Wednesday's Picks

Scott Martin and Robbie Hummel, here to take the Big Ten, and your teenage daughters

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: Entertaining game in the Big Ten with my pick Indiana (-4.5) overcoming the vicious, pre-pubescent assault from Scott Martin and Professor Frink Hummel (seriously though, those dweebs can play) and Kelvin Sampson becoming the first man in history to run away from Erin Andrews. Davidson (-13.5) was up 20 early in the second half on my pick UNC-Greensboro until the Spartans realized getting its best player in school history, Kyle Hines, the ball could actually improve the chances of winning. They didn't win but covered despite roughly 56 turnovers. The late game was enormously uninteresting and I watched none of it, only to find out Kentucky (-5.5) won by six, leaving me a single point away from an eight-game winning streak, which certainly would have shifted the space-time continuum. You may thank Joe Crawford.

North Carolina (-8.5) at North Carolina State- Three pretty lopsided match-ups that are only salvaged by the huge favorite being on the road in each. The Tar Heels absolutely demolished NC State by 31 the first time around and while they have struggled without Ty Lawson (who's out again tonight), the merciless, 39-point beatdown they handed Virginia Tech Saturday makes you wonder if the blowout ability is back. In this particular case though, Lawson's injury probably levels the field for the Pack more than any other ACC team. Without someone to push the pace out of NC State's comfort zone and without someone to take advantage of the Pack's complete lack of consistent point play, it will be just two teams with a bunch of athletic wings and big men. Granted the Heels have much more talent and better coaching (and should "dominate the boards," said in Jay Bilas creepy arm-head voice) but with the fewer possessions, NC State should at least be able to stay in the game with defense.... Or they could get blown out by 31 again.
The Pick: NC State

Marquette (-7.5) at St. John's- With the exception of a weird three-game winning streak that should probably spark an NCAA investigation, the Red Storm have lost eight straight games, many of which were blowouts. As much as I hate considering Marquette and elite team, it has had no trouble with these low-level road games, which is more than you can say about most Big East teams. This one will be slow and boring and many soul-crushing bricks will be hoisted so DO NOT WATCH THIS GAME.
The Pick: Marquette

Kansas State (-3) at Nebraska- Am I missing something here? Three points?!?! I mean, I know KSU isn't the greatest road team but it's freaking Nebraska. The last time around the Wildcats beat the Huskers by 15 with Beasley dropping 35 and 13 on 15-21 shooting. He just put up 40 and 17 on Missouri, a game in which KSU won by 37. I suppose Nebraska big man Aleks Maric could be a problem, especially if Beasley has to cover him, but this is a ranked team with the best player in the country against a league cellar-dweller on national TV. I must be missing something. Is this game an Ashton Kutcher production? Does Beasley have a horrible rash I don't know about (and would prefer not to know about)? Is Bill Walker's status up in the air because of strict public urination laws in Lincoln? I'm going to take Kansas State and walk away very slowly.
The Pick: Kansas State

Last night's record: 2-1
JTom's overall record: 37-29-4

ACC: 5-7
Big 12: 5-6-2
Big East: 10-5-1
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