NCAA Basketball Picks
Penn State at Michigan
The Nitany Lions look to take advantage of a Michigan team that is coming off an 80-57 loss at home against Purdue and is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games following a SU loss of more than 20 points. Penn State is the pick (+8) according to Dunkel, which has the Wolverines favored by only 5 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Penn State (+8). Here are all of today's games.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 2
Time Posted: 7:30 a.m. EST
Game 815-816: Rutgers at Villanova (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Rutgers 58.539; Villanova 71.558
Dunkel Line: Villanova by 13
Vegas Line: Villanova by 15
Dunkel Pick: Rutgers (+15)
Game 817-818: Gonzaga at Wake Forest (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Gonzaga 67.595; Wake Forest 54.096
Dunkel Line: Gonzaga by 13 1/2
Vegas Line: Gonzaga by 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Gonzaga (-9 1/2)
Game 819-820: Florida International at UL-Monroe (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida International 44.547; UL-Monroe 48.127
Dunkel Line: UL Monroe by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: UL-Monroe by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UL-Monroe (-1 1/2)
Game 821-822: Penn State at Michigan (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Penn State 58.923; Michigan 64.490
Dunkel Line: Michigan by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Michigan by 8
Dunkel Pick: Penn State (+8)
Game 823-824: Marshall at St. Bonaventure (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Marshall 55.670; St. Bonaventure 58.532
Dunkel Line: St. Bonaventure by 3
Vegas Line: St. Bonaventure by 2
Dunkel Pick: St. Bonaventure (-2)
Game 825-826: TCU at Rice (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: TCU 57.467; Rice 56.880
Dunkel Line: TCU by 1
Vegas Line: Rice by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: TCU (+1 1/2)
Game 827-828: Arkansas-Little Rock at Denver (4:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arkansas-Little Rock 51.975; Denver 54.256
Dunkel Line: Denver by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Denver by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arkansas-Little Rock (+4 1/2)
Game 829-830: Middle Tennessee State at South Alabama (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Middle Tennessee State 49.480; South Alabama 51.368
Dunkel Line: South Alabama by 2
Vegas Line: Pick
Dunkel Pick: South Alabama
Game 831-832: LSU at Virginia (5:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LSU 51.406; Virginia 60.612
Dunkel Line: Virginia by 9
Vegas Line: Virginia by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Virginia (-5 1/2)
Game 833-834: Charlotte at Georgia Tech (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 54.357; Georgia Tech 62.904
Dunkel Line: Georgia Tech by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Georgia Tech by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (+10 1/2)
Game 835-836: Miami (OH) at Kansas (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (OH) 53.525; Kansas 82.483
Dunkel Line: Kansas by 29
Vegas Line: Kansas by 26 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas (-26 1/2)
Game 837-838: Wisconsin at Illinois (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Wisconsin 71.795; Illinois 71.155
Dunkel Line: Wisconsin by 1
Vegas Line: Illinois by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Wisconsin (+2 1/2)
Game 839-840: Miami (FL) at Duke (7:45 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (FL) 63.218; Duke 86.192
Dunkel Line: Duke by 23
Vegas Line: Duke by 18 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Duke (-18 1/2)
Game 841-842: California at Stanford (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: California 62.759; Stanford 61.562
Dunkel Line: California by 1
Vegas Line: Stanford by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: California (+2 1/2)
Game 843-844: Arizona at Oregon State (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona 69.857; Oregon State 55.507
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 14 1/2
Vegas Line: Arizona by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-10 1/2)
Game 845-846: Elon at Columbia (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Elon 47.619; Columbia 51.405
Dunkel Line: Columbia by 4
