By Harry Gagnon
With the Super Bowl being next week we can all try to make a little extra money on Saturday with college hoops as for the 8th straight year we will have the SEC/BIG 12 Challenge. These two conferences are extremely competitive and are both 20-20 over the past four seasons of having this event. Historically Baylor has the best overall record in this challenge at 6-1 and winning this year shouldn't be a problem for the second ranked Bears but for the other schools hopefully we have exciting games and with my 6 pack of picks like I said, let's put some money in your account as we head into Super Bowl week.
PICK 1
#9 ALABAMA @ #24 OKLAHOMA
This might sound like a heck of a football game but both the Crimson Tide and Sooners are having wonderful seasons on the basketball court this year. Alabama has won 10 in a row and are the favorites to win the SEC regular season title. The Tide are led by John Petty and Jaden Shackelford, both are averaging around 15 points and 5 rebounds a game. Oklahoma is hot as well, winners of four in a row and that includes wins against Kansas and just recently in Austin against a very good Longhorns squad. This is the best matchup of the day with two strong teams that can score in bunches so the OVER is the play.
OVER 154 POINTS
PICK 2
FLORIDA @ #11 WEST VIRGINIA
The Gators have 6 players averaging 10 points or more, but what they don't have is that signature victory and on Saturday they might just get that. The Mountaineers have been in tight games of late. In 5 of their last 4 games the outcome was decided by 4 or less points. Florida has three wins in a row (includes a 25 point win at home vs Tenn) and getting 6.5 points seems like the play at this time especially since West Virginia is having trouble pulling away late in games.
+6.5 FLORIDA
PICK 3
#10 TEXAS TECH @ LSU
LSU has lost two of their last three and the Red Raiders have lost two in a row so both teams are coming in cold. Texas Tech has Oklahoma in their next conference game so looking ahead might be an issue here. Texas Tech is led by Mac McClung and Terrance Shannon Jr. (avg 30 points a game combined) and will more than likely prevent the Red Raiders from a third consecutive loss but the UNDER might be the safer play in this game of slumping squads.
UNDER 151.5 POINTS
PICK 4
AUBURN @ #2 BAYLOR
The Bears are 15-0 and 13 of them have come way of double digits. Baylor is a complete team that is hitting on over 51% on their shoots and are hitting 44% of their 3 point attempts. Auburn is in a lot of trouble and this could be settled by halftime if Baylor is clicking on all cylinders.
-14.5 BAYLOR
PICK 5
ARKANSAS @ OKLAHOMA ST
The Cowboys played Baylor tough last Saturday and were actually winning at halftime until they just collapsed in the second half and that had a lot to do with their leading scorer Cade Cunningham out for COVID issues. The Razorbacks are an impressive 13-4 and are led in scoring by a combination of four guards and will have to much firepower at the end of this game and catching them on the money line as a small underdog is to good to pass up.
+115 ARKANSAS MONEY LINE
PICK 6
#15 KANSAS @ #19 TENNESSEE
These two played each other last year in this challenge and the Jayhawks prevailed by 6, but this season's Kansas team isn't good at shooting (42% as a team) and the Volunteers return the favor with a much needed victory. Tennessee has lost two of their last three games and go on the road for three of their next four games, so they do whatever it takes to win at home on Saturday over Bill Self and the trouble shooting Jayhawks.
-150 TENNESSEE MONEY LINE
I hope everyone out there enjoys the SEC/BIG 12 Challenge and we will have plenty of SUPER BOWL coverage and picks as the big game gets closer here at BESTBETCORNER.COM