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: Man, did Villanova get screwed last night. I mean, holy shit. Probably the worst, game-deciding call of the year (with top competition coming from the screwjob the Cats got against NC State earlier this season). Nova's postseason hopes are done for and The Fraud That Is Georgetown (-13.5) lives on. Villanova shot, are you ready for this?, 13 percent (!) in the second half and came back from a 12-point deficit. They were 3-23 from three, Corey Fisher was 1-16 from the field for the game (!). And they still were robbed of victory with a phantom foul called 70 feet from the basket with 0.1 seconds left. Unreal. Georgetown's days of relevancy are numbered (although I'm glad I picked Nova). Didn't watch Texas beat Kansas (-4.5) but apparently I should have because it was a great game by all accounts. Not a good final score however, I took the Jayhawks. And in the nightcap, St. Mary's (-6.5) looked to run away from Santa Clara early, but my Broncos came back behind 21 and 12 from big, fat John Bryant and another great atmosphere for a basketball game (seriously, the West Coast Conference is one of my favorite conferences in the country).

Michigan State at Purdue (-2)- The home team has won seven of the last eight, Michigan State only beat the Boilermakers by three at the Breslin Center earlier this year, the Spartans have been inconsistent of late and Purdue has won nine straight. Oh and that place is going to be an absolute nuthouse tonight. And despite all of that, Purdue is going to lose. Purdue is a very good team and should be ranked higher than it is. But this is still a team with four freshmen making up its core and a sudden and surprising lead in the Big Ten. This is also a team that struggles on the glass a bit and will be physically overmatched on the front line (Raymar Morgan wants to do unspeakable things to Scott Martin and Robbie Hummel, and he just might). I do think that tough Purdue defense might be able to force some turnovers on Kalin Lucas and Travis Walton but I see Neitzel having a solid game and teaching these kids who's boss (and hopefully living up to his preseason billing for the Purdue fans).
The Pick: Michigan State

North Carolina (-7.5) at Virginia- It is concerning that the Heels will have a shorthanded backcourt attempting to shut down Sean Singletary and they only have a one day rest after that double OT game Sunday, but man does Virginia suck. The Cavs have lost their last two games by 47 combined points, including a 31-point drubbing by Clemson at home last week (and have lost a transcendently sucky nine of 10). UNC has had three straight poor performances so I like them to rebound and I don't see any way UVA can keep Hansbrough from putting up like 30.
The Pick: North Carolina

Kentucky at Vanderbilt (-4)- The Commodores haven't played very well since the Cats handed them their first loss of the season in January and it's pretty clear that Patrick Patterson isn't really interested in being stopped lately. But I'm still not ready to make the jump from "Resurgent Kentucky" to "Resurgent Kentucky... That Wins Tough Road Games." Vandy is going to want some serious payback from that game and that's always a great crowd. Plus it appears Shan Foster has rediscovered his ability to actually make the insane shots that he regularly hoists into the stratosphere. I still think Patterson dominates Ogilvy again though.
The Pick: Vanderbilt

Last night's record: 2-1
Overall record: 27-21-4

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

Craig's record: 13-16-2