The Sweet 16 was certainly fun. The Wisconsin Badgers squeaked past a feisty North Carolina squad, Notre Dame shot the lights out, Gonzaga dropped 70+ points for the third game in a row and Tom Izzo’s crew advanced to yet another Elite 8.

That’s where we’ve found ourselves after two weeks of March Madness, as just eight teams remain in the hunt for the Final Four and a shot at the national title. Kentucky is still very clearly the easy favorites to win it all, but if all goes well they’ll still have two or three very tough games coming their way before it’s all said and done.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though. The Elite 8 is here and we have four games to breakdown as all eight teams have done a fantastic job getting to this point and are one win away from the Final Four. That being said, three of four #1 seeds remain and all three are favored to move on. Michigan State is by far the lowest seed and they will be legit threats to get to the Final Four – something head coach Tom Izzo has made a regular happening up north. Let’s break down both sets of games for the weekend:

Saturday’s Games

(2) Arizona @ (1) Wisconsin

The Badgers were a #1 seed for a reason. They’re a veteran bunch that puts the most efficient offense on the court on a nightly basis and also plays stingy defense when it matters most. When up in the final five minutes of games this year, Wisco hasn’t lost a single one. Thanks to an inside-outside attack featuring future pros Frank Kaminsky and Sam Dekker, the Badgers can kill you from all over the floor and also have the versatility and depth to match you at what you do best. Arizona’s challenge? Making Wisconsin forget how to do that.

North Carolina showed for about 75% of their Sweet 16 battle that the Badgers can be messed with and taken out of their game at both ends. The Badgers reverted to their cool and collected selves in the end, though, and that’s what the Wildcats need to be prepared for. Arizona is much the same, however, as they can put up the point and defense, and also have a nice balance of size and elite guard play. Two similar teams happen to be the top two seeds in their region and we’re all realizing it’s not at all by accident. Wisconsin has had their sights set on getting back to the Final Four all year, though, while a likely rematch with Kentucky (who ousted them in the tourney last year) awaits.

Pick: Wisconsin 81, Arizona 77

(3) Notre Dame @ (1) Kentucky

The Kentucky Wildcats have had an arguable cakewalk so far in this year’s tourney. Karl-Anthony Towns and Willie Cauley-Stein provide far too much imposing size for opposing offenses to get past, while Kentucky’s offense has been too good, as well. Notre Dame may finally be their first true test before the Wildcats try to get back to the Final Four. Notre Dame brings hot shooting, great coaching and some competitive size to the table, but it’s obvious they don’t have the bigs to go toe to toe all day with Kentucky’s bruisers. The Wildcats will remain a serious problem on the boards and as a defense, while the Fighting Irish’s only real chance in this one is if they come out, guns a’blazin’. That’s certainly possible for a Notre Dame squad that has lost just five games all year, while Kentucky’s kryptonite appears to be elite outside shooting (if they truly have one).

Notre Dame has shown to be a real force in this tourney and it’s doubtful they’ll go quietly. They won’t win, but they’ll keep this one close and give college basketball bettors a shot at chasing the Total.

Pick: Kentucky 79, Notre Dame 74

Sunday’s Games

(4) Louisville @ (7) Michigan State

The only Elite 8 battle featuring anything lower than a #3 seed has Rick Pitino and Tom Izzo facing off in an epic coaching clash. Louisville didn’t really look the part of a Final Four contender during the season or in the first round of the tourney, but they certainly do now. The same goes for Michigan State, who is simply going on another yearly deep run we’ve all grown accustomed to for Izzo teams. The question is, who has more momentum and who wins? The reality is fans are in for a gritty affair and picking this game with any real confidence is next to impossible. Both teams have the athleticism and strength to play great defense in the clutch, while neither is particularly a great offensive team. Louisville needed a seven-point barage from bench scorer Anton Gill to move on from the Sweet 16, while the Spartans held on and won by four over Oklahoma. Both teams barely got here, but one will have a chance to get to the Final Four. Judging by Izzo’s history, the Spartans head to yet another Final Four.

