
Utah State at Boise State - Broncos by 11
Vanderbilt at LSU - Tigers by 9
North Dakota at Montana State - Bobcats by 9
Cal State Bakersfield at Idaho - Roadrunners by 1
Cal State Fullerton at UC Davis - Titans by 4
Long Beach State at Cal Poly - Mustangs by 13
BYU at Santa Clara - Cougars by 7
Eastern Washington at Sacramento State - Hornets by 1
UC Santa Barbara at Cal State Northridge - Gauchos by 6
San Diego at San Francisco - Dons by 6
Washington at Stanford - Cardinal by 13
UC Riverside at Hawaii - Warriors by 15
Pick of the Day #70
Weber State
The Wildcats are facing Southern Utah tonight, and I love to pick against the Thunderbirds, even after they nearly ruined my streak just two nights ago.
Prediction Results
NBA: 6-6 (.500) 379-212 overall (.641)
Upsets: 0-2 (.000) 52-57 overall (.477)
College Basketball: 3-1 (.750) 2439-723 overall (.771)
Upsets: 0-1 (.000) 320-211 overall (.603)