Vegas Line: Columbia by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Elon (+5 1/2)
Game 847-848: Eastern Kentucky at Georgia Southern (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Kentucky 47.447; Georgia Southern 42.626
Dunkel Line: Eastern Kentucky by 5
Vegas Line: Eastern Kentucky by 2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Kentucky (-2)
Game 849-850: Tennessee State at Memphis (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee State 48.512; Memphis 64.167
Dunkel Line: Memphis by 15 1/2
Vegas Line: Memphis by 17
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee State (+17)
Game 851-852: The Citadel at Clemson (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: The Citadel 46.134; Clemson 66.077
Dunkel Line: Clemson by 20
Vegas Line: Clemson by 22
Dunkel Pick: The Citadel (+22)
Game 853-854: Portland State at Idaho State (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Portland State 48.540; Idaho State 51.724
Dunkel Line: Idaho State by 3
Vegas Line: Idaho State by 1
Dunkel Pick: Idaho State (-1)
Game 855-856: College of Charleston at Morehead State (4:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: College of Charleston 58.265; Morehead State 61.296
Dunkel Line: Morehead State by 3
Vegas Line: Morehead State by 2
Dunkel Pick: Morehead State (-2)
Game 857-858: Davidson at Vanderbilt (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Davidson 56.812; Vanderbilt 70.428
Dunkel Line: Vanderbilt by 13 1/2
Vegas Line: Vanderbilt by 15
Dunkel Pick: Davidson (+15)
Game 861-862: Boston U. at Maine (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston U. 54.385; Maine 55.340
Dunkel Line: Maine by 1
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 863-864: Binghamton at LaSalle (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Binghamton 43.038; LaSalle 57.037
Dunkel Line: LaSalle by 14
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 865-866: New Hampshire at Albany (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Hampshire 43.847; Albany 51.456
Dunkel Line: Albany by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 867-868: Stony Brook at UMBC (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Stony Brook 43.618; UMBC 38.648
Dunkel Line: Stony Brook by 5
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Penn State at Michigan
The Nitany Lions look to take advantage of a Michigan team that is coming off an 80-57 loss at home against Purdue and is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games following a SU loss of more than 20 points. Penn State is the pick (+8) according to Dunkel, which has the Wolverines favored by only 5 1/2. Dunkel Pick: Penn State (+8). Here are all of today's games.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 2
Time Posted: 7:30 a.m. EST
Game 815-816: Rutgers at Villanova (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Rutgers 58.539; Villanova 71.558
Dunkel Line: Villanova by 13
Vegas Line: Villanova by 15
Dunkel Pick: Rutgers (+15)
Game 817-818: Gonzaga at Wake Forest (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Gonzaga 67.595; Wake Forest 54.096
Dunkel Line: Gonzaga by 13 1/2
Vegas Line: Gonzaga by 9 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Gonzaga (-9 1/2)
Game 819-820: Florida International at UL-Monroe (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Florida International 44.547; UL-Monroe 48.127
Dunkel Line: UL Monroe by 3 1/2
Vegas Line: UL-Monroe by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UL-Monroe (-1 1/2)
Game 821-822: Penn State at Michigan (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Penn State 58.923; Michigan 64.490
Dunkel Line: Michigan by 5 1/2
Vegas Line: Michigan by 8
Dunkel Pick: Penn State (+8)
Game 823-824: Marshall at St. Bonaventure (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Marshall 55.670; St. Bonaventure 58.532
Dunkel Line: St. Bonaventure by 3
Vegas Line: St. Bonaventure by 2
Dunkel Pick: St. Bonaventure (-2)
Game 825-826: TCU at Rice (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: TCU 57.467; Rice 56.880
Dunkel Line: TCU by 1
Vegas Line: Rice by 1 1/2
Dunkel Pick: TCU (+1 1/2)
Game 827-828: Arkansas-Little Rock at Denver (4:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arkansas-Little Rock 51.975; Denver 54.256
Dunkel Line: Denver by 2 1/2
Vegas Line: Denver by 4 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arkansas-Little Rock (+4 1/2)
