Picks for 3/12/26
College Basketball
12:30 PM EST
Rotation # 753
Iowa State -5.5 over Texas Tech (win)
All hope for Texas Tech seemed lost when JT Toppin went down with an ACL injury, but Grant McCasland is an outstanding coach and great motivator, and the team didn’t miss a beat going on to upset this very same Iowa State team in Ames just a few games later. Oddly enough, it’s like the light went off after that game, and the Red Raiders have struggled in March. Iowa State is a veteran team that has been perfect on neutral sites this year. Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, and Milan Momcilovic have played together for a long time, and the addition of Blake Buchanan this year helps the Cyclones in the paint area. Iowa State should win on the glass, especially with Toppin out of the lineup for the Red Raiders. The Cyclones should limit their turnovers, which will force Tech to shoot at an extremely high percentage to advance. Take Iowa State.
12:30 PM EST
Rotation # 753
Iowa State -5.5 over Texas Tech (win)
All hope for Texas Tech seemed lost when JT Toppin went down with an ACL injury, but Grant McCasland is an outstanding coach and great motivator, and the team didn’t miss a beat going on to upset this very same Iowa State team in Ames just a few games later. Oddly enough, it’s like the light went off after that game, and the Red Raiders have struggled in March. Iowa State is a veteran team that has been perfect on neutral sites this year. Joshua Jefferson, Tamin Lipsey, and Milan Momcilovic have played together for a long time, and the addition of Blake Buchanan this year helps the Cyclones in the paint area. Iowa State should win on the glass, especially with Toppin out of the lineup for the Red Raiders. The Cyclones should limit their turnovers, which will force Tech to shoot at an extremely high percentage to advance. Take Iowa State.
College Basketball
6:30 PM EST
Rotation # 742
Purdue -12.5 over Northwestern
Purdue has been extremely disappointing to its backers this season, blowing covers left and right. Getting away from Mackey Arena might be the best thing for coach Matt Painter, as his team is flawless on neutral sites this year. Northwestern got a nice victory yesterday behind the play of Nick Martinelli, who might be the most valuable player to his team in all of college basketball. Take him out of the mix, and the Wildcats have a tough time winning. Purdue should win on the glass with Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer should limit the Boilermakers’ turnovers. Matt Painter needs to force other players, other than Martinelli, to make shots. C.J. Cox had a career day against the Wildcats just a week ago and will look to replicate his performance. Take Purdue.
6:30 PM EST
Rotation # 742
Purdue -12.5 over Northwestern
Purdue has been extremely disappointing to its backers this season, blowing covers left and right. Getting away from Mackey Arena might be the best thing for coach Matt Painter, as his team is flawless on neutral sites this year. Northwestern got a nice victory yesterday behind the play of Nick Martinelli, who might be the most valuable player to his team in all of college basketball. Take him out of the mix, and the Wildcats have a tough time winning. Purdue should win on the glass with Oscar Cluff and Trey Kaufman-Renn. Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer should limit the Boilermakers’ turnovers. Matt Painter needs to force other players, other than Martinelli, to make shots. C.J. Cox had a career day against the Wildcats just a week ago and will look to replicate his performance. Take Purdue.
College Basketball
9:30 PM EST
Rotation # 751
Oklahoma +2.5 over Texas A&M
Oklahoma is one of the hotter teams in the SEC right now, winners of five straight. Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown are two outstanding guards who can step up on the big stage. The Sooners should protect the basketball well and not allow the Aggies to have too many points off turnovers. Aggies coach Bucky McMillan did a fine job making the jump from the Southern Conference to the SEC, but it will take time for him to get team camaraderie, as the majority of his team this year were transfers and will be gone next year. Sooners coach Porter Moser has battled his team through a tough schedule this season and has them playing their best when it matters. Look for the offense to continue to flourish. Take Oklahoma.
9:30 PM EST
Rotation # 751
Oklahoma +2.5 over Texas A&M
Oklahoma is one of the hotter teams in the SEC right now, winners of five straight. Nijel Pack and Xzayvier Brown are two outstanding guards who can step up on the big stage. The Sooners should protect the basketball well and not allow the Aggies to have too many points off turnovers. Aggies coach Bucky McMillan did a fine job making the jump from the Southern Conference to the SEC, but it will take time for him to get team camaraderie, as the majority of his team this year were transfers and will be gone next year. Sooners coach Porter Moser has battled his team through a tough schedule this season and has them playing their best when it matters. Look for the offense to continue to flourish. Take Oklahoma.