College basketball never disappoints. The first week and half has already brought the juice that has been lacking in the sports world. As depressing as it is that we are at the point of the year where it is pitch black outside when leaving work, it is comforting to get a nightly dose of college hoops. The Champions Classic is one of my favorite events of the season, as I believe it serves as a proxy for the kickoff of college basketball season. It also provides an excuse to have a few mid work week beers to watch four blue blood programs in a double header (yes Michigan State is a blue blood). Whats even better is every team this year is supposed to up this year. Duke, Kansas, and Michigan State were all preseason top 5 while Calipari just brought in his best recruiting class ever for Kentucky.

Duke vs Michigan State is the first game of double header. Duke is -3.5 with 65 % of the public money coming in on Sparty to cover. Now, I am a Sparty guy. Always have been, always will be. After years of watching Izzo teams, I feel well equipped to give an informed assessment of this matchup: I hate this game. I hate it. Absolutely hate it. Sparty fans came into the year with sky high expectations for this Michigan State squad, and to say they have already been deflated is an understatement. All of the veterans on this team look like the exact same version of themselves from last year. They did bring in their best recruiting class under Tom Izzo which is extremely exciting, but they aren’t ready to carry this team. Part of the calculus in projecting Michigan State to be a top 5 team was an estimated jump in all the veterans to compliment the influx of youthful talent on the roster. That hasn’t been the case. Hoggard and Akins both tested the NBA waters last year and haven’t shown anything remotely close of NBA level play. Malik Hall ever since he got injured last year just hasn’t looked liked the same guy. Collectively, Michigan State is 2/31 (6.5%) from 3pt range through the first two games of the year which would humbly place them at 348th in the nation. While I do expect a reversion to the mean in the coming stretch of games, it is extremely concerning for a guard led roster to shoot the ball this poorly. All of this to say this feels like a spot where MSU gets killed. I hated typing that, but add in the fact that Izzo struggles in this tournament as it is and Sparty is in trouble. Take Duke -3.5.

Kansas vs Kentucky is right after, and this game is very intriguing to me. Kansas is 6.5 point favorites with 58% of the public money coming in on Kentucky. I honestly haven’t gotten to watch much of either team this year. Will that stop me from giving my opinion on the game? Absolutely not. In fact, I’d probably get a raise if I had a morning sports debate show. This feels like a young Kentucky team that will struggle early on in the season, but then will be extremely dangerous in March. Very similar to 2013-2014 when they had the Harrison twins as freshman but didn’t really turn it on until the conference tourney. Kansas is a lot of more seasoned and might have the Wooden Award winner on the roster. Kansas -6.5.

Going outside of the champions classic: my favorite bet of the night is Illinois -2 at home vs Marquette. Marquette comes in as the number 4 team in the country with pretty much their whole roster back from their 2 seeded team last year. Tyler Kolek is pre-season All American and one of the best players in the country. But… Illinois is favored by 2. Illinois just struggled with Oakland at home and is now favored over the number 4 team in the country? Gimme the Fighting Illini -2. Not quite a system play, but extremely close to it. Regardless, I’m taking it.

Side note. I’ll address The System cancer that is Chris Holtman. That guy sucks. Ohio State had a horrible record last year as System pick, but we (idiotically) gave them the benefit of the doubt to start the new season. That won’t happen again. Ohio State as a basketball program no longer exists to The System.