TSR 2/27/20 CBB Picks

YESTERDAY'S PICKS

Nick 6-4 (Season: 702-331)

Sam 9-1 (Season 725-308)

Zach 8-2 (Season: 748-285)

TODAY’S GAMES

1. Michigan vs Wisconsin (7:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Michigan- This just seems like a game that the Wolverines will win. They are playing tremendous basketball as of late, and I expect that roll to keep going. Isaiah Livers is a true difference maker for this team, and his value since returning from injury proves that he is an All-Big Ten player.

Sam: Michigan- The Wolverines are on fire as of late. Does anyone actually believe in a Greg Gard coached team on the road in the Big Ten? I surely don't...

Zach: Michigan- Both teams are on nice winning streaks heading into this game. Michigan has been playing their best basketball when Livers is playing and I see a big win for the Wolverines because of him

2. Purdue vs Indiana (7:00, FS1)

Nick: Purdue- The Boilermakers are a bubble team on the ropes, and they have another (albeit more comfortably sitting) bubble team in Indiana coming into town. This latest version of the Big Ten’s second best basketball rivalry will give the fans a rowdy Mackey Arena and a much needed upset win, keeping tournament hopes alive.

Sam: Purdue- Indiana has really played themselves off the bubble of late. If Purdue even wants a chance to get into the tournament, they need to win tonight. I don't even remember the last time Indian beat Purdue, and the streak will certainly continue in a game that Purdue really needs.

Zach: Purdue- The Boilermakers won in Bloomington and so they should have no problem winning in Mackey. 

3. Northwestern vs Illinois (8:00, BTN)

Nick: Illinois- The Fighting Illini are a solid team, and the Wildcats are horrible. Northwestern will surely benefit from all of these younger guys playing in 2020-21 and beyond, but they will not reap these benefits tonight. Illinois stays in the big cluster of teams atop the Big Ten.

Sam: Illinois- I really don't feel like I can trust Illinois on the road, but Northwestern is awful.

Zach: Illinois- Northwestern is so bad and Illinois is fighting for seeding the the Big Ten tournament 

4. Nebraska vs Ohio State (9:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Ohio State- The Cornhuskers are another team that will reap the benefits in the future, but not too much in the 2019-20 season. Fred Hoiberg’s team is young, and they just landed Kobe King from Wisconsin. Ohio State on the other hand, is similar to Michigan in the fact that they have played their better basketball the past few weeks. This is an NCAA Tournament team after all, and they get another win on Thursday night, though this is more dodging a landmine instead of improving their resume.

Sam: Ohio State- The Buckeyes are playing great basketball as of late too.

Zach: Ohio State- Nebraska should’ve never tired Tim Miles

5. Wichita State vs Temple (8:00, ESPN)

Nick: Wichita State- The Shockers need this win. Their metrics are strong, ranging from 38-43, but at 20-7 and 8-6 in the AAC, they find themselves in fifth place in a league that will not earn five bids. They just need to avoid bad losses and rack up decent wins, and this would be a Q3 loss if they can’t beat the Owls at home.

Sam: Wichita State- I agree, the Shockers really need it.

Zach: Wichita State

6.  USC vs Arizona (10:00, ESPN)

Nick: Arizona- The Wildcats are still in this Pac 12 title race, in the five-way pack of teams that can still win this league with two weeks to play. Nico Mannion is an elite guard, and while I have some reservations about this team, I really do not trust Andy Enfield and USC.

Sam: USC- I don't get the love for Arizona, they truthfully aren't very good

Zach:- Arizona- USC is such a weird team and I can’t trust them, even at home 

7. Oregon vs Oregon State (11:00, ESPN2)

Nick: Oregon- The Ducks are still my favorite to win the Pac 12, as Payton Pritchard is without a doubt the best player in the conference, and big players win big games. In the Civil War on the Hardwood, I’ll take the Ducks.

Sam: Oregon

Zach: Oregon- No way that the Beavers win this game in Eugene, take it to the bank

8. UCLA vs Arizona State (11:00, PAC12)

Nick: Arizona State- The two hottest teams in the Pac12 square off, and I don’t like either coach. This will be the exception to the #NeverHurley movement, as Mick Cronin is also a coach who I have never been able to root for throughout his career. Oh and Bill Walton went to UCLA, and he’s the worst...

Sam: UCLA- It would be just weird to see Arizona State win the Pac 12, and a win tonight (which I don't think they will get) would go a long way

Zach: Arizona State- UCLA is playing great basketball right now, winning five in a row, and sitting 0.5 games back of first place Arizona State. However, this game was an 18 point blowout in the previous matchup. I don’t see the home court having an 18 point change

9. North Dakota State vs South Dakota State (9:00, ESPN+)

Nick: North Dakota State- If this isn’t the Summit League Tournament Championship Game, something went wrong. These two have clearly been the best in the SL this year, and I will take the Bison in an upset at home.

Sam: South Dakota State

Zach: North Dakota State 

10. Cal Poly vs UC Irvine (11:00, ESPNU)

Nick: UC Irvine- Ah yes, Big West Thursday Night Hoops on ESPNU. SIGN ME UP! I will take the Anteaters, who have run away with the Big West this season, 3.5 game favorites. Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the other hand, is in the cellar of this league, and they need this win to have any shot of making the Big West Tournament.

Sam: UC Irvine

Zach: UC Irvine