Top Twenty (12/23)

Now that the Redskins are dead and buried, I'm turning my attention more to college basketball.  Here's the season's first Top Twenty from the Prediction Machine.

Top Twenty

1	Oklahoma St.	35.8
2	Louisville	34.6
3	Arizona	32.8
4	Villanova	32.6
5	Iowa St.	32.6
6	Iowa	32.4
7	Arkansas	32.3
8	Ohio St.	32.1
9	Arizona St.	32.0
10	Kentucky	31.7
11	Creighton	31.3
12	Duke	31.3
13	Michigan	31.1
14	Kansas	31.0
15	Oregon	30.9
16	Pittsburgh	30.8
17	Colorado	30.6
18	Florida St.	30.4
19	Wisconsin	30.3
20	Syracuse	30.3

Some early-season shakeout still going on in the Top Twenty.  Oklahoma State and Louisville are head-and-shoulders above the rest of the nation.  Oklahoma State lost some ground this week to Louisville despite a solid win over Colorado.

Predictions

There's a dearth of interesting games until next Saturday.

#8 Villanova at #2 Syracuse:  Nova by 4

The PM has Nova at #4 and Syracuse at #20, so don't expect Syracuse to have an easy time of it.  Home court advantage is worth a lot, though, so it won't be a big surprise if Syracuse wins this game.

#6 Louisville at #18 Kentucky: Louisville by 8.5

The PM thinks better of both teams than the AP, but Louisville (and OKSt) is head-and-shoulders above the rest of the Top Twenty, so the PM thinks they'll win comfortably at Lexington.

Providence @ #23 UMASS!!!:  UMass by 1

Good chance for an "upset" in this game.

#25 Missouri @ N.C. State:  Mizzou by 1

Another good upset possibility.

 

Blowout of the Week

 

Wisconsin over Prairie View A&M by 29

 

Coin Toss of the Week

Boston U @ St. Joseph's