2014 College Basketball Picks: Pittsburgh @ Syracuse, Oklahoma State @ Kansas and Oklahoma @ Baylor Odds and Predictions – Free College Basketball Picks 1/18/14: College basketball is in the thick of conference play, and as usual, rivalry games have been shuffling up the rankings by the week. Heading into this weekend, there are just three undefeated teams remaining. Syracuse is among the teams with an unblemished record, and they will be in action Saturday in one of three matchups featuring a pair of ranked teams. In total, four top-15 teams, including two top-10 teams, will take the court. Here is a closer look at Saturday’s marquee matchup.
No. 22 Pittsburgh Panthers (16-1, 4-0 ACC) @ No. 2 Syracuse Orange (17-0, 4-0 ACC)
Pittsburgh and Syracuse have carried their rivalry from the Big East into the ACC, and fittingly, the winner of Saturday’s meeting will stand alone atop the standings of their new conference. In years past, this game would have been a slow-paced, defensive battle. However, the Panthers are playing a faster style this year, and point guard Lamar Patterson has been stuffing the stat sheet for an offense that ranks in the top 20 nationally in field goal percentage. Syracuse on the other hand has remained a defensive-minded team, and while the Orange rank in the top 10 in point allowed as a team, point guard Tyler Ennis and forward C.J. Fair have shouldered a majority of the scoring load.
Although there is no doubt that Pittsburgh has been a better offensive team this year, the Panthers’ up-tempo attack struggled in the their lone meeting with a ranked opponent this season. Pittsburgh lost 44-43 against Cincinnati, and the Bearcats and Orange both have athletic big men protecting the paint and guards that like to pressure ball-handlers. Meanwhile, the Syracuse defense has already held ranked opponents Baylor and Villanova to 67 points or less and held quality opponents North Carolina and Indiana to 62 points or less. Syracuse’s 2-3 zone is as potent as ever, and with Ennis, Fair and sharpshooter Trevor Cooney, the Orange also have enough offensive firepower to support their defense. Pittsburgh may have a new style, but they don’t have the weapons to go on the road and handle the Orange.
Prediction: Syracuse Orange (-5) Cover the Spread
No. 9 Oklahoma State Cowboys (15-2, 3-1 Big 12) @ No. 15 Kansas Jayhawks (12-4, 3-0 Big 12)
Before the season began, the Cowboys and Jayhawks were on the short list of favorites to win the Big 12 title, and not surprisingly, the winner of Saturday’s meeting will own at least a share of the top spot in the conference. Both teams have future NBA lottery picks on their rosters with Oklahoma State point guard leading an offense that ranks in the top 15 in scoring and top 20 in field goal percentage and Andrew Wiggins and Joel Embiid leading a Jayhawks’ attack that ranks in the top five in field goal percentage. Overall, the Cowboys have an edge in the backcourt with Smart, Markel Brown and Phil Forte while Kansas has the edge up front Wiggins, Embiid and Perry Ellis.
The situation was similar last year when Kansas had a big size advantage inside with center Jeff Withey, but the duo of Smart and Brown was very effective in both meetings with the Jayhawks a year ago. The combo averaged 44.5 points per game, and while the two teams split the series, Oklahoma State beat the Jayhawks in Kansas and lost by just 2 points in double overtime at home. In both games, Oklahoma State’s guards were able to get the better of Kansas’ young guards, and that isn’t likely to change this weekend. Recent history says this game is going to go down to the wire, and win or lose, the Cowboys should cover.
Prediction: Oklahoma State Cowboys (+5) Cover the Spread
No. 25 Oklahoma Sooners (13-4, 2-2 Big 12) @ No. 12 Baylor Bears (13-3, 1-2 Big 12)
This matchup figures to be a clash of styles as the fast-paced offense of Oklahoma led by Cameron Clark and Buddy Hield meet the efficient offense of Baylor led by big men Isaiah Auston and Cory Jefferson. The Sooners currently rank sixth in the country in scoring while the Bears rank in the top 25 in rebounding and field goal percentage. However, neither side rolls into this matchup with a lot of momentum. The Bears have dropped two of their last three games while the Sooners have lost three of their last five, including a 102-98 overtime loss to Louisiana Tech.
After a rash of unexpected losses by both teams, Saturday’s matchup is tough to call. On one hand, the Bears just couldn’t keep up with the up-tempo offense of Iowa State, and Oklahoma plays at a similar pace. However, the Sooners couldn’t handle the big, athletic lineup of Kansas, and Baylor has plenty of size inside, as well. In the end, the fact that the Bears are at home could make all the difference. Baylor has yet to lose in Waco all year, and the Bears have been much better on both ends of the court in the comfort of their home arena. On the flip side, the Sooners are just 1-1 on the road, and considering they rank 121st in the country in field goal percentage, they need to establish a fast pace in order to be effective. Dictating the tempo is tough on the road, and as a result, the Bears should be able to take advantage of their size inside to control the boards and get quality looks en route to a win.
Prediction: Baylor Bears (-5 ½) Cover the Spread
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