Jimmie's Past Picks
These teams combined for 156 points when they played on March 7. The Rams were on fire on the offensive end before going cold towards the finish in their semifinal win over Utah State, and ended up scoring 83 points. Likewise, Boise State scored 72 against a stingy New Mexico team in its semifinal win. Fatigue could be a factor here, but I expect both teams to continue playing well. Look for this game to finish well over 140 total points.
This will be Knights'' third straight road game, and while they've been able to acclimate to Eastern Standard Time for a couple of days, it's worth pointing out that this game starts at 9:30 a.m. in Vegas. Buffalo hasn't played since March 12, so the Sabres should have fresh legs at home. No denying Vegas is the better team here, but I like the Sabres to keep it close and potentially steal a win in this spot.
The Rams average over 75 points per game and are playing their best basketball of the season. I expect CSU to roll and push 80 points here.
Colorado State is the hottest team in the conference, with arguably the top player in the conference (Nique Clifford). Clifford has played himself into the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft, and I expect him to be the difference in this MWC Tournament matchup. The Rams need a minimum of two wins in the conference tourney to sneak into the NCAA Tournament field, and I see them getting one tonight.
The Cavs own the best record in the NBA, and the Nets will be without D'Angelo Russell. I expect Cleveland to jump out to an early lead and cruise to another victory on Tuesday night.
The Knights thoroughly dominated the Penguins on Friday in Vegas, but I expect this game (in Pittsburgh) to be much more competitive. This is a spot where I wouldn't be shocked if Vegas wins, but in the end I expect the Pens to stay within one goal.
As I said in my Over pick, the Avs are red-hot right now. Colorado has the look of a legitimate Stanley Cup contender after a busy trade deadline, and I expect Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Co. to roll on Monday night.
The Avs have won five straight games and may be the hottest team in the NHL. Colorado is averaging over 5 goals per game during the streak, and has scored 7 in its last two games. I expect another offensive eruption from the Avs at home. If Chicago can score 1-2 goals, this over should cash with ease.
The Thunder rolled the Nuggets on Sunday, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander likely wrapped up the MVP in the process. That said, Denver has been one of the best teams in the NBA this season in back-to-backs, going 11-1 thus far. The Nuggets will likely be short-handed with Aaron Gordon (calf) already ruled out, and Nikola Jokic (ankle/elbow) and Jamal Murray (knee) listed as questionable. I expect Murray and Jokic to both play, and for Denver to keep this game within 9 points.
Sengun is a rising star, and a double-double machine. He presents a unique matchup for Orlando, and I don't expect the Magic to have a ton of success slowing him down. I have Sengun projected to finish with 23 points and 11 rebounds in my DFS rankings.
The Kings hammered the Knights on Feb. 24, and I expect Vegas to get payback on Sunday night. The Knights have won four straight games, all by two goals or more, and the Kings have lost five of their last six. I'm back Vegas on the puck line at plus money here.
This pick comes down to Michigan State's dominance on the defensive end of the court. Tom Izzo's squad has held five straight opponents under 70 points, and the Spartans rank second in the Big Ten in points allowed per game. I see this ending up being a 75-70 type of game.
Auburn is likely destined for a No. 1 seed regardless of the outcome of this game, but I still don't see the Tigers having a slip up here. Auburn is one of the best offensive teams in America, averaging over 85 points per game. I expect Bruce Pearl to have his team ready to go in College Station. Auburn by 6+ here.
BYU is overachieved in its first season under head coach Kevin Young, and this is a spot where I have a hard time seeing the Cougars getting blown out. The Cougs are one of the best shooting teams in the Big 12, and if they get hot from beyond the arc this game will come down to the final minutes.
Jokic pulled down 14 rebounds last night against the Milwaukee Bucks, and he's averaging 12.6 rebounds per game this season. The three-time MVP has been outstanding all season in games with no rest, and I expect that trend to continue on Friday.