Thursday'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: As I was typing my rant of disbelief on the line in the Kansas State-Nebraska game, I knew I was jinxing myself with every subsequent word. Nebraska beat the Wildcats (-3) by seven and evidently I got punked (or punk'd? I hate MTV). I also made a completely irrational and unnecessary bold prediction in yesterday's Week Of Chaos entry that it would make perfectly backwards sense if NC State beat UNC (-8.5) last night. Well I was wrong, as I should be, even though the Pack kept it close for longer than 45 seconds, which is an improvement over the last meeting. (It turns out I just had the wrong "elite" ACC team losing on the road to a below .500 conference team... for the first time in nearly half a century). Marquette (-7.5) salvaged a complete momentum loss (I'd won seven of my last eight picks) by topping St. John's by nine. I should mention I didn't see any basketball last night because I attended a book signing/reading for Will Leitch, editor at Deadspin and author of God Save the Fan, which was thoroughly enjoyable. I mention this because it is a great book, written by a sports blogger and contains over 200 pages, which is something that will probably never occur again.

Pittsburgh at Notre Dame (-4.5)- Somehow these teams haven't played in over two years and it's a shame because this should be a fun game. Although both teams haven't been at their best in the past week-plus, the Luke Harangody vs. DeJuan Blair pie eating contest match-up should be worth your time. Both teams are pretty similar but the glaring difference is Notre Dame is a much better three-point shooting team (No. 7 nationally). The Panthers defend the three pretty well (No. 34) so it's not a given that the Irish will have a huge advantage beyond the arc, but those bombs always seem to fall a lot more often when they play in South Bend (which may explain why they never ever lose there ever... also helping is the fact that all Big East teams, besides Marquette which is the last team to beat the Irish at home, have to travel a couple thousand miles just to lose to play some three-point shooting white guys).
The Pick: Notre Dame

Massachusetts at Rhode Island (-6)- There was a point in this season where this game would have been interesting, but with Mass losing five of its last eight and URI losing three of four, it's just another A-10 game. I suppose it's a game that Rams can't lose, but a win isn't going to lock up an NCAA bid either. The home team has won the last six in this meeting but five of those were one-possession or overtime games (including a two-point UMass win last month). If there's anything we have learned about the A-10 this year, it's that there is nothing to learn about the A-10. Anyone could beat anyone on any night and league that once hoped for five bids has cannibalized itself into probably begging for three. I would give this game the SSS Do Not Watch Seal of Disapproval, but there is a solid chance both teams will reach 90 points, so there's that. If I had to pick (and apparently I do) I'd take URI in a must-win.
The Pick: Rhode Island

Michigan at Minnesota (-8.5)- Oh my God. Holy shit. This could be the worst televised game in NCAA basketball history. DO NOT WATCH THIS GAME. Did someone tell the idiot programming directors at all the major networks that Michigan was going to be good this year or something? Every damn game the Wolverines play is on national TV. And given the fact that Minnesota is NEVER good, I simply don't see how a game like this could be scheduled in late February. I'd rather watch a rerun of Quite Frankly than this. I'd rather watch BassMasters (oh wait, I can watch 24 hours of BassMaster, alright I take it back). Hell, I'd rather watch NFL Live than this game and that show is practically public access for retarded people. Ugh, I'm exhausted... wait, I have to make a pick? Oh... um... well, Michigan has won three straight or something so they should at least cover, even though the Gopher fans are always pumped for the Michigan game, presumably because they hate themselves.
The Pick: Michigan

Last night's record: 1-2
JTom's overall record: 38-31-4

ACC: 5-8
Big 12: 5-7-2
Big East: 11-5-1
Big Ten: 6-4
SEC: 4-3
Missouri Valley: 1-0
West Coast: 4-1
Big West: 0-1
CAA: 0-1
Horizon: 0-0-1
A-10: 1-1
SoCon: 1-0

Craig's record: 15-17-2