WUNDERDOG
Game: Notre Dame at Saint Johns (2:00 PM Eastern)
Pick: Notre Dame -9.5 (-110)
Not to long ago, the St. John's program was one of the top programs in the country. It has since fallen and may never get up. The Johnnies continue to struggle and are now facing bad breaks to go along with it. They lost their best player for the season in Mason and they have now lost their PG Boothe to injury and are starting a freshman. Add that to the fact that their top player Burrell is wearing a mask because of facial injuries. Notre Dame will seize the moment in an environment that has lost its luster as St. John's is drawing no one, especially with the students on break. Notre Dame has it inside and out and has a better player at all five spots on the floor. This one looks like a blowout, so I'll back Notre Dame here.
NBA
Game: New Orleans at Denver (8:35 PM Eastern)
Pick: Game Total OVER 195 -110
The New Orleans Hornets have been buzzing on defense and consequently, their 29 games on the season have featured 19 going under the total. That changes dramatically when they face an NBA team that is in the top seven in the league in scoring offense, where they have played six of the eight to the OVER, with the two unders coming against the Lakers. The Nuggets have their same style - shoot first, play no defense, and have now played five-straight OVERS, where the total points have been just shy of 220. It is hard to see this one going below the 200 mark, as their first matchup featured 206. The OVER gets the call here.