As the football season has flown by we’ve now reached the pinnacle of sports watching. The NBA is starting up, football is in full flow and today we’ve reached the greatest form of basketball, college basketball season! After a successful run picking college football games, we will now start a series of weekly college basketball picks. Let’s do it!
We’re treated to a marquee matchup on the opening night of the season featuring 8th-ranked Baylor traveling to 6th-ranked Gonzaga. This Gonzaga squad returns 4 out of 5 starters from last year's team that won 27 games. Continuity will be big for Gonzaga this year as they look for another top-25 season. Baylor on the other hand features a new squad with Duke transfer Jeremy Roach, Miami transfer Norchad Omier, and top-ranked high schooler VJ Edgecombe. This matchup will be a battle of talent versus culture and I lean towards the more talented team especially covering 6 points.
Best Bet: Baylor +5.5
This Kentucky squad, minus John Calipari at the helm for the first time in a long while, will feature a much different lineup than what Kentucky usually runs out. The starting lineup projects to have 4 graduate seniors, a far cry from the days when Kentucky would run out 4-5 true freshmen a game. First game of the year, at home, and with a veteran squad. Gimme Kentucky to cover the spread.
Best Bet: Kentucky -19.5
Okay I’ll be the first to admit this is not a well-informed pick. I know Iowa State has a good squad but to cover 46 points seems astronomical. The largest spread of the college basketball slate. This is a purely gut-pick. You see blue bloods like Kentucky, Duke, Carolina, and Kansas all with spreads in the 25-35 range. I just can’t envision essentially a 50-point blowout win. We’ll see but I’m rolling with the Valley tonight.
Best Bet: Mississippi Valley State +45.5
I'll buy into the Duke hype for game one of their season. Even the common fan should've heard about touted freshman Cooper Flagg aka Larry Bird 2.0. The top freshman in his class, Flagg is supposed to buoy an already stout Duke squad. Plus the added factor is that Flagg grew up in Maine and has played the Maine University team in scrimmages since he was 13 years old. Duke should handle business tonight.
Best Bet: Duke -30.5
I've heard it firsthand from multiple former Citadel players. This is not a very good team. Disciplined yes. Can beat anyone in America in a push-up contest. Absolutely. But beating an ACC team on the road in the first game of the year. Yeah batten down the hatches cadets because you’re in for a rough night. Gimme Boston College to cover the spread easily.
Best Bet: Boston College -16.5