Pick: Michigan State 65, Louisville 63

(2) Gonzaga @ (1) Duke

The second game of the weekend featuring the top two seeded teams from any region caps what is truly an Elite 8, where most of the top teams actually made it as far as they should have. Duke is going to be the obvious favorite due to Coach K’s imposing presence and ability to shake things up on the fly, as well as big man Jahlil Okafor and the rising Justice Winslow. Of course, we can’t rule out the Zags, though, as their hot shooting and efficient offense has led to three games with at least 74 points. They simply out-run their opponents and out gun them, as well. Kevin Pangos will be extremely key in this one, both in creating offense and hitting outside shots. Gonzaga has good coaching that can match up with Duke, but if they don’t bring their shot, they’ll be in serious trouble due to average defense and a lack of effective big bodies when compared to the Blue Devils. The biggest problem? Gonzaga’s strength as a potent offense can easily be matched by Duke. Duke may have the edge, but something tells me we’re in for an explosive barn burner. Go for the Total in this one.

Pick: Duke 85, Gonzaga 81

Friday was another classic backwards NBA circus, as numerous star players delivered awful performances and random role players went nuts. Luckily none of that impacted our NBA picks for the most part, as we were able to escape the mess with a solid 10-3 mark, pushing our season record to 634-326. Things could have gone even better, but the Cavaliers couldn’t take down the Nets and the Kings and Jazz both lost on the road.

We have a much lighter slate coming at us on Saturday, which should give us plenty of time to soak up all the information we need to make the right calls. Tonight offers a rather tricky lineup, as all five matchups have very clear favorites and seem easy to pick right off the bat. Let’s take a closer look and see if that’s the reality:

Hawks @ Hornets

Atlanta heads to Charlotte on Saturday to take on the Hornets, who have dropped three in a row and are just 16-19 on their own floor. The Hawks look to be getting back on track with two straight wins and should disposes easily of the inferior Hornets.

Pick: Hawks 104, Hornets 97

Knicks @ Bulls

Chicago is almost 100% with Derrick Rose nearing a return and they’re at home against the Knicks. New York has lost six in a row and has won just five times on the road all season, so everyone will be taking the Bulls tonight.

Pick: Bulls 107, Knicks 96

Warriors @ Bucks

Milwaukee has two nice wins in a row and is at home, but they’re not going to be much of a match for a white hot Warriors squad (eight straight wins). Their defense could keep things interesting, but the Warriors are the best team in the league for a reason.

Pick: Warriors 108, Bucks 101

Thunder @ Jazz

The Thunder will move forward tonight without Kevin Durant, who has officially been ruled out for the year. That will mean it’s all on Russell Westbrook, who will try to lead OKC on the road against a tough Jazz squad. Utah is trending in the wrong direction, though, with four losses in a row.

Pick: Thunder 103, Jazz 100

Nuggets @ Trail Blazers

Portland was looking rough for a while due to injuries, but LaMarcus Adridge is back and the Blazers will be searching for their third win in a row. Denver can make things interesting with an up tempo offense, but their defense is awful and they struggle on the road (11-25). Portland, meanwhile, is a staggering 28-7 on their home floor.

Pick: Blazers 105, Nuggets 102

The Bucks took care of the Pacers in Thursday night’s lone NBA contest, as we strolled to an easy 1-0 night. We enter a huge Friday with a still stout 624-323 season record and aim to add several more wins via our NBA picks during a huge 13-game slate.

The action gets started at 7:00 pm with three games and rolls strong all the way until Portland and Phoenix cap us off at 10:00 pm. Let’s break down each matchup quickly and see who the safest plays are tonight for NBA betting purposes:

Pistons @ Magic

Detroit comes into Orlando hot as point guard Reggie Jackson has really turned it on during a nice three-game winning streak. Orlando can be very competitive, but they’ve dropped two in a row and the Pistons have pretty much owned this series. They should have a nice shot at taking the season series 3-1 tonight.

Pick: Pistons 105, Magic 101

Clippers @ 76ers

The Sixers are terrible and the Clippers just destroyed the Knicks the other day. This game could be over at the break.

Pick: Clips 112, Sixers 89

Hornets @ Wizards

The Wizards are in the midst of another one of their classic losing streaks, as they’ll host Charlotte after dropping their past four contests. The Hornets haven’t fared much better and will have Al Jefferson at less than 100%, so the Wiz are probably the way to go at home.

Pick: Wiz 98, Hornets 92

Heat @ Hawks

Atlanta has been up and down lately but they’re back at home (where they’re a remarkable 30-5) and Miami should be sans Dwyane Wade. Advantage: Hawks.