Game 829-830: Middle Tennessee State at South Alabama (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Middle Tennessee State 49.480; South Alabama 51.368
Dunkel Line: South Alabama by 2
Vegas Line: Pick
Dunkel Pick: South Alabama
Game 831-832: LSU at Virginia (5:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: LSU 51.406; Virginia 60.612
Dunkel Line: Virginia by 9
Vegas Line: Virginia by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Virginia (-5 1/2)
Game 833-834: Charlotte at Georgia Tech (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Charlotte 54.357; Georgia Tech 62.904
Dunkel Line: Georgia Tech by 8 1/2
Vegas Line: Georgia Tech by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Charlotte (+10 1/2)
Game 835-836: Miami (OH) at Kansas (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (OH) 53.525; Kansas 82.483
Dunkel Line: Kansas by 29
Vegas Line: Kansas by 26 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Kansas (-26 1/2)
Game 837-838: Wisconsin at Illinois (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Wisconsin 71.795; Illinois 71.155
Dunkel Line: Wisconsin by 1
Vegas Line: Illinois by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Wisconsin (+2 1/2)
Game 839-840: Miami (FL) at Duke (7:45 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Miami (FL) 63.218; Duke 86.192
Dunkel Line: Duke by 23
Vegas Line: Duke by 18 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Duke (-18 1/2)
Game 841-842: California at Stanford (8:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: California 62.759; Stanford 61.562
Dunkel Line: California by 1
Vegas Line: Stanford by 2 1/2
Dunkel Pick: California (+2 1/2)
Game 843-844: Arizona at Oregon State (10:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Arizona 69.857; Oregon State 55.507
Dunkel Line: Arizona by 14 1/2
Vegas Line: Arizona by 10 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Arizona (-10 1/2)
Game 845-846: Elon at Columbia (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Elon 47.619; Columbia 51.405
Dunkel Line: Columbia by 4
Vegas Line: Columbia by 5 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Elon (+5 1/2)
Game 847-848: Eastern Kentucky at Georgia Southern (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Eastern Kentucky 47.447; Georgia Southern 42.626
Dunkel Line: Eastern Kentucky by 5
Vegas Line: Eastern Kentucky by 2
Dunkel Pick: Eastern Kentucky (-2)
Game 849-850: Tennessee State at Memphis (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee State 48.512; Memphis 64.167
Dunkel Line: Memphis by 15 1/2
Vegas Line: Memphis by 17
Dunkel Pick: Tennessee State (+17)
Game 851-852: The Citadel at Clemson (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: The Citadel 46.134; Clemson 66.077
Dunkel Line: Clemson by 20
Vegas Line: Clemson by 22
Dunkel Pick: The Citadel (+22)
Game 853-854: Portland State at Idaho State (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Portland State 48.540; Idaho State 51.724
Dunkel Line: Idaho State by 3
Vegas Line: Idaho State by 1
Dunkel Pick: Idaho State (-1)
Game 855-856: College of Charleston at Morehead State (4:30 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: College of Charleston 58.265; Morehead State 61.296
Dunkel Line: Morehead State by 3
Vegas Line: Morehead State by 2
Dunkel Pick: Morehead State (-2)
Game 857-858: Davidson at Vanderbilt (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Davidson 56.812; Vanderbilt 70.428
Dunkel Line: Vanderbilt by 13 1/2
Vegas Line: Vanderbilt by 15
Dunkel Pick: Davidson (+15)
Game 861-862: Boston U. at Maine (1:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Boston U. 54.385; Maine 55.340
Dunkel Line: Maine by 1
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 863-864: Binghamton at LaSalle (2:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Binghamton 43.038; LaSalle 57.037
Dunkel Line: LaSalle by 14
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 865-866: New Hampshire at Albany (4:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: New Hampshire 43.847; Albany 51.456
Dunkel Line: Albany by 7 1/2
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
Game 867-868: Stony Brook at UMBC (5:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Stony Brook 43.618; UMBC 38.648
Dunkel Line: Stony Brook by 5
Vegas Line: No Line
Dunkel Pick: N/A
PRIVATE MEMBERS AREA
Psychic (1-5)
3 units Miami +5.5
5 units Seattle +3 (WISEGUY)
Sports Lock (1-25)
10 units Detroit -3
