Picks for 2/21/26
College Basketball
NOON EST
Rotation # 602
Virginia Tech -4.5 over Wake Forest (win)
Wake Forest is coming off a nice win against Clemson and is the winner of three straight. It will be tough for the Demon Deacons to keep their streak alive on the road with Nate Calmese still out of the lineup with an ankle injury. Calmese is by far the best ball handler on the floor and also a good defender. Virginia Tech should be able to win on the glass with Tobi Lawal’s presence. I trust the Hokies to protect the basketball at home a bit more, as they should win the turnover battle. Take Virginia Tech.
NOON EST
Rotation # 602
Virginia Tech -4.5 over Wake Forest (win)
Wake Forest is coming off a nice win against Clemson and is the winner of three straight. It will be tough for the Demon Deacons to keep their streak alive on the road with Nate Calmese still out of the lineup with an ankle injury. Calmese is by far the best ball handler on the floor and also a good defender. Virginia Tech should be able to win on the glass with Tobi Lawal’s presence. I trust the Hokies to protect the basketball at home a bit more, as they should win the turnover battle. Take Virginia Tech.
College Basketball
NOON EST
Rotation # 609
Rutgers +7.5 over Minnesota (loss)
Golden Gophers head coach Niko Medved has done a decent job of keeping his team competitive in his first year, especially with all the injuries. It’s really hard to continue to play in a six-man rotation and put so much stress on your starters. Rutgers is obviously nothing to write home about, but they should be able to take advantage of the length of Emmanuel Ogbole and Dylan Grant. Many in-game scenarios could put Minnesota in foul trouble, forcing them to rely on bench players. I don’t think the Gophers should be favored by this much. Take Rutgers.
NOON EST
Rotation # 609
Rutgers +7.5 over Minnesota (loss)
Golden Gophers head coach Niko Medved has done a decent job of keeping his team competitive in his first year, especially with all the injuries. It’s really hard to continue to play in a six-man rotation and put so much stress on your starters. Rutgers is obviously nothing to write home about, but they should be able to take advantage of the length of Emmanuel Ogbole and Dylan Grant. Many in-game scenarios could put Minnesota in foul trouble, forcing them to rely on bench players. I don’t think the Gophers should be favored by this much. Take Rutgers.
College Basketball
2:00 EST
Rotation # 652
Pitt -1.5 over Notre Dame (win)
Notre Dame is just 1-6 in conference on the road, playing in their first game away from home without Jalen Haralson and Markus Burton together. Pitt is an unexceptional basketball program with no home-court advantage, losers five straight. The good news for the Panthers is that they played superior competition during that stretch. The oddsmakers even made them the small favorites today. The bottom line is, if a sub-par Notre Dame team can win without their top two scorers and ball handlers, then you give them their props and move on. If there is ever a chance for the Panthers to secure another conference win, it would be today. Take Pitt.
2:00 EST
Rotation # 652
Pitt -1.5 over Notre Dame (win)
Notre Dame is just 1-6 in conference on the road, playing in their first game away from home without Jalen Haralson and Markus Burton together. Pitt is an unexceptional basketball program with no home-court advantage, losers five straight. The good news for the Panthers is that they played superior competition during that stretch. The oddsmakers even made them the small favorites today. The bottom line is, if a sub-par Notre Dame team can win without their top two scorers and ball handlers, then you give them their props and move on. If there is ever a chance for the Panthers to secure another conference win, it would be today. Take Pitt.
College Basketball
4:00 EST
Rotation # 709
Oregon +5.5 over USC (win)
The Ducks were hit as hard as any team in the nation with the injury bug, and although they are far from healthy with the likes of Jackson Shelstad out of the lineup, they are close to full strength. USC is now feeling the bug with Rodney Rice out for the year. Chad Baker-Mazara and Alijah Arenas are both dealing with lower-body injuries and are game-time decisions. I believe the Ducks will be able to win on the boards with Nathan Bittle and Kwame Evans and bully their way to points in the paint with those players as well. I don’t think the Trojans should be favorites of this size with so many lineup changes and unknowns. The Ducks are happy to be back on the court after their embarrassing home beatdown on Tuesday. Take Oregon.
4:00 EST
Rotation # 709
Oregon +5.5 over USC (win)
The Ducks were hit as hard as any team in the nation with the injury bug, and although they are far from healthy with the likes of Jackson Shelstad out of the lineup, they are close to full strength. USC is now feeling the bug with Rodney Rice out for the year. Chad Baker-Mazara and Alijah Arenas are both dealing with lower-body injuries and are game-time decisions. I believe the Ducks will be able to win on the boards with Nathan Bittle and Kwame Evans and bully their way to points in the paint with those players as well. I don’t think the Trojans should be favorites of this size with so many lineup changes and unknowns. The Ducks are happy to be back on the court after their embarrassing home beatdown on Tuesday. Take Oregon.
College Basketball
8:30 EST
Rotation # 792
Oklahoma -0.5 over Texas A&M (loss)
Bucky McMillan has done a fine job in his first season at College Station with a brand new transfer class. The Aggies won this matchup at home last month in a hard-fought battle. The Sooners dominated on the boards, but their unusually high turnover count cost them. Oklahoma should play much better at home. Mohamed Wague will look to shake the rust off from last game’s poor performance and play up to his ability on the boards. Xzayvier Brown and Nijel Pack will look to move the ball around and create the offense needed to get the big home win. Take Oklahoma.
8:30 EST
Rotation # 792
Oklahoma -0.5 over Texas A&M (loss)
Bucky McMillan has done a fine job in his first season at College Station with a brand new transfer class. The Aggies won this matchup at home last month in a hard-fought battle. The Sooners dominated on the boards, but their unusually high turnover count cost them. Oklahoma should play much better at home. Mohamed Wague will look to shake the rust off from last game’s poor performance and play up to his ability on the boards. Xzayvier Brown and Nijel Pack will look to move the ball around and create the offense needed to get the big home win. Take Oklahoma.