Pick: Hawks 107, Heat 96

Cavaliers @ Nets

Cleveland just housed the Grizzlies in Memphis so they’ll be playing with supreme confidence tonight as they take on the Nets in Brooklyn. Brook Lopez has been unstoppable, but Cleveland has the Nets’ number (up 3-0 in the season series). Look for the Cavs to finish off a season sweep.

Pick: Cavs 106, Nets 103

Celtics @ Knicks

Isaiah Thomas is back and the Knicks are both terrible and extra banged up than normal. Boston should have a nice game at The Garden tonight.

Pick: Celtics 110, Knicks 97

Lakers @ Raptors

Kyle Lowry is out yet again, but the Raptors have everyone else and they’re at home. Plus, it’s the freaking Lakers, who are 8-27 away from home all year.

Pick: Raptors 106, Lakers 99

Kings @ Pelicans

The epic battle between Boogie and The Brow has led to a split series (1-1) this year, as well as one really good game in the first meeting. The Pellies need a win badly with four straight losses in a row, but Sacramento is red-hot with four straight wins. This is a nice upset to chase tonight.

Pick: Kings 105, Pelicans 102

Timberwolves @ Rockets

Minnesota remains rattled by injuries so they probably don’t have much of a hope to stay in this one on the road. Houston has been largely fantastic and Dwight Howard is even back, so expect a blowout.

Pick: Rockets 109, T’Wolves 87

Warriors @ Grizzlies

Everytime I take the Grizzlies at home they seem to burn me, but tonight it’s easy to go against them considering it’s the Warriors coming into town. Golden State can’t be stopped at the moment, either, as they come into tonight riding a sick seven-game winning streak.

Pick: Warriors 104, Grizz 101

Mavericks @ Spurs

Dallas just took down the Spurs in their last meeting so you can bet the Spurs will want to pay them back at home. We can probably expect a solid game between these two rivals but the Spurs should get the last laugh.

Pick: Spurs 103, Mavs 101

Jazz @ Nuggets

After going on a nice tear the Jazz have dropped three games in a row, largely due to star swing man Gordon Hayward sitting out with a shoulder issue. He’s back tonight, though, so look for the Jazz to regain their previous form against a slightly inferior Nuggets squad.

Pick: Jazz 98, Nuggets 95

Trail Blazers @ Suns

LaMarcus Aldridge returned in the nick of time to help Portland end an ugly losing streak the other night, while Nicolas Batum could be back tonight, as well. The Blazers know they need to win to stave off the Thunder in the Northwest division, so look for them to dismantle the Suns.

Pick: Blazers 105, Suns 102

The next big event in the 2015 PGA TOUR hits us on Thursday, when the Valero Texas Open tees off. Steven Bowditch won the tournament last year and will return to defend his title, while numerous golfers appear to have the goods to make a run at first place.

This event features a whopping 13 major champions and will not be short on capable golfers who can take the crown. Let’s break down the favorites, as well as some dark horse to keep an eye on if you plan on doing any golf betting this week:

The Favorites: Ryan Palmer, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker, Zach Johnson

Always in the mix in the end, three-time Tour winner Ryan Palmer has to once again be a candidate to take first. Palmer has had some issues closing, but he’s extremely talented and seems to always golf well until late in matches. The young up and coming Spieth gets back to the green after getting a win just two weeks ago and the 21-year old is a sneaky pick by many experts to earn a second win in a row. Walker is always a threat to first place in any event, as he’s enjoying a fantastic season in which he has one win and four top-10 finishes. Even if he can’t get the job done, it’s probably fair to say he’ll be among the finalists when the Valero Texas Open comes to a close. Zach Johnson is the other big name to watch, as he’s actually taken the Texas Open two times before and has a nice record in Texas.

The Sleepers: Ben Curtis, Kevin Na

Curtis is an ironic sleeper, as he’s actually had it rough with three missed cuts in a row. He’s a good golfer that took this event back in 2012, though, and things have to turn around for him eventually. That gives him a shot to be a dark horse in a fairly wide open tourney. Kevin Na has picked things up lately and seems to be trending toward a big win. Even if he doesn’t take first place, he’ll have a good shot at being in contention late in this one.

