College Basketball Picks Week 2 – 2K Classic
Note: I’ve decided to use the KenPom Top 25 just because I find it much more accurate than the AP, plus, its updated daily
These picks will be updated every day.
Monday, 11/12
Stanford (2-0) @ #3North Carolina (2-0) – 7 PM ET, ESPN2
Prediction: North Carolina
San Diego (2-0) @ Washington (1-1) – 11 PM ET, Pac-12 Network
Prediction: Washington
Tuesday, 11/13
Big Ten vs Big East Challenge (a.k.a. the Gavitt Tipoff Games) start today!
#19Wisconsin (1-0) @ Xavier (2-0) – 6:30 PM ET, FS1 – Gavitt Tipoff Game
Prediction: Wisconsin
Georgia (1-0) @ Temple (2-0) – 7 PM ET, ESPN3
Prediction: Georgia
Georgetown (2-0) @ Illinois (1-0) – 8:30 PM ET, FS1 – Gavitt Tipoff Game
Prediction: Illinois
Wednesday, 11/14
Marquette (2-0) @ #24Indiana (2-0) – 8:30 PM ET, FS1 – Gavitt Tipoff Game
This is probably the headliner of the Gavitt Tipoff Games between the Big East in the Big Ten, as Indiana and Marquette are two of the most interesting teams in the country to me. Indiana, to see if the addition of Romeo Langford can bring the Hoosiers back to their 2015-16 season levels before the departure of Yogi Ferrell. Marquette because Markus Howard (52 points, 16 rebounds, 12 assists in two games) may be the most underrated player in the country. If Marquette can emerge to become the new #2 of the very crowded Big East (KenPom says the #2 team and the worst team in the conference are separated by just eight points on a neutral court), Howard may start to sneak onto some All-American lists. That being said, I’m picking against Howard and the Golden Eagles. Marquette will be forced to travel on the road to Assembly Hall here, and they will run into the #4 team in the country in opponent eFG%. There is no more dangerous combo than a rowdy crowd and great defense, I’m taking Indiana.
Prediction: Indiana
Michigan (2-0) @ #6Villanova (2-0) – 6:30 PM ET, FS1 – Gavitt Tipoff Game
Prediction: Villanova
Seton Hall (1-0) @ Nebraska (2-0) – 7:30 PM ET, BTN – Gavitt Tipoff Game
Prediction: Nebraska
Saint Mary’s (2-0) @ New Mexico State (2-0) – 9 PM ET, Eleven Sports/Aggie Vision
Prediction: New Mexico State
Thursday, 11/15
The Charleston Classic, Myrtle Beach Classic, and 2K Classic begin today!
Ball State (1-1) vs Virginia Tech (1-0) in Charleston, SC – 11:30 AM ET, ESPN2 – Charleston Classic Quarterfinal
Prediction: Virginia Tech
Saint Joseph’s (2-0) vs Wake Forest (1-0) in Conway, SC – 11:30 AM ET, ESPNU – Myrtle Beach Invitational Quarterfinal
Prediction: Wake Forest
UCF (1-1) vs CSU Fullerton (1-1) in Conway, SC – 1:30 PM ET, ESPN3 – Myrtle Beach Invitational Quarterfinal
Prediction: CSU Fullerton
Alabama (2-0) vs Northeastern (1-1) in Charleston, SC – 2 PM ET, ESPNU – Charleston Classic Quarterfinal
Prediction: Northeastern
ATS Pick: Northeastern +3.5
#17Purdue (2-0) vs Appalachian State (1-1) in Charleston, SC – 5 PM ET, ESPN2 – Charleston Classic Quarterfinal
Prediction: Purdue
Valparaiso (1-0) vs Western Kentucky (1-1) in Conway, SC – 5 PM ET, ESPNU – Myrtle Beach Invitational Quarterfinal
Prediction: Valparaiso
#7Syracuse (2-0) vs UConn (2-0) in New York, NY – 7 PM ET, ESPN2 – 2K Classic Semifinal
Prediction: Syracuse
Ohio State (2-0) @ Creighton (2-0) – 7 PM ET, FS1 – Gavitt Tipoff Game
Prediction: Ohio State
Monmouth (0-3) vs #15West Virginia (0-1) in Conway, SC – 7 PM ET, ESPNU – Myrtle Beach Invitational Quarterfinal
Prediction: West Virginia
Davidson (2-0) vs Wichita State (1-1) in Charleston, SC – 7 PM ET, ESPN3 – Charleston Classic Quarterfinal
Prediction: Davidson
Fresno State (1-0) @ TCU (2-0) – 9 PM ET, Fox Sports Southwest
Prediction: TCU
Penn State (2-0) @ DePaul (2-0) – 9 PM ET, FS1 – Gavitt Tipoff Game
Prediction: Penn State
