Picks for 12/13/25
NOON EST
Rotation # 601
Arkansas +1.5 over Texas Tech (win)
Arkansas head coach John Calipari is approaching the 900-win mark of his career, facing off against the underrated Grant McCasland. Both teams have outstanding talent and play defense the way it should be played. Well-coached programs that play solid defense can stay in the March Madness Tournament for a long time. I like the Razorbacks’ ability to play at a high tempo and believe they have better overall athleticism to win. Arkansas returns a significant portion of its key players from last year and has a lot more experience, with more than a handful of players who have logged big minutes at major universities. 5-star rated Darius Acuff is off to a hot start in his freshman campaign. The Red Raiders have a lot of transfers from smaller conferences, so the jury is still out. Look for a tight game with the experience of the Razorbacks taking over in the final minutes. Take Arkansas.
College Basketball
8:00 PM EST
Rotation # 708
Ohio State -3.5 over WVU (pending)
Both teams are looking to be more competitive in their respective conferences this season. Ohio State head coach Jake Diebler now enters his second year with key contributors Bruce Thornton, John Mobley, and Devin Royal all back. Santa Clara transfer Christoph Tilly was a great addition to the Buckeyes program, as his size gives them a clear advantage around the rim. West Virginia is breaking in a new coaching staff under Ross Hodge, and all of their transfers are from smaller-conference basketball. Neither team has been tested much yet, with weaker schedules, but the Buckeyes have the advantage because they can play at a quicker pace than the Mountaineers, who play at a slow, methodical pace. I don’t think West Virginia is good enough on defense or has the overall team camaraderie to play top-notch defense for 40 minutes. Take Ohio State.
College Basketball
9:30 PM EST
Rotation # 725
Arizona -1.5 over Alabama (pending)
Both teams have already faced tougher opponents this season. Alabama has endured a grueling schedule to start the year, leaving a few key players banged up. The status of Aden Holloway is up in the air as he hasn’t played in two weeks. Taylor Bol Bowen and Keitenn Bristow also missed the team’s last game. The Crimson Tide is a bit more worn down, which is unfortunate before conference play even starts. Arizona brings length and muscle into this matchup as they embrace a physical contest. The Wildcats’ defense plays hard, which isn’t the best news for an Alabama team that runs at a NASCAR pace. They cannot afford nagging injuries or new ones to flare up. Motiejus Krivas will use his big frame to disrupt the Alabama shooting angles. Koa Peat is a sensational freshman who will be extremely rich a year from today. If the Wildcats can limit a big three-point shooting night, they should be in a prime position for the win. Take Arizona