The fact that you get these picks for free is a Black Friday deal better than any other. We have had a solid record of 21-13-4 and we are looking to ride the wave. I’ve gone on a gambling cleanse over the past couple weeks, but I am in the Sin City itself and are ready to kill the bookie. The network executive that decided to put college football on the Friday after Thanksgiving is a pure genius. We are going to enjoy the glorious college sports slate while making a lot of money. Here are the picks.
College Football
#22 USF @ #14 UCF (-9.5) and the Over (61.5): It is total blasphemy that UCF is only ranked #14th in the country. The Golden Knights are easily a top 10 football team and head coach Scott Frost has engineered one of the biggest turnarounds in recent memories. With an American Conference title game shot on the line, look for UCF to show up against their bitter rivals. While USF’s Quinton Flowers garnered all the preseason hype, UCF sophomore QB McKenzie Milton has quietly been one of the best QB’s in all of college football. Milton ranks second nationally in yards per attempt (10.6), completion percentage (69.6) and passer rating (186.2), behind only Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield. For the year, Milton has accounted for 31 touchdowns and is leading a UCF offense that is No. 1 in the nation in scoring (48.2 ppg). In addition, UCF ranks first in total turnover margin at -16. Look for the two explosive offenses to explode in Orlando. UCF should be able to put up over 40 and they will force a few turnovers to create some separation. UCF wins this one 45-35.
Mizzou (-11)@ Arkansas: We are betting against the public once again. The wise guys love Mizzou and I’m rolling with them since Mizzou has won its past five games by these margins: 47, 40, 29, 33, and 28. Mizzou has averaged 7.2 yards per play over their last three games, the fourth most in the country over that span. Arkansas is a total dumpster fire right now. Mizzou rolls big 42-21.
#25 Virginia Tech @ Virginia (+7): The Cavaliers have 9 starting seniors on their roster and they have gone 0-9 against the rival Hokies. The Cavaliers are coming off a wild road game where they nearly upset the #2 Miami Hurricanes. Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert is playing with confidence and this Virginia defense led by future NFL draft picks Andre Brown and Quin Blanding should stifle the Virginia Tech offense. This is going to be a very close, low scoring game. Virginia Tech breaks the Virginia hearts, but the Cavaliers still cover. Final score (20-17).
UCLA vs California (Over 65): Need a little Pac-12 after the dark action on Black Friday? We got you here as the Josh Rosen and the UCLA Bruins battle against the Golden Bears. The over is 4-1 during UCLA home games. Rumors are Chip Kelly will be in the building and Chip Kelly’s mere presence at a college football game should produce a lot of points. UCLA just fired head coach Jim Mora and offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch is taking the reins. Both teams are 5-6 and will be fighting for bowl eligibility. Rosen will be playing in what’s expected to be his final home game before entering the NFL draft. He’d also like to have a good showing as a tribute to recently fired coach Jim Mora, while helping the Bruins secure the victory they need become eligible for a bowl. The best quarterback in the country will face a brutal Cal secondary that is giving up 254.3 yards per game, ranking 10th in the Pac-12 Conference. Cal has established a pretty consistent running game the past few weeks Tailback Patrick Laird is averaging 6 yards per carry and needs 51 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. UCLA hasn’t been able to stop the run all year and I don’t expect them to improve greatly Friday night.
Bonus College Basketball:
With thanksgiving tournaments on the way, we will have a few college basketball picks to entertain your Black Friday.
Battle for Atlantis Last place game: Arizona +1.5 vs Purdue 7:00PM: Who would have thought Purdue and #2 ranked Arizona would be in the LAST PLACE game in the Atlantis tournament. Arizona has lost its first two games and I simply don’t expect Sean Miller to lose three in a row. DeAndre Ayton is a beast and he is playing great in his hometown. Arizona has a chance to get a quality win here.
Phil Knight Invitational (Portland, Oregon) 9:00pm: #7 Florida -2.5 vs #17 Gonzaga: I’m really excited for this matchup at the Moda center. Florida is coming off a night where they scored 108 points against Stanford. I think Florida is one of the top teams in the country. Florida shoots the three very well. Koulechov, Jalen Hudson and KeVaughn Allen are all averaging double digits. I think Florida wins this one comfortably at the free throw line. Final score 75-70.
Phil Knight Invitational 1:30PM PT: North Carolina -4 vs Arkansas and the under (168.5) These programs played last March as UNC rallied from a five-point deficit with 3:28 to play to score the game’s final 12 points to advance to the Sweet 16 with a 72-65 victory in Greenville. Arkansas is coming off a 92-83 win against a very good Oklahoma team. The 168 over/under is absolutely ridiculous, and although life is too short to bet the under, 168 total points is simply too many. This will be battle of two elite backcourts and I’ll gladly take Joel Berry and Theo Pinson in this fight.
NIT Season Tip-off Brooklyn New York: #22 Seton Hall (-6) vs Vanderbilt: Look for the Pirates to bounce back after a heartbreaking 54-53 loss to Rhode Island in the semifinal. The Pirates are a very good team lead last year’s leading rebounder Angel Delgado. Vanderbilt is an average team that has played abysmally away from home. The Commodores have lost three of their first five games this season, shooting just 23.1 percent from the field and 4-of-18 from 3-point range Thursday. The Commodores do not have a legit scoring option outside of Matthew Fisher. Seton Hall is only giving up 66 points per game and rank 31st in the country in overall defensive efficiency. Pirates win this one easily 71-59.
