I may have a lot of picks gone wrong in the past, but there is always room for improvement. I apologize for the lack of posting on here this week, things have been busy as I’m trying to get my grades up to get into colleges next school year. Enough about me, here are my picks for Saturday, including college basketball and Poirier vs. McGregor 2:
NCAA Basketball:
#23 UConn (7-2) at #11 Creighton (10-4) (-7.5)
Creighton is a great team offensively, but as I’ve said on Twitter, the Bluejays aren’t very athletic. They’re slow. I think Dan Hurley is fired up to play Creighton after a tough loss to St. John’s earlier this week. I think the Huskies split the series with athleticism and good ball movement, even without star guard James Bouknight. I’m no betting expert, but if I was of age, I’d take the +7.5.
Tune into UConn at Creighton at 12 PM ET on FOX.
#9 Kansas (10-4) (-1) at Oklahoma (8-4)
Oklahoma will keep it a close game. They did in Lawrence not too long ago, and I don’t like this Kansas team, but I think the Jayhawks win an ugly one in Norman. The last time the Sooners won was back in March 2019.
Tune into Kansas at Oklahoma at 12 PM ET on ESPN.
#16 Virginia Tech (11-2) at Syracuse (8-4) (-1)
If I were of the betting age and Massachusetts legalized sports betting, I would avoid betting on these three teams: the Falcons, the Clippers in the NBA Playoffs, and Syracuse basketball. Syracuse has a history of beating the Hokies, but the Orange have lost pretty badly lately, and I can see them getting their fifth loss today. I never like Syracuse as a close favorite. Remember, this is the same team that won by one to Bryant.
Tune into Virginia Tech at Syracuse at 12 PM ET on ACC Network Extra.
#2 Baylor (13-0) (-9) at Oklahoma State (9-3)
Baylor’s won the last five games in Stillwater and they’ll win six in a row at OSU today. I think the first half will be more defensive, but then Jared Butler and the Bears will start pulling away in the second half. The only way the Cowboys can stay in this game is a big game from Cade Cunningham and everyone else steps up.
Tune into Baylor at Oklahoma State at 2 PM ET on CBS.
Maryland (8-7) at #17 Minnesota (11-4) (-6.5)
Don’t let the 6.5 point favorite line fool you. Minnesota has lost the last four against the Terps, the last win in February 2017. Marcus Carr has been one of my favorite players to watch in college basketball, so if I have the time I would love to watch this one.
Tune into Maryland and Minnesota at 2 PM ET on Big Ten Network.
NC State (6-4) at North Carolina (9-5) (-6.5)
Now, this is a better game to put a team as a 6.5 point favorite. The Tar Heels lost to NC State back in December, but the Wolfpack haven’t won a game in Chapel Hill since 2018. Pass to Garrison Brooks and let him work. Tar Heels cover and win in this rivalry game.
Tune into NC State at North Carolina at 2 PM ET on ESPN.
Army (8-3) at Navy (9-1) (-4)
I know this isn’t a very exciting game, but it is a great rivalry. I like Navy in basketball, they’ve won eight straight. Apologizes to my sister’s boyfriend, who attends West Point. I just pick who I think wins. No hard feelings. At least the Black Knights won in football, the most important sport in the Army-Navy rivalry.
Tune into Army at Navy at 2:30 PM ET on CBS Sports Network.
#20 Clemson (9-3) at Florida State (8-2) (-7)
Clemson has won the past two matchups, including one earlier this season, but Clemson has fallen off quite a bit after back-to-back losses against Virginia and Georgia Tech. The Seminoles have won the past three games, all against solid ACC teams. They are very efficient on offense and I think that’s going to help them win today as they haven’t lost a home game to the Tigers since 2015.
Tune into Clemson at Florida State at 3 PM ET on ABC.
#15 Ohio State (11-4) at #10 Wisconsin (12-3) (-5)
I wouldn’t be surprised if this game went to the Buckeyes, as they have a very efficient offense, but the Badgers are great on defense, and that’s what makes me pick Wisconsin. What also made me pick Wisconsin was the fact that they also are on a three-game win streak against Ohio State. Don’t sleep on the Buckeyes though, I’d take the +5.
Tune into Ohio State at Wisconsin at 4 PM ET on CBS.
Duke (5-4) at Louisville (9-3) (-2.5)
The Blue Devils need to win. Coach K knows that. Carlik Jones will be the best player on the court, but the Blue Devils will be the tougher team.
Tune into Duke at Louisville at 4 PM ET on ESPN.
#24 UCLA (12-2) (-4.5) at Stanford (8-5)
The Bruins have lost three straight at Stanford, and I think this will end up being their third loss of the season. I think UCLA is the better team, but the defense of Stanford will win the Cardinal the game. I wouldn’t be surprised if UCLA ends up winning this game either.
Tune into UCLA at Stanford at 5 PM ET on FOX.
LSU (10-3) at Kentucky (4-9) (-1.5)
LSU is one of the nation’s most efficient offensive teams, with freshman Cam Thomas leading the way. Kentucky has been BAD this year. I don’t trust a team that can’t produce well offensively.
Tune into LSU at Kentucky at 6 PM ET on ESPN.
#19 Missouri (9-2) at #6 Tennessee (10-2) (-7)
The Volunteers were extremely bad offensively in a blowout loss to Florida, but I think the defense and the fact that Tennessee has won four straight against the Tigers helps me pick Tennessee to win this game.
Tune into Missouri at Tennessee at 8:30 PM ET on SEC Network.
So who wins Poirier vs. McGregor 2? This is the first time Conor McGregor has has a fight scheduled since knocking out Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in the first round at UFC 246. McGregor won the first match and I think he will take the rematch of the 2014 fight. Something that I think is important to look at when watching boxing or UFC is the reach. I think that’s huge in fights. I’m not the best at talking about this sport, but whenever I watch McGregor in a fight, he usually wins.
Tune into UFC 257: Early Prelims at 7 PM ET on ESPN+, Prelims at 8 PM ET on ESPN/ESPN+, and the Main Card ($69.99) starts at 10 PM ET on ESPN+ PPV.
Calhoun's Corner 