Picks for 2/14/26
College Basketball
NOON EST
Rotation # 607
Georgia Tech +7.5 over Notre Dame (loss)
Georgia Tech hits the road on a six-game losing streak, taking on an Irish team that has lost its last five. One team will, by default, break its streak this afternoon. Both teams are missing key players. The Yellow Jackets remain without big man Mouhamed Sylla, and the Irish are still without Markus Burton. The Irish had Jalen Haralson pop up on the overnight injury report, leaving his status in question. Both Burton and Haralson are their top-performing guards. Not having one ball handler and scorer is bad enough, but if it’s both, the big spread in this game favors the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech has been awful on the road, but the Irish home-court advantage hasn’t been too favorable. Look for the Yellow Jackets to up the pace with Lamar Washington finding his teammates, like Kowacie Reeves, open for quick buckets. Look for the Yellow Jackets to hang tough. Take Georgia Tech.
NOON EST
Rotation # 607
Georgia Tech +7.5 over Notre Dame (loss)
Georgia Tech hits the road on a six-game losing streak, taking on an Irish team that has lost its last five. One team will, by default, break its streak this afternoon. Both teams are missing key players. The Yellow Jackets remain without big man Mouhamed Sylla, and the Irish are still without Markus Burton. The Irish had Jalen Haralson pop up on the overnight injury report, leaving his status in question. Both Burton and Haralson are their top-performing guards. Not having one ball handler and scorer is bad enough, but if it’s both, the big spread in this game favors the Yellow Jackets. Georgia Tech has been awful on the road, but the Irish home-court advantage hasn’t been too favorable. Look for the Yellow Jackets to up the pace with Lamar Washington finding his teammates, like Kowacie Reeves, open for quick buckets. Look for the Yellow Jackets to hang tough. Take Georgia Tech.
College Basketball
1:00 PM EST
Rotation # 618
Iowa State -7.5 over Kansas (win)
Iowa State puts its 13-0 home record on the line against a Kansas team coming off a monster win at home over Arizona. The Jayhawks recruit well under Bill Self, but most of their work has been done in their own building, as they are just 4-3 on the road. The Jayhawks won the first meeting on their home court a month ago by building a big halftime lead. The Cyclones will look to do the same at home to keep their undefeated home streak alive. The status of 5-star recruit Darryn Peterson is always in question. Look for the Cyclones to push the weight around with Blake Buchanan and Joshua Jefferson, and for Milan Momcilovic to connect from the three-point line. Take Iowa State.
1:00 PM EST
Rotation # 618
Iowa State -7.5 over Kansas (win)
Iowa State puts its 13-0 home record on the line against a Kansas team coming off a monster win at home over Arizona. The Jayhawks recruit well under Bill Self, but most of their work has been done in their own building, as they are just 4-3 on the road. The Jayhawks won the first meeting on their home court a month ago by building a big halftime lead. The Cyclones will look to do the same at home to keep their undefeated home streak alive. The status of 5-star recruit Darryn Peterson is always in question. Look for the Cyclones to push the weight around with Blake Buchanan and Joshua Jefferson, and for Milan Momcilovic to connect from the three-point line. Take Iowa State.
College Basketball
3:30 PM EST
Rotation # 668
Oklahoma -1.5 over Georgia (win)
Georgia takes to the road without their best scorer, Jeremiah Wilkinson, and it’s a lot of points and solid defense off the board, even against a Sooners team that’s suffering another poor year in conference play. The Bulldogs are a high-tempo team and miss his contributions dearly. Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown are two veteran guards for the Sooners who can find open teammates, shoot the ball well, and are not shy to take three-pointers. The Sooners are not going to get many more golden opportunities to get another win in conference play, and they must take advantage of a team missing its most valuable scorer. Take Oklahoma.
3:30 PM EST
Rotation # 668
Oklahoma -1.5 over Georgia (win)
Georgia takes to the road without their best scorer, Jeremiah Wilkinson, and it’s a lot of points and solid defense off the board, even against a Sooners team that’s suffering another poor year in conference play. The Bulldogs are a high-tempo team and miss his contributions dearly. Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown are two veteran guards for the Sooners who can find open teammates, shoot the ball well, and are not shy to take three-pointers. The Sooners are not going to get many more golden opportunities to get another win in conference play, and they must take advantage of a team missing its most valuable scorer. Take Oklahoma.
College Basketball
4:00 PM EST
Rotation # 674
Wake Forest -4.5 over Stanford (win)
Both teams are coming off road wins against weaker ACC opponents, but a win is a win, and you take them how you can. Stanford took a hit when its 2nd-leading scorer, Chisom Okpara, went down for the year. The Cardinal will miss his playmaking ability, size, and veteran leadership. Nate Calmese remains out for the Demon Deacons. Today’s game should be an evenly matched contest, but home court is undoubtedly a big advantage for a team flying across the country and staying in a hotel for a week. The Demon Deacons have been tested more with their tougher schedule and can play a bit faster. Look for Juke Harris and TreVon Spillers to take over. Take Wake Forest.
4:00 PM EST
Rotation # 674
Wake Forest -4.5 over Stanford (win)
Both teams are coming off road wins against weaker ACC opponents, but a win is a win, and you take them how you can. Stanford took a hit when its 2nd-leading scorer, Chisom Okpara, went down for the year. The Cardinal will miss his playmaking ability, size, and veteran leadership. Nate Calmese remains out for the Demon Deacons. Today’s game should be an evenly matched contest, but home court is undoubtedly a big advantage for a team flying across the country and staying in a hotel for a week. The Demon Deacons have been tested more with their tougher schedule and can play a bit faster. Look for Juke Harris and TreVon Spillers to take over. Take Wake Forest.
College Basketball
6:00 PM EST
Rotation # 724
Tennessee -14.5 over LSU (loss)
The Vols are excited to get back home after a few road games. Tennessee fumbled away a monster lead at Kentucky last weekend. It got back on track against an inferior Mississippi State program, but they are looking for a punching bag to demolish on their home floor. LSU has just two conference wins and will once again be without its best scorer, Dedan Thomas Jr. Max Mackinnon leads the team in scoring, but he missed the last game with an injury that doesn’t appear serious. The Tigers are far from full strength on offense, facing an outstanding defensive team; things could get out of hand quickly. The Tigers are not a good defensive team, and I don’t see them getting back into the game if they get into a deep hole. Vols head coach Rick Barnes will not let the team relax with any lead after they were outplayed in the second half of their last two games. Look for Nate Ament to continue his outstanding play on both ends of the floor. Take Tennessee.
6:00 PM EST
Rotation # 724
Tennessee -14.5 over LSU (loss)
The Vols are excited to get back home after a few road games. Tennessee fumbled away a monster lead at Kentucky last weekend. It got back on track against an inferior Mississippi State program, but they are looking for a punching bag to demolish on their home floor. LSU has just two conference wins and will once again be without its best scorer, Dedan Thomas Jr. Max Mackinnon leads the team in scoring, but he missed the last game with an injury that doesn’t appear serious. The Tigers are far from full strength on offense, facing an outstanding defensive team; things could get out of hand quickly. The Tigers are not a good defensive team, and I don’t see them getting back into the game if they get into a deep hole. Vols head coach Rick Barnes will not let the team relax with any lead after they were outplayed in the second half of their last two games. Look for Nate Ament to continue his outstanding play on both ends of the floor. Take Tennessee.