As we come down from an interesting, yet ultimately not terribly impactful penultimate weekend of the college football season, there’s no time to rest as college basketball IMMEDIATELY takes a huge step forward to fill the void on a rare packed Sunday before Christmas.

Six ranked teams are in action today, including a pair pitted against each other in the excellent Virginia Tech vs. Purdue matchup at 8:30 EST on ESPN in the final of the Charleston Classic.  Things get even better tomorrow with the anticipated tipoff of this year’s Maui Classic, and our premium subscribers, be sure to check back tomorrow for a pair of picks off the mainland.

A few observations before getting to today’s free picks:

#1. The remains of the old Big East are a giant mess.  Specifically, the two conferences that evolved as the old basketball Big East shattered and dismantled; the new “Big” East and the American Athletic as cumulatively poor as they have ever been.  The biggest cause for alarm isn’t the Villanova massacre as the hands of Michigan.  It’s last night’s subsequent HOME LOSS to FURMAN.  I know I had more confidence in Jay Wright’s ability to reload after winning two titles in three years, but we might have to accept that this year’s Wildcat squad is a rare bubble (or worse??) team.

It isn’t just Nova stinking up the BEast.  Xavier got throttled at home by a mediocre and unranked Wisconsin team. Marquette took a 23-point loss at Indiana in a disappointing measuring stick game for the tourney-hopeful Eagles.  Seton Hall lost by 23 to Nebraska and then lost to St. Louis (and this ain’t the Rick Majerus St. Louie glory days…).  Creighton got beat by Ohio State, and Providence lost to Wichita State.

And here’s where you say, “that’s not a bad loss!”  Until you see the pair of shocking losses by the Shockers, getting dropped by Davidson and Louisiana Tech.  Nearly every team with any ambition or recent history of success in the AAC has underwhelmed as well.  Cincinnati, Memphis and UConn all have a disappointing loss (thought UConn was also a bright spot with a W over Syracuse in an echoes of 6 OT magic throwback at the Garden), and preseason conference favorite, UCF, took a terrible home loss to FAU.

It sounds hard to believe, but the two leagues could be a looking at a possible low of four bids combined, with just a single berth for the AAC…

#2. Duke is like nothing we’ve ever seen.  I know, hot take, right?? Obviously, they’ve been breathlessly praised and for good reason.  The season opener was the greatest opening salvo in the three-point era.  But Virginia and North Carolina look really good.  Add in Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Florida State and a tricky matchup with Indiana, and it would be wise to pump the brakes  on the “undefeated season” talk… for now.

#3. Once again, the best teams out west aren’t in the Pac-12.  Gonzaga and Nevada are both legit Final Four contenders. And the best team in the Pac 12 this season might be Oregon, who already lost to Iowa.  Arizona is WAY down, UCLA looks…ok, I guess, and Washington, who was ranked preseason, got axe-murdered by Auburn. Utah got slapped by Minnesota, USC got dropped by Vandy, and a fun bonus, Washington State lost at SEATLLE.

#4. The power is shifting in college hoops.  You might have noticed a trend in many of the losses listed in #1-#3; the team getting the W often resided in the Big Ten and SEC.  If the NCAA Tourney was today, nearly a quarter of the field would be from those two leagues.  It is an interesting shift, especially where the SEC is concerned.

Ok, it’s a fantastic day of college hoops, so let’s dive into a trio of free picks!

TODAY’S FREE PICKS:

Indiana Hoosiers -3 at Arkansas Razorbacks (Total: 149.5)

Indiana isn’t ranked, but I have a feeling they will be ranked by tomorrow morning.  The 23-point win over Marquette was a strong opening statement, and they have a chance to rack up a legit road win this afternoon in Bud Walton Arena.

Arkansas enters at 1-1 with an exciting 73-71 loss to Texas and a whatever 81-58 win over UC Davis.  Arkansas has some talent returning, but nothing to match the explosive freshman sensation of Indiana, Romeo Langford. The reigning Indiana Mister Basketball enters averaging 17.7 points in reduced minutes due to the Indiana pulverizing of opponents.  Sure, their first two opponents (pre-Marquette) were low-major, but winning by a combined 89 points tells me this team is already dialed in.

I like Indiana as a Big Ten sleeper (although the league looks REALLY deep this season) and I like them to get a good road win today.  Arkansas is at home, which obviously gives them a shot, especially early in the season, but Indiana’s talent advantage should be enough to carry them to the win.

MY PICK:  INDIANA HOOSIERS -3

 

UCF Knights -1.5 vs. Western Kentucky – Championship Game, Myrtle Beach Invitational

UCF took an early embarrassing loss to FAU on a tip-in at the buzzer, but the preseason AAC favorites have bounced back nicely, easily dispatching Cal State Fullerton and St. Joe’s by a combined 36 points in the first two rounds in Myrtle Beach.  They are led by pro prospect, and one of the tallest humans on Earth, Tacko Fall and by AAC Player of the Year candidate BJ Taylor.  Fall might find himself on ESPN more often, but Taylor is the engine of the Knights squad.  Aubrey Dawkins, son of Johnny, and formerly of Michigan in 2015, is doing a nice job running the point and should have an advantage in tonight’s WKU matchup.

The Hilltoppers opened some eyes with their upset win over West Virginia this week.  And while it is certainly an excellent win for a C-USA tourney hopeful, West Virginia also has a loss to Buffalo, so perhaps there is a little trouble in Morgantown.

UCF has more talent and depth and a solid veteran team.  I’ll take the talent advantage in any game where I only have to lay a point or two on a neutral floor.

MY PICK:  UCF KNIGHTS -1.5

 

Virginia Tech vs. Purdue Boilermakers -1.5 – Championship Game, Charleston Classic

On a neutral floor, I’ll take the team with the 7’3’’ veteran and the All-American guard.  That would be Purdue, led by Carsen Edwards who dropped 29 points and six made three pointers in the semifinal win over Appalachian State.  Edwards won the Jerry West Award last season as the top off-guard in the country. He averaged 18.5 points and drained 97 3-pointers, earning third-team All-America honors from the AP, and he appears to be back for more honors in 2018-2019.

Virginia Tech is solid as well, with Kerry Blackshear gunning for All-ACC honors, but will likely struggle on the boards tonight.  I think they can score with Purdue, but I expect the Boilermakers, who outrebounded Davidson 45-28 earlier this week, to get at least a half dozen extra shot opportunities.  That should be enough to win the game and cover the slim point and a half margin.

MY PICK:  PURDUE BOILERMAKERS -1.5