This Week’s Picks (Hoops Edition) – Week 2
By Jeff Taylor
In my first week of picks, I was11-2. Obviously non-conference games at the beginning of the season are a bit of a crap shoot because they contain teams you’ve hardly heard of and you have no idea how they will perform since there is little track record this year. While the safe bet would be to pick the Pac-12 team in every game against a mid-major or below, you have to know there will be some upsets along the way. I missed on UCLA losing to LMU (who didn’t) and thought Cal St. Northridge would upset USC (they didn’t).
Monday, Nov 14th:
Portland at Washington (Huskies win)- This isn’t your father’s Pilot squad anymore. i.e. blowout city baby!
San Diego Christian at Utah (Utes win)- Do these games against DII opponents count? I think the rule is that they count, but not for RPI purposes or something like that? Someone help me out here.
West Alabama at Oregon State (Beavers win)- Way to challenge your squad early on Mr. Robinson.
Nebraska at USC (Cornhuskers win)- This would be a great football game. Hoops? Not so much…
Fresno State at Stanford (Cardinal win)- An intriguing matchup that might be tight. I would not be shocked by a Bulldog upset, but I think the Cardinal will handle it.
Washington State at Gonzaga (Zags win)- I’d love to see the Cougs beat the Bulldoggies in The Kennel to help with the Pac-12 RPI and SOS. But, they have lost way too much to be competitive.
Tuesday, Nov 15th-
Middle Tennessee at UCLA (Bruins win)- No comment other than blowout.
Austin Peay at California (Golden Bears win)- What’s a Peay anyways?
Pepperdine at Arizona State (Sun Devils win)- I’d almost pick the Waves, if they weren’t also pretty bad. My question, with a beautiful campus on a hill overlooking the beaches of Malibu, how can this team not recruit better than Santa Clara?
Wednesday, Nov 16th-
Utah at Boise State (Broncos)- Worst team in the Pac-12 against one of the worst of the Mountain West? Hmmm, I’ll go with the home team.
Hofstra at Oregon State (Beavers)- That’s a long trip for the boys from Long Island. Why do football teams complain about traveling 2,000 miles and how hard it is on them and basketball teams do it all season?
Thursday, Nov 17th-
Sacramento State at Washington State (Cougars win)- I think the Cougs should be able to handle this one…Unless of course they “Coug it”
Wichita State at Colorado (Buffaloes win)- Wichita State is not a bad club and if this game were in Kansas, I’d pick them. But, I think Colorado will surprise some folks this year and they are in Boulder.
USC at San Diego State (Aztecs win)- While I don’t think San Diego State will be quite the team they were last year, they’ll certainly be superior to what Kevin O’Neil has in L.A.
Eastern Washington at Oregon (Ducks win)- I’d love to see the Eagles win this one, but it won’t happen.
Friday, Nov 18th-
New Mexico at Arizona State (Lobos win)- Sorry, but Arizona State will not be able to beat Mountain West teams this year.
Stanford at UC Davis (Cardinal win)- Stanford is taking a “road trip” to UC Davis? I realize it’s just an hour up the freeway, but they are being generous to do it. Maybe they just wanted to help their RPI against a very low level opponent.
Saturday, Nov 19th-
Montana State at Utah (Utes win)- Montana State has had some nice teams over the years. I honestly can not assess where they are at this year. But, Utah is at home, so I’ll go with them.
Cal Poly at USC (Trojans win)- Cal Poly is coached by former Seattle U coach Joe Callero who moved there because of all that San Luis Obispo has to offer. I couldn’t blame him, despite my love for Seattle. They return four starters and are expected to be a pretty good club. USC might get upset in this one.
Oregon State at Texas (Longhorns win)- Beavers win? Yeah right…
Sunday, Nov 20th-
Washington at Saint Louis (Billikens win)- I am definitely worried about this one. Washington certainly could win. But, I do worry about an upset on the first true road game of the season against what is expected to be a contender for the Conference USA crown.
Southeast Missouri State at Oregon (Ducks win)- Can you get any more directional than that? What is it with Missouri and Oregon. The football team hosted Missouri State and now the SE Missouri State comes in?
Washington State at Portland (Pilots win)- What happens when two programs both get decimated by graduating seniors and others going pro? Who knows… But, I’ll go with Portland in the upset at home.