Expert Football Picks

The Baylor Bears started the season winning their first 17 games. However, they are starting to be questioned by NCAA basketball experts as they are just 4-3 over their last 7 games in the tough Big-12 conference. Despite winning 2 games against ranked opponents during their pre-conference schedule, the Bears took on what many consider to be an easy road. Things won’t get any easier for Baylor as they take on the 4th ranked Missouri Tigers in a revenge match-up on the road. Missouri is one of the most deadly shooting teams in division 1 college basketball, and thrive on their relentless offensive attack. They currently rank 7th in the country in points per game with a 80.5 average. The reason for their success scoring the ball is partly due to the athletes that they have, but is primarily... 

Dirk Nowitzki is back in the lineup after missing some time to get his conditioning in order. Kevin Love will also be back in the lineup Friday after sitting out two games for plating a foot in an opponent’s face. One team is the defending world champion that seems to be underachieving; the other is a dynamic, young, up-and-coming team that is already more competitive than many expected. Two of the best power forward in the game go head-to-head again when Nowitzki and the Mavericks visit Love and the Timberwolves Friday night. This will be the third meeting this season between the two teams, with the Timberwolves winning the first two (99-82 at home Jan. 1 and 105-90 in Dallas Jan. 25). Here is a preview on the game and my potential NBA picks for it. Dallas Mavericks (15-11) @ Minnesota... 

The only West Coast Conference team to be ranked at the start of the season was the same team that’s always ranked at the start of the season. The Gonzaga Bulldogs have established themselves as a perennial powerhouse despite playing in a small conference, but they are no longer the “Big Dogs” on the block in the WCC. The Saint Mary’s Gaels are off to one of the best starts in school history, and have rocketed to the 13th spot in the coaches poll. It’s hard to decipher whether or not this team is legitimate as they have played a fairly soft schedule through their first 24 games. They have played just 2 ranked opponents, and were badly beaten by one of them. A 13 point loss to Baylor should’ve been expected, but losing to Denver by 12 is what has college basketball experts wondering... 

Before the season started the North Carolina Tar Heels were touted as the number 1 team in the country and did so with nearly all of the first place votes in the coaches poll. They have fallen back to the number 4 spot, but in my opinion it’s been undeservedly. A loss to UNLV is the only legitimate blemish on their record, but that can be said about almost every legitimate contender in college basketball. Losses to Kentucky and Florida St on the road may have hurt their status, but those are both talented teams that are tough to beat on their home court. College basketball handicappers must feel the same way about how good this UNC squad really is as they have listed them as healthy 6.5 point favorites over the 9th ranked Duke Blue Devils. This may be a home game for the Tar Heels, but as... 

Situations like Tuesday night’s match-up between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden St Warriors is one of the reasons why it will be tough to pull away from the pack for the “Elite” teams. That statement might sound ridiculous in the case of the Thunder as they have a 4.5 game lead in the Northwest division standings, but a solid Denver Nuggets team has the talent to rattle off a bunch of wins and make things close. The Thunder are clearly head and shoulders ahead of most teams in the league in terms of offensive talent, but having to play a tough road game against the Trail Blazers followed by another road game at Golden St in back to back nights is not an easy task for any team. With the shortened season and condensed schedule NBA handicappers have had to adjust their train of thought...