College Basketball Picks

How good is LSU, really? The Tigers might have a 7-2 record, but LSU hasn’t exactly tested itself against quality competition this season. The only two games the Tigers have played against solid opponents resulted in losses, and otherwise, LSU has mostly contented itself with beating up on low-major opponents. What the Tigers do well is spread out their scoring, with four players averaging in double figures. But Houston is a program on the rise. Can the Tigers cover against the -5.5 spread? DJ gives his basketball pick.

Pennsylvania can win against the spread if the Quakers can play at Villanova’s pace and find the holes in the Wildcats’ defense. Villanova isn’t the typical Power 6 team that likes to run it from the word “go” and overwhelm its opponents from smaller conferences. The Wildcats make their opponents work for their shots, and work isn’t something that a lot of teams enjoy doing on the court. Pennsylvania has to resist the temptation to force things too early and instead take what the Wildcats are willing to give them. Does Penn have the discipline to grind it out for 40 minutes? DJ has your basketball prediction.

Just weeks ago, Texas seemed to be on track for a breakout season in Shaka Smart’s fourth year in Austin. Now the Longhorns have dropped three in a row after falling to Michigan State, Radford and VCU, which has even Smart questioning his squad. Is this a sign that the team is the the brink of collapse? Sportsbooks have Texas as a 1.5 point favorite.

NMSU has dispatched its last five opponents with ease, especially in their last game – a 35-point rout of their rival New Mexico team. Meanwhile, Kansas is looking to add on to their undefeated record after stomping Wofford on Tuesday night, but they may have stepped a little to hard as star Center Udoka Azubuike will be resting his injured ankle for the foreseeable future. Sportsbooks show KU favored by a big 14 points.

Nevada has more than lived up to the hype it built last season in its run to the Sweet 16, winning all of its first eight games by double digits. Coach Eric Musselman’s strategy of relying mainly on junior college players has set the Wolf Pack up with eight seniors this year, and they’ve played like seniors. Sportsbook believe that experience helps make the Pack 7.5 point favorites. DJ has your basketball pick!