The Pick: Jordan Spieth

Palmer or Walker would be the easy/safe pick here, but I like Spieth to get the job done. Spieth is a homegrown player that will be fun to root for this week, while he’s also coming off a big win. Can the youngster make it two in a row? He just might.

We made it through a light Tuesday night with a 4-2 mark and head into a giant Wednesday aiming to add more wins to our (617-316  season record). The majority of the NBA is active tonight as we make our way through a towering 13-game schedule.

Let’s quickly break down each matchup and see who are the safest teams to side with in our NBA picks for 3/25/2015:

Clippers @ Knicks

The Knickerbockers are a hapless bunch and the Clippers are only missing Jamal Crawford at this point. New York might fight and keep it close early but it’ll be a rout in the end.

Pick: Clips 109, Knicks 94

Hawks @ Magic

Orlando stole one game in this series and can be dangerous at home, but the Hawks have lost three in a row and badly need to get back on track. Look for them to refocus and take care of business against the Magic.

Pick: Hawks 104, Magic 101

Pacers @ Wizards

Indiana is in a free fall with six losses in a row, while the Wizards have been sliding with three straight defeats, as well. Washington is at home and is the better team, so look for them to rebound and get back on track.

Pick: Wizards 98, Pacers 96

Bulls @ Raptors

Chicago heads to Toronto for what figures to be an epic Eastern clash. Chicago has dismantled the Raptors in all three meetings this year and now the only body absent from their lineup is Derrick Rose. Kyle Lowry also could be out tonight, giving the Bulls all they need to push to a 4-0 series sweep.

Pick: Bulls 103, Raptors 97

Nets @ Hornets

Al Jefferson will play with a bum knee as the Hornets host the Nets. Both teams have lost six of 10 and look a little lost, but both can also play defense and grind it out on offense. Charlotte is at home and tends to be the better defensive squad, so they get the slight edge tonight.

Pick: Hornets 101, Nets 97

Heat @ Celtics

The Celtics host Miami tonight and have been solid lately (winners of six of their last 10), but they’re still down Isaiah Thomas and Miami has more talent. Dwyane Wade and Goran Dragic should be able to get it going from the outside, while Hassan Whiteside dominantes Boston’s weak interior defense.

Pick: Heat 106, Celtics 102

Rockets @ Pelicans

Dwight Howard makes his return and the Pellies are still banged up. Anthony Davis should get his but the Pelicans won’t have much of an answer for James Harden.

Pick: Rockets 105, Pelicans 102

Lakers @ Timberwolves

A clash of bottom feeders actually figures to be entertaining, although Ricky Rubio, Kevin Garnett and Nikola Pekovic likely all remain out. Kevin Martin missed his last contest, too, and if he’s out again the odds shift completely to the visiting Lakers.

Pick: Lakers 107, T’Wolves 104

Cavaliers @ Grizzlies

LeBron James leads his Cavs into Memphis, where he’ll be face-guarded by the intense Tony Allen. Kevin Love has been playing horribly and Memphis plays great defense at home, so Cleveland might be over-matched here.

Pick: Grizz 106, Cavs 102

76ers @ Nuggets

We can expect little to no defense in this clash of sinking teams, although Denver has actually turned things around a bit with a 5-5 mark over their past 10 games. They should be at full strength at home, which gives them a great shot at earning a second straight victory.

Pick: Nuggets 107, Sixers 103

Trail Blazers @ Jazz

LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum are both probably out again, which should hold Portland back considerably. Utah is a defensive fiend on their home floor and the Blazers have lost themselves amidst an ugly five-game skid. Make it six losses in a row for Portland.

Pick: Jazz 96, Blazers 94

Thunder @ Spurs

Russell Westbrook is back at it as he tries to will his Thunder to a fifth straight win. San Antonio had been better but just got housed in Dallas last night. They could rest some guys but even if they don’t they might come out tired against a seemingly more determined OKC squad.

Pick: Thunder 104, Spurs 99

Kings @ Suns

DeMarcus Cousins was huge last night as the Kings ripped off their third win in a row. Things are picking up for Sacramento but Phoenix is just as hot with four wins in a row and has the edge at home. NBA bettors can at least chase the Total tonight, as this game should yield plenty of points.

