Thursday's Barely Legal Mormon Pickz

General disclaimer: Coming off our first sub .500 night since we started keeping track of our picks, many people would give it up and go back to their real jobs. Well, I'm not most people, and I don't have a job. So just like riding a horse or shooting heroin you have to get right back on.

Duke (-1.5) at North Carolina (L)
The game we originally picked last week, but was postponed due to inclement weather. Not much has changed from a week ago; Carolina still has flashes of being an elite team, Duke struggles to remain consistent, and Jabari Parker is still Mormon. This game will be decided by the shooting prowess of Parker and Rodney Hood. Carolina has talent in Marcus Paige and James Mcadoo, but they lack depth behind those two. Expect a close game throughout with Duke pulling away late in the second half.

Gonzaga (+3) at BYU (L)
This pick is purely for revenge against the state of Utah. Last night we picked them to cover against Arizona, and it should have happened until some guard (I'm not even gonna bother to look up his name) missed 4 free throws in the last two minutes of OT. Destroying our hopes and shitting on our gambling dreams. Well tonight my alma mater Gonzaga will get us our well deserved vengeance. Like the saying goes, revenge is a dish best served Mormon. GU can lock up the conference title with a win tonight against the second place cougars, and senior forward Sam Dower should help the bulldogs do just that. Look for a sloppy game that Gonzaga never loses control of, and no fewer that 8 white players on the court at all times.

Free Picks

Bob's Barely 18 Pickz!

NCAA Men's Basketball

Cuse (+2.5) at Pitt (WINNER!)
  The trendy pick in college basketball right now is to go with the home, underdog team against the obvious favorite (just ask my fellow writer Sugar). Conference games are always tough, especially when they come on the road. Tonight though, look for the youngest player on the court to carry Syracuse to a victory and buck the recent upset trend. Tyler Ennis doesn't get the hype that some of his fellow (overrated) freshmen class peers do. He might just end up being the best prospect coming out of this freshmen class not named Jabari Parker (see below). His game is very similar to fellow alum Michael Carter-Williams who is seeing a lot of success currently at the NBA. While Ennis may not have the crazy athleticism or physical size (6'2 180) of some of the other prospects, what he does have is game. He plays under control and contributes across the board (11 ppg, 3.4 reb and 5.5 assists). Of course it helps to have a seasoned scorer playing next to you on the wing in CJ Fair, but Ennis has been surprisingly good this year and don't be surprised if he ends up going in the top ten after the season. All that being said look for the young guns to stabilize Syracuse on the road against the upset minded Panthers and cover the (+2.5) spread.

Duke (-2.5) at North Carolina (Postponed)
The greatest rivalry in sports. No other rivalry even comes close; unless to want to argue Yankees/Red Sox, but seriously fuck baseball! Looking at North Carolina's record already this season explains why one might take them to get the upset. With wins coming over Michigan State (overrated), Louisville, and Kentucky; this NC team knows how to win big games especially at home. The difference tonight will be the play of Jabari "Utah Jazz Savior" Parker. Arguably the number one pick come this spring, depending on how the lottery shakes out, Jabari has been playing extremely well of late. Dropping 29-16 in his last game against Boston College, look for Jabari to continue his hot streak and bring his brand of Mormon salvation to the heathens of Chapel Hill. I will keep the Jabari pro prediction for another article, but expect him to come out firing and keep the upset minded Tarheels at bay with his best performance of the season. Blue Devils win by 7 and Jabari goes for 31 and 14.