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College Basketball Weekly Picks

January 10th to January 17th

Saint Mary's vs. (9) Gonzaga
The West Coast Conference starts to take shape as the top two contenders square off in Spokane. The Bulldogs have lost just one game to this point and that was a close one to a good Illinois squad. They have been relying on a previous unheard of, Kelly Olynk, to win games. Olynk, who had 33 points and 10 boards in a win over Santa Clara, is averaging 17.1 points per game and is snatching rebounds at an incredible rate. Meanwhile, the 12-3 Gaels bring fantastic point guard Matthew Dellavedova to the table. Expect some scoring on the Gonzaga campus in this one.
Gonzaga, 80 Saint Mary's 72

(1) Duke vs. (20) NC State
Just how good is Duke? This game will help us find out. The Blue Devils have used their star center Mason Plumlee to get off to a fast 15-0 start. Plumlee is a great rebounder with a back to the basket game but can also run the floor surprisingly well for his size. With him dominating down low it helps Duke swing the ball outside to sharpshooters Seth Curry and Quinn Cook. The Wolfpack haven't quite met expectations placed on them in the preseason. They have quite a frontcourt player as well in C.J. Leslie who isn't huge but is athletic enough to get points and rebounds in the paint. Both have the talent to make a Final Four but Duke will win this one.
Duke, 70 NC State, 66

(5) Indiana vs. (8) Minnesota
Minnesota has gotten off to the great start this season but they haven't faced a team like Indiana on the road. So far, the Gophers have relied on Dre Hollins and the imposing combo of Trevor Mbakwe and Rodney Williams who kill it on the boards. The Hoosiers have a Player of the Year threat in Cody Zeller who may be the only player in the Big Ten that can shut down Mbakwe. He has size and has great post moves so that he can score in bucnes which is what Indiana relies on. If this was on a neutral court or at Williams Arena, the Gophers might have a shot at winning. But, in Bloomington, with a healthy Zeller the Hoosiers win comfortably.
Indiana, 67 Minnesota, 58

Trey Burke
(2) Michigan vs. (15) Ohio State
The Michigan Wolverines put their undefeated record on the line against an Ohio State team that has been inconsistent this year. If you want to see great players go at each other watch these point guards. Michigan has sophomore Trey Burke who is a double-double machine that can hit shots on the perimeter. The Buckeyes also have a leader at point in Aaron Craft who is a great passer and is a shutdown defender. The player who performs better will give his team the upper edge. While the Buckeyes have Deshaun Thomas one of the best scorers in the nation, the Wolverines have a commitee which is the reason they'll win.
Michigan, 74 Ohio State, 67

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