Pick: Suns 108, Kings 105

The first three rounds (if you want to count the first one) of the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament are in the books, and now we’re getting down to the real stuff. The Sweet 16 tips off on Thursday night and will yield a good amount of college basketball betting. We’ll preview both Thursday and Friday’s matchups and give our March Madness picks to help you make your final decisions on how you’ll be betting. Let’d get it started:

Thursday’s Games

(7) Wichita State vs. (3) Notre Dame

Notre Dame has made a nice run to the Sweet 16, but has done so by the skin of their teeth. Wichita State, on the other hand, was in full control in a big win over Kansas and is going to be determined to get a rematch with a Kentucky team that handed them their only loss of the 2014 season. If you’re looking for an upset this round, this is it.

Pick: Wichita State 82, Notre Dame 74

(4) North Carolina vs. (1) Wisconsin

This showdown just might hang on the knee of UNC’s best low post presence, Kennedy Meeks. The star big man sprained his knee in North Carolina’s win over Arkansas and is “doubtful” to suit up. I tend to favor toward Wisconsin, either way, as North Carolina looked sluggish in their first win and on the year hasn’t been overly impressive. The Badgers played better team ball at both ends and should pull away late.

Pick: Wisconsin 74, North Carolina 68

(5) West Virginia vs. (1) Kentucky

West Virginia might be the best chance yet to call for a Kentucky upset, as they’re among the nation’s leaders in both offensive rebounds and forced turnovers. That’s going to be pretty key in this matchup, considering Kentucky is awesome at both. I think WV can keep it close until late if they bring their best game, but Kentucky is just too stout down low. It’s going to take some real size and strength like a Wisconsin or Duke to take them down, and even that might not do it.

Pick: Kentucky 81, West Virginia 76

(6) Xavier vs. (2) Arizona

Xavier lasted two rounds longer than I thought they would, but their first game wasn’t a tough matchup and it’s arguable they lucked into a showdown with a Georgia State team that was probably in over it’s head a bit. Arizona is bigger and more athletic and also extremely balanced. Xavier can stick around if they dominate the glass like we know they can, but the Wildcats should prevail so they can get their rematch with the Badgers, who ousted them from the tourney last year.

Pick: Arizona 77, Xavier 70

Friday’s Games

(11) UCLA vs. (2) Gonzaga

The Bruins got a gift from the refs in their first win in the tourney, but left nothing to chance in a convincing win over UAB. While they look the part of a Cinderella, it’s not going to be easy to take down a very potent Gonzaga team that has put up 86 and 87 points so far. UCLA can match them offensively if they’re on, but the Zags carry the bigger stick on defense.

Pick: Gonzaga 84, UCLA 79

(8) N.C. State vs. (4) Louisville

Louisville looked terrible in their first tourney game and then looked great in taking down UNI in the third round. Some have them pegged as a legit Final Four contender, and I was one of them. After seeing N.C. State take down Villanova, though, it’s hard to go against the mojo of the Wolfpack. Wichita State may be your upset for Thursday, but N.C. State is the call for Friday.

Pick: N.C. State 69, Louisville 66

(5) Utah vs. (1) Duke

Utah has been on a fun run and will be a fan favorite to make a deeper run, but it looks like they could run into some trouble against Coach K’s group. Jahlil Okafor should prove to be far too much down low, while the Blue Devils as a whole are just a massive handful offensively.

Pick: Duke 81, Utah 76

(7) Michigan State vs. (3) Oklahoma

I really like what the Sooners have been able to do, but even as a #3 seed few probably actually thought they’d make it to the Sweet 16. Tom Izzo’s crew probably shouldn’t be here, either, but this one is all about coaching and pure, raw talent. The Spartans have the edge in both.

Pick: Michigan State 72, Oklahoma 70

Monday night was light on NBA games but it was not light on action, as we got a nice overtime battle between the Timberwolves and Jazz and James Harden shined with a 44-point effort. Through it all we managed to escape with a 4-2 mark (613-314 on the year) and could have been 5-1 had the Jazz not fallen at home in OT.

Tuesday brings another light six-game slate, which could give us a shot at perfection. Chase it with us as we break down our NBA picks for 3/24/2015:

Raptors @ Pistons

Detroit has turned things around lately despite Greg Monroe missing time and if they can get him back tonight they could be in good shape at home. Toronto is at their worst on the road and have been stumbling over their last 10 contests (4-6), but they’ve been on top of the Pistons (2-1) so far this year. Look for Toronto to cap this series with a 3-1 edge, although expect a good amount of points.