20 units Pittsburgh -5
Vegas Express (1-50)
25 units Jacksonville +3
25 units Kansas City -3.5
35 units Green Bay -10
Sports Machine (1-20)
15 units Baltimore -9.5
SuperLockLine Plus (1-10)
3 units Detroit -3
10 units New Orleans -7
NFL Guru (1-10)
9 units Arizona +6
Psychic (1-5)
3 units Miami +5.5
5 units Seattle +3 (WISEGUY)
Sports Lock (1-25)
10 units Detroit -3
20 units Pittsburgh -5
Vegas Express (1-50)
25 units Jacksonville +3
25 units Kansas City -3.5
35 units Green Bay -10
Sports Machine (1-20)
15 units Baltimore -9.5
SuperLockLine Plus (1-10)
3 units Detroit -3
10 units New Orleans -7
NFL Guru (1-10)
9 units Arizona +6
POINT TRAIN 10-Unit NFL GAME OF THE YEAR - Kansas City (-3.5) over Oakland
10-Unit NFL Game of the Year
Kansas City (-3.5) over Oakland
Sunday, January 2 – 12:00 PM CST
The Chiefs locked up a playoff berth after last week’s victory over Tennessee. However, in order to maintain the No. 3 seed over the Colts, KC must win over Oakland. Head coach Todd Haley has already stated that his team will “play to win.”
“We’re a transitioning team,” Haley said. “Maybe some teams can look at games differently, but I know our group right now -- with where we are in our development -- we need to approach them the same way, which is get ready to win and put everything into figuring out how to get to three wins in this quarter [of the season] … We’re going to do what we think gives us the best chance to win.”
It makes perfect sense to. The Chiefs have turned things around this season with all-out effort every Sunday, and they can’t afford to “let one go” this weekend if they want to compete in the playoffs. The Chiefs would love to finish 11-5, by knocking off rival Oakland in the final week, and finishing 8-0 at home. They are playing extremely well right now and they won’t want to stop any momentum that they have heading into the playoffs.
Oakland gave a huge effort but came up just short in last week’s loss at Indianapolis. They don’t have anything left to play for so another huge effort isn’t needed this weekend. Defensively, the Raiders are 29th in the NFL in rush yards per game. Kansas City’s No. 1 rushing offense should be able to have a huge game behind Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
In the first meeting between these two back in October, Oakland kicked a field goal with three seconds left to send the game into overtime. They received the ball and kicked another field goal less than three minutes into overtime to get the narrow win. Kansas City will get payback on Sunday and get a big win over the Raiders.
10-Unit NFL Game of the Year
Kansas City (-3.5) over Oakland
Sunday, January 2 – 12:00 PM CST
The Chiefs locked up a playoff berth after last week’s victory over Tennessee. However, in order to maintain the No. 3 seed over the Colts, KC must win over Oakland. Head coach Todd Haley has already stated that his team will “play to win.”
“We’re a transitioning team,” Haley said. “Maybe some teams can look at games differently, but I know our group right now -- with where we are in our development -- we need to approach them the same way, which is get ready to win and put everything into figuring out how to get to three wins in this quarter [of the season] … We’re going to do what we think gives us the best chance to win.”
It makes perfect sense to. The Chiefs have turned things around this season with all-out effort every Sunday, and they can’t afford to “let one go” this weekend if they want to compete in the playoffs. The Chiefs would love to finish 11-5, by knocking off rival Oakland in the final week, and finishing 8-0 at home. They are playing extremely well right now and they won’t want to stop any momentum that they have heading into the playoffs.
Oakland gave a huge effort but came up just short in last week’s loss at Indianapolis. They don’t have anything left to play for so another huge effort isn’t needed this weekend. Defensively, the Raiders are 29th in the NFL in rush yards per game. Kansas City’s No. 1 rushing offense should be able to have a huge game behind Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones.
In the first meeting between these two back in October, Oakland kicked a field goal with three seconds left to send the game into overtime. They received the ball and kicked another field goal less than three minutes into overtime to get the narrow win. Kansas City will get payback on Sunday and get a big win over the Raiders.