#21Oregon (2-0) vs Iowa (2-0) in New York, NY – 9:15 PM ET, ESPN2 – 2K Classic Semifinal
Prediction: Oregon
Texas A&M (1-1) @ #6Gonzaga (2-0) – 11:30 PM ET, ESPN2
Prediction: Gonzaga
Friday, 11/16
Virginia Tech (2-0) vs Northeastern (2-1) in Charleston, SC – 11 AM ET, ESPN2 – Charleston Classic Semifinal
Prediction: Virginia Tech
Saint Joseph’s (3-0) vs UCF (2-1) in Conway, SC – 1:30 PM ET, ESPN2 – Myrtle Beach Invitational Semifinal
Prediction: UCF
#10Syracuse (2-1) vs #21Oregon (2-1) in New York, NY – 4:30 PM ET, ESPN2 – 2K Classic Third Place Game
Prediction: Syracuse
#15Purdue (3-0) vs Davidson (3-0) in Charleston, SC – 6:30 PM ET, ESPNU – Charleston Classic Semifinal
Prediction: Purdue
UConn (3-0) vs Iowa (3-0) in New York, NY – 6:30 PM ET, ESPN2 – 2K Classic Semifinal
Prediction: UConn
St. John’s (2-0) @ Rutgers (2-0) – 7 PM ET, BTN – Gavitt Tipoff Game
Prediction: St. John’s
Louisiana (1-1) @ #1Kansas (2-0) – 8 PM ET, ESPN+
Prediction: Kansas
ATS Pick: Louisiana +22
Ole Miss (1-0) @ Butler (2-0) – 8 PM ET, FS2
Prediction: Butler
Arizona State (3-0) @ San Francisco (3-0) – 9 PM ET, Pac-12 Network
Prediction: San Francisco
Western Kentucky (2-1) vs #16West Virginia (1-1) in Conway, SC – 9 PM ET, ESPNU – Myrtle Beach Invitational Semifinal
Prediction: West Virginia
Saturday, 11/17
No games
Sunday, 11/18
#20Virginia Tech (3-0) vs #12Purdue (4-0) in Charleston, SC – 8:30 PM ET, ESPN2 – Charleston Classic Championship
Our first big tournament final will come from Charleston, South Carolina on Sunday as we gear up for next week. The Charleston Classic Championship will feature Virginia Tech and Purdue, and Vegas sees this one as a tossup. While I will admit that Virginia Tech’s performance against Ball State on Thursday was worrying, they quelled many of my fears with a convincing 88-60 victory over a Northeastern team that is the clear favorite in the CAA. Purdue also struggled with Ball State (and the Boilermakers’ game against the Cardinals was at home rather than on a neutral court) and have not faced a team yet this year on the level of Northeastern, their toughest opponent has been KenPom #97 Davidson. Virginia Tech’s defense is leading the country in opposition turnover rate right now, and I see that defense leading the Hokies to a close win in the high 60s.
Prediction: Virginia Tech
#8Michigan (4-0) vs Providence (3-1) in Uncasville, CT – 1:30 PM ET, ESPN – Basketball Hall Of Fame Tip-Off Championship
Prediction: Michigan
Wofford (2-1) @ Oklahoma (2-0) – 2 PM ET, Fox Sports Oklahoma
Prediction: Oklahoma
#16Indiana (3-0) @ Arkansas (1-1) – 3:30 PM ET, ESPN
Prediction: Indiana
Saint Joseph’s (3-1) vs #21West Virginia (1-2) in Conway, SC – 4 PM ET, ESPNU – Myrtle Beach Invitational Third Place Game
Prediction: West Virginia
Oregon State (3-0) vs Missouri (2-1) in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands – 5:30 PM ET, FloHoops.com – Paradise Jam Semifinal
Prediction: Oregon State
Northeastern (2-2) vs Davidson (3-1) in Charleston, SC – 6 PM ET, ESPNU – Charleston Classic Third Place Game
Prediction: Northeastern
ATS Pick: Northeastern +1.5
UCF (3-1) vs Western Kentucky (3-1) in Conway, SC – 6:30 PM ET, ESPN2 – Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship
Prediction: UCF
Pennsylvania (4-0) vs #22 Kansas State (3-0) in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands – 7:30 PM ET, FloHoops.com – Paradise Jam Semifinal
Prediction: Kansas State
Santa Clara (0-2) vs Washington (2-1) in Vancouver, BC – 8 PM ET, ESPN3 – Vancouver Showcase
Prediction: Washington
ATS Pick: Santa Clara +16.5
Minnesota (2-0) vs Texas A&M (1-2) in Vancouver, BC – 10:30 PM ET, ESPN2 – Vancouver Showcase
Prediction: Minnesota