Pick: Raptors 114, Pistons 112

Spurs @ Mavericks

Dallas and San Antonio are neck and neck in a race for the West’s sixth seed, with the Spurs holding a slight edge coming into tonight. Needless to say, the Mavs badly need to hold their ground at home. That’s easier said than done, as momentum works against them with the Spurs riding a three-game winning streak.

Pick: Spurs 102, Mavs 100

Heat @ Bucks

Normally we might take Miami here, as they’ve been hot (winners of six out of their last 10 games), but Milwaukee has been scratching and clawing for a win. They have an ugly six-game skid and are at home, so I like them to get off the schneid.

Pick: Bucks 97, Heat 95

Lakers @ Thunder

Don’t look now, but OKC is just five games outside of first place in the West’s Northwest division. With injuries taking the Blazers down, OKC just needs to keep winning. They’re ravaged with injuries themselves but Russell Westbrook has been on a tear. The Thunder have won three in a row, are at home and it’s the freaking Lakers, so this one should be an easy call.

Pick: Thunder 107, Lakers 101

76ers @ Kings

Sacramento is rebounding a bit now that both Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins are healthy, as they head into tonight with two straight wins under their belt. They take on a bad 76ers team at home, giving them a fantastic shot at a third straight win.

Pick: Kings 105, 76ers 97

Warriors @ Trail Blazers

The fire could be taken out of this matchup due to injuries, as Nicolas Batum is out with a bad back and LaMarcus Aldridge is probably going to miss this one with another hand issue. If that’s the case, the Warriors should take this one.

Pick: Warriors 106, Blazers 104

After sitting out of Saturday’s NBA picks we shook the rust off to go a solid 8-3 (609-312 on the season) on a heavy 11-game Sunday night. That was a great way to end the week, but we were actually fairly close to an epic run, had the Wizards not come up totally lame in Sacramento and the Celtics not fallen to the Pistons in overtime. There was no getting by Denver taking down the Magic 119-100 in Orlando, however.

We’ll take the solid record and march into a lighter Monday, where we get the week started with a soft six-game schedule:

Rockets @ Pacers

James Harden absolutely destroyed the Pacers the last time these two teams faces, while it’s probably already difficult to side with an Indiana squad that has dropped five games in a row.

Pick: Rockets 105, Pacers 97

Celtics @ Nets

Brooklyn has been up and down all year, but for the moment they’ve won two in a row and host a Celtics team that is one a three-game skid. Boston holds a 2-1 series lead on the year, so look for the Nets to try to even things up at the Barclays Center tonight.

Pick: Nets 104, Celtics 102

Grizzlies @ Knicks

Memphis does have a bad habit of losing to inferior teams on the road, but let’s be serious here. The Knicks are bad as it is and now Alexey Shved is banged up. Memphis should roll.

Pick: Grizz 108, Knicks 95

Hornets @ Bulls

Charlotte has been able to put the defensive clamps down on the Bulls this year, as they stroll into the United Center with a 2-1 series lead. The Bulls badly need to get wins to have a shot at winning their division and are at home, though, so look for Chicago to step up. It doesn’t hurt that Taj Gibson is back and healthy, either.

Pick: Bulls 101, Hornets 97

Timberwolves @ Jazz

The Jazz have been one of the hottest teams in the league since the All-Star break and will look to continue their stellar run with their eighth win in 11 games tonight. Minnesota is severely depleted by injuries and if Ricky Rubio sits out, they won’t have much of a chance against Utah’s elite defense. Add in the fact that it’s in Utah, and the Timberwolves are probably in serious trouble.

Pick: Jazz 90, T’Wolves 84

Wizards @ Warriors

After seeing the Wiz get crushed by the Kings last night, it’s borderline impossible to pick them over the Warriors. Golden State has two losses at home on the year and we’re supposed to buy the Wizards coming into town and dominating after getting beat down last night. It’s doubtful.

