Tuesday's Picks

Because the best way to feign actual knowledge on a subject is an accurate prediction, I introduce The Picks. Every weekday, Monday-Thursday (hopefully) I will pick the televised games of the night, against the spread of course, and follow the results to see if I actually know something about basketball. The results should be both entertaining (for readers) and soul-crushing (for me). And if I'm wrong, I'll just do what all the TV "experts" do: never bring it up again and avoid all accountability. And since I won't be betting actual money (that often), I win every time!

I'll also be occasionally picking against one of my roommates, Craig, so we can have a rational method of settling all disputes involving rent, household matters, etc.

Last Night: I gave back all the momentum from last week. Louisville-UConn turned out to be a great game indeed, even though both teams looked a bit sluggish on one day of rest. I said the game would be in the hands of AJ Price and I was right. He decided to play out of his mind unfortunately, but the Cardinals managed to push. That's three pushes in the past week by the way. It's safe to say Vegas is considerably smarter than I and most of the folks out there probably don't have a formal education. The Bedlam Series was close as it always is, and yet I thought Oklahoma would cover eight points. Blake Griffin was a manbeast but he was also the figurehead of a poor foul shooting night for the Sooners that forced the margin of victory to three instead of, say, nine. And, as if I shouldn't have known this before, I now realize I should ALWAYS take 11.5 points in a Big West game I am forced to bet on for the sake of a blog gimmick. It's something we should all take time to learn, really. Cal Poly went to Pacific and beat them outright by six, winning ATS by 17.5. Please no more Big West ESPN, please.

Ohio State (-7.5) at Penn State- Yuck. This game may win Biggest Discrepancy In Excitement Between A Football and Basketball Match-Up. Thankfully that CAA battle is on the Deuce to distract you from the rock bottom level of basketball that will be played in State College this evening. The Lions have been unable to score any points since Geary Claxton's injury and were led in scoring last game by some man named Stanley Pringle. He took 17 shots and well, I'm just not going to make the obvious "once you pop, you can't stop" joke. I'm better than that. Barely. Ohio State responded to a three-game losing streak by beating other scoring-anemic teams, Illinois and Minnesota, albeit at home. This pick might look obvious by you're forgetting the Buckeyes are pretty terrible themselves (they have won nine straight vs. PSU but only covered three times). So tread lightly, but whatever you do, DO NOT watch this game.
The Pick: Ohio State

Craig's Pick- Just a note to start – two of my pushes would be wins if we went by the final line (Ed. note: Who gives a shit?). My heart is torn on this game being a PSU grad and all. While Penn State has been absolutely dismal since Claxton’s injury, Ohio State hasn’t been tearing it up, and in their visit to PSU last year they were lucky to escape with a win (PSU sharpshooter Mike Walker missed a WIDE OPEN 3 at the buzzer for the win (Ed. note: Mike Walker is not, in fact, a sharpshooter, he is awful). I’ll take a PSU loss in this game in exchange for a win in the football recruiting battle for Tyrelle Pryor.
The Pick: Ohio State

VCU at George Mason (-3.5)- Ah, I've been waiting for some CAA goodness on the WWL. This is a massive game for both teams. If VCU wins, they have a pretty solid at-large resume and basically clinch the regular season conference title. Mason, after a nice start in the non-conference, shat it all away with losses to East Carolina, Georgia State and, gasp, my Delaware Ravenous Sharks Fightin' Blue Hens. This is Mason's only shot at VCU and if it gets this and a win in the BracketBusters, could work their way back into NCAA consideration (it is the Year of Mediocrity, after all). Despite the high stakes usually accompanying this game, it hasn't been decided by less than six points in the last seven meetings. VCU is an outstanding defensive team but its lone weakness is on the glass, where Mason thrives. But the Rams have been great on the road lately, Maynor and crew should get it done in what should finally be a close game between the two.
The Pick: VCU

Craig's Pick- Not sure what has been going on with George Mason. On paper you would think that they should be tearing up the CAA this year. Eric Maynor captured my heart last year when he ripped the entire city of Durham’s heart out last year. I like Mason at home.
The Pick: George Mason

Tennessee (-4) at Alabama- Uh oh. That's two road picks already. Let's try to make a case for Alabama in this one. Amazingly, the Tide had won seven straight against the Vols before last year's OT loss in Knoxville. And... um... they have a good crowd?... Shit. Alright, Alabama has lost four of its last five games overall and three of its last four at home and the line is only low because Bama has owned Tennessee lately. This is a considerably better Tennessee team than in recent years (except last year I guess) and a pretty mediocre Alabama team. I don't see how Tennessee doesn't score 90 on this defense and Bama's inexperienced ballhandlers could be in for a long night. Three road picks it is. Shit.
The Pick: Tennessee

Craig's Pick- Tennessee F’d us against Kentucky, but Alabama is and never will be Kentucky.
The Pick: Tennessee

Last night's record: 0-2-1
Overall record: 11-12-3

ACC: 2-2
Big 12: 1-3-2
Big East: 3-2-1
Big Ten: 2-1
SEC: 1-2
Missouri Valley: 1-0
West Coast: 1-1
Big West: 0-1

Craig's record: 3-6-2