NBA: Week of 11/26/12

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

1. BKN @ BOS

Line: BOS -4.5

Chris' Take: The Nets beat the Celtics at home a couple of weeks ago 102-97. But with the assist-happy Rondo back in the lineup for the home team Celtics, I expect Boston to cover.

Chris' Pick: BOS -4.5

Matt's Take: Brooklyn's been keeping their pimp hand strong and smacking everyone this last week. Gerald Wallace is back and I think we are finally starting to see the full power of the Nets (My #2 in the East). When you own the league's best scoring defense to this point you gotta take the points.

Matt's Pick: BKN +4.5

2. NYK @ MIL

Line: NYK -1.5

Chris' Take: The Knicks have been struggling over the past week or so, and they have lost 4 of their last 5 at Milwaukee. I'll take the home-dog Bucks and the point and a half.

Chris' Pick: MIL +1.5

Matt's Take: New York had a tough overtime loss the other night to a highly motivated little brother in the Nets. Milwaukee has been a nice surprise in this early going with the explosive backcourt of Jennings and Ellis. I just don't seem them havign the size or defense to contend with a bigger, more offensively polished Knick team. New York rebounds here.

Matt's Pick: NYK -1.5

Thursday, November 29, 2012

3. SAS @ MIA

Line: MIA -6

Chris' Take: Big 3 are out for the Spurs, gimme the Heat -6.

Chris' Pick: MIA -6

Matt's Take: Two teams equally dominating their recent schedule and basically full strength on the injury front. Miami hasn't played in 5 days and San Antonio is coming off a gaem the day before. San Antonio has been impressive on the road trip but it hasn't been against that tough of competition. I thin the Heat come out charged up and take this from the tip. Its hard to give points with two good teams, but I just don't think San Antonio matches up well against Miami.

Matt's Pick: MIA -6

NCAA Football: Week 14, 2012

NCAA Football Picks! Here we go!


1. #16 UCLA @ #8 STAN (PAC-12 Championship)

Line: STAN -8.5

Chris' Take: It was just a week ago that these two teams squared off down at the Rose Bowl, and the visiting Stanford Cardinal rolled 35-17. Now Stanford will host UCLA for the Pac-12 Conference Championship Game up on The Farm? Give me the Cardinal, winning BIG.

Chris' Pick: STAN -8.5

Matt's Take: This is a hard game to figure. I really do not think UCLA gave max effort last weekend. They didn't need the game and Stanford did. It gives them an opportunity to play a limited playbook and force Stanford to expose itself to win. Going back up Palo Alto is a challenge, but Stanford really hasn't beaten any ranked team by this big of a margin this year.

Matt's Pick: UCLA +8.5

2. #2 BAMA @ #3 UGA (SEC Championship)


Line: BAMA -8


Chris' Take: Alabama is not head-and-shoulders above the rest of college football like they were a year ago. Georgia is hot right now, and I look for them to keep it very competitive, and maybe even pull off the upset. I'll take the Dawgs and the points.

Chris' Pick: UGA +8

Matt's Take: Both these teams come in having smacked a rival in the mouth the previous week. At my other blog I have commented recently that Alabama has been exposed by good teams. Georgia is obviously a good team. This line reflects too much respect given to Alabama. I expect a Dawg fight (get it?) and even if you think Alabama wins its hard to picture them winning by more than a 8.

Matt's Pick: UGA +8


3. #18 TEX @ #6 KSU (Big 12 Title)


Line: KSU -10.5


Chris' Take: The Wildcats will win the Big 12 Title and a BCS bowl berth on the arm and legs of QB Collin Klein against a shaky Longhorn defense, and they will win BIG.

Chris' Pick: KSU -10.5

Matt's Take: Texas isn't playing for anything and Kansas State is playing for all the marbles. Throw in the late season bye and I think Kansas State returns to its take care of business attitude. This is Collin Klein's last shot at a Heisman impression and a big game could do something to swing voters off Johnny Manizel and Manti Te'o. I think K State wins by a couple of touchdowns at least.

Matt's Pick: KSU -10.5

NCAA Basketball - Week of 11-26-12

I can't think of a better way to start off this blog than with some Top 25 picks from the young college basketball season during Jimmy V. Week, so here we go!

"Don't give up. Don't ever give up." - Jim Valvano

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

1. #18 NCST @ #3 MICH

Line: MICH -5.5

Chris' Take: The #18 Wolfpack (4-1) may come up short when they head to Ann Arbor to face the Tim Hardaway Jr. and the undefeated Wolverines (5-0), but the underdogs should at least keep it close.

Chris' Pick: NCST +5.5

Matt's Take: I don't think the ACC/B1G challenge has been as compelling as it is this year. The B1G owns the top 25 SEC football style right now including 3 of the top 4. NC State came into the year loaded with veteran and freshman talent. The kind combination that would avoid slow starts and hiccups in the road that other similarly loaded young teams like UCLA has already seen this year. But NC State has already lost and faces a tough road test at a Michigan program that has been dying for relevance since the Fab Five took booster money all the way to the championship game. NC State simply hasn't looked ready for this stage yet this year. Wolverines cover.

Matt's Pick: Mich -5.5

2. #14 UNC @ #1 IND

Line: IND -10

Chris' Take: The #1 Indiana Hoosiers (6-0) should roll in this game over the #14 Tar Heels (5-1) who go into a hostile Assembly Hall without sophomore guard P.J. Hairston.

Chris' Pick: IND -10

Matt's Take: This line is massive and clearly based on Hairston missing. North Carolina is athletic and versatile but missing Hairston really dilutes some of the advantage outside North Carolina has on a big team like Indiana. I wavered a bit here, but Indiana is pure silk on offense. If UNC can't compete from 3 this one isn't close. I'll take the Hoosiers at home.

Matt's Pick: IND -10

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

3. #4 OSU @ #2 DUKE

Line: DUKE -6

Chris' Take: You have to like Duke's strong start to the 2012-2013 campaign. The play of big-man Miles Plumlee and guards Quinn Cook, Seth Curry, and Rahsheed Sulaimon has been solid, and the Blue Devils seem to be the real deal. But I also like the strong defense of Ohio State's Aaron Craft and Deshaun Thomas to keep it close. I'll take the points.

Chris' Pick: OSU +6

Matt's Take: Uggghh. Picking between these two games is like picking between burning yourself to death or drowning. Both choices are painful. I have significant bias against Ohio State from past sports dealings with Florida and Urban Meyer quitting on us to coach them a year later. Duke is, well, Duke. The B1G has fared well thus far in this ACC/B1G challenge, but the contests have been at home for the B1G schools. This is the ACC's chance to save some face. But we live in a world where Miles Plumlee is the Blue Devils best player. Duke already has good wins against Kentucky and Lousiville, but I like Ohio Stat and Dehsaun Thomas to keep it close. This has the makings a traditional grind 'em out Big 10 game.

Matt's Pick: OSU +6

Straight What?

Welcome to the "Straight Pickin' Ya" blog!

On this blog, I will post my picks for various professional and collegiate sports games. And, on occasion, I will be picking with/against my good friend Mateo de Robertos, who writes an awesome sports blog called "Follow the Bouncing Ball." 

Until next time.