Monday'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 week: Even though the predictions made in my Gratuitous BracketBusters Preview were largely inaccurate, I did correctly pick Friday night's Davidson-Winthrop game, won by the Wildcats, which was the only BB game included in the Daily Picks. All in all it was another above .500 week and I am beginning to frighten myself. I mean, with the power to prognosticate more accurately than the great mind of ESPN analysts like Digger Phelps, there is no telling what burdens come along with it.

Marquette (-2) at Villanova- Just 48 hours ago, Nova was a one-point favorite over UConn in a Wachovia Center game which it won, so I'm not sure how the Cats are getting points here. The Golden Eagles have won four straight by blowout, but still weren't riding the type of streak into Philly the Huskies were. AND on short rest, you would think it would be a big disadvantage to the team traveling across the country. So it's pretty obvious to take the points here right? Well, as we have learned this year, obviousness can be the prognosticators worst enemy. While Marquette might seem due for a loss, that can't overshadow how well they match up with Villanova. They don't have a big man to make Nova's soft interior pay, but the key to beating the Cats is controlling penetration on both ends. Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews are too of the better defensive guards in the league and should force Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher into jumpshots, which those two will gladly hoist recklessly if given the chance. And on the other end, say what you will about Dominic James, but none of the defensively challenged Nova guards can keep him out of the paint. Villanova did do a great job on AJ Price Saturday so perhaps they are improving on the perimeter but thats not enough to completely convince me. I'll be at this game but my pick of Marquette isn't enough for me to openly root for them and antagonize drunken Philadelphia sports fans. Probably.
The Pick: Marquette

Texas at Kansas State (-3.5)- This is another line that concerns me with its obviousness. Kansas State hasn't been all that inspiring lately, losing three of its last four, all to teams further down in the Big 12 standings. And Beasley had 40-plus in two of those losses (him and Bill Walker combined for 75 of the Wildcats 86 points Saturday vs. Baylor). Texas, meanwhile, has won seven straight and is looking to keep its lead atop the Big 12 and possibly grab a No. 1 seed for the NCAAs. I know that KSU is far better at home and that Frank Martin, Crazy Person (seen above in what is considered a mild state for him; he's probably singing a song), would make Rick Barnes shit his pants if they met in a dark alley, but even a rowdy crowd and 35 more from Beasley is going to keep Texas from terrorizing KSU's backcourt and dropping at least 90 points. Obviousness and all, I'm going with common sense here but would gladly trade a loss to watch
The Pick: Texas

Gonzaga (-15) at Portland- Elsewhere in the WCC, St. Mary's hosts San Diego in a match-up with huge implications, but I suppose we will have to settle for this beatdown. The Bulldogs beat the, uh, Indie Rockers (?) by 38 the last time around in Spokane and have won nine straight in the series. Considering a pick for Portland would involve finding out actual information on them, which I am not ready to do at this point in my life. I will just take the Zags and assume annihilation.
The Pick: Gonzaga

Last week's record: 9-5
JTom's overall record: 40-33-4

ACC: 5-8
Big 12: 5-7-2
Big East: 12-5-1
Big Ten: 6-5
SEC: 4-3
Missouri Valley: 1-0
West Coast: 4-1
Big West: 0-1
CAA: 0-1
Horizon: 0-0-1
A-10: 1-2
SoCon: 1-0
Non-Conf: 1-0

Craig's record: 15-17-2