Pick: Warriors 106, Wizards 101

We took a break from our daily NBA picks on Saturday, but we’re back on Sunday to go over all the games, starting from 3:00 pm ET, all the way to 9:30. It’s  a jam-packed day of NBA action to be sure, so we needn’t waste much time getting ready to dive in. Our last stop was on a busy Friday night, which was headlined by a triple overtime clash between the Bucks and Nets as well as Elfrid Payton’s second triple double in a row. Payton also helped the Magic get a nice upset over the visiting Trail Blazers in a chaotic Friday that saw us go 7-5.

That solid finish leaves us at a stout 601-309 on the year as we head into Sunday’s picks:

Spurs @ Hawks

Atlanta hosts a surging Spurs squad (8-2 in last 10 games) and should still be without sharp-shooter, Kyle Korver. They’re usually favored at home where they’re a formidable 30-4 on the year, but haven’t been themselves without Korver. Whether he’s a go or not, there’s a solid chance the Hawks lose their third game in a row.

Pick: Spurs 104, Hawks 102

Cavaliers @ Bucks

Milwaukee lost that heart-breaker in triple OT two nights ago and while they play host, taking down the Cavs is probably going to be too tall of an order. Milwaukee has slid remarkably over the past month and should be handed a sixth straight loss tonight.

Pick: Cavs 104, Bucks 97

Heat @ Thunder

It’s the Russell Westbrook show again thanks to a litany of injuries hitting the Thunder. Westbrook might have his hands full with a hot Heat team (3 wins in a row), but OKC chases it’s third win, too, and is at home. This one should go down to the final minute, but Westbrook is tough to bet against in a matchup that remains somewhat favorable.

Pick: Thunder 107, Heat 104

Pelicans @ Clippers

Tyreke Evans and Omer Asik are iffy for this showdown at the Staples Center, while Anthony Davis is only probable (ankle). The Clippers are the better team, are healthier and are at home, so there’s not much reason to risk the pick on the Pellies.

Pick: Clippers 109, Pelicans 102

Knicks @ Raptors

New York has been playing fairly well lately and Toronto hasn’t been great (4-6 in their last 10 games), but this is a great turnaround game for the Raps. Toronto plays much better at home and the Knicks have vastly inferior talent.

Pick: Raptors 106, Knicks 93

Pistons @ Celtics

Reggie Jackson looks to continue his tear, as the Pistons also vie for their third win in their last four games. Boston has dropped their past two but has otherwise been red hot (7-1 in their previous eight contests) and also plays host. I like the Celtics at home, just by a hair.

Pick: Celtics 105, Pistons 98

Nuggets @ Magic

Denver is reeling again with three straight losses and it looks like Elfrid Payton has found his way late in his first NBA season. Neither of these teams are very good and the Magic may be without Tobias Harris, but Denver’s weak interior defense could leave the door open to huge outings from Payton, Victor Oladipo and Nikola Vucevic.

Pick: Magic 107, Nuggets 104

Wizards @ Kings

DeMarcus Cousins could finally return after sitting out the past two games, and the Kings will badly need their big man if they’re to contend with a tough Wizards team. Washington just lost their last game but had been a stout 7-2 in their previous seven. Regardless if Boogie suits up, it’s hard not to like the Wiz against a Sacramento squad that has dropped eight of their last 10.

Pick: Wiz 102, Kings 96

Hornets @ Timberwolves

The Hornets have fallen down with three straight losses, but they have an excellent chance to turn things around tonight in Minnesota. Ricky Rubio could be out with a sore ankle, and even if he does play the Hornets have the defense to off-set the Timberwolves’ offense.

Pick: Hornets 91, T’Wolves 87

Mavericks @ Suns

Dallas heads to Phoenix in what could be the most explosive matchup of the night. Eric Bledsoe is fresh off of a career high 34-point night, while it’s worth wondering if the Suns will be worn down after playing on Saturday night. Dallas is only mediocre on the road, though, while Phoenix seems to be ready to fight for the 8th playoff spot after ripping off three straight wins. Make it four in a row after tonight.

Pick: Suns 106, Mavs 104

76ers @ Lakers

The 76ers have two straight wins and could find a third tonight in L.A. That’s borderline crazy talk, but the Lakers have lost four in a row and aren’t exactly a formidable presence. That being said, Philly doesn’t have the talent to support a third straight win, nor are they good on the road. We reluctantly confide in the Lake Show tonight.

Pick: Lakers 104, Sixers 101