Clean Start.. Matt's Pick'em Week 1

I know this is unorthodox, and I know some of you may only see this as a way to cover up that I have just been lazy the past month, but I have decided to start the new sporting year the day after Super Bowl Sunday.. In a way it makes sense. Right? No? Oh well I am doing it anyway. Chase will you please clear the records (especially the 0-4 playoff start that spurred my month long leave from this blog)

MONDAY: No. 1 Connecticut takes on No. 7 Louisville in a game that a lot of people look at Connecticut's incredible forwards and talent and see a win here. Well not me as the Cardinals have been on a tear and have been handling opponents at home (for example Pitt, Notre Dame, Kentucky, etc.) I see the birds picking up another home and conference win in the very competitive Big East conference, 79-73.

TUESDAY: Moving to the Big Ten as No. 13 Purdue goes to Columbus to take on the Buckeyes in a match up that has been competitive over the past few seasons but until last year favored Ohio State. The Buckeyes have only lost 2 match-ups at home this season but I see the Boilermakers making it three as Purdue has been taking there A-game on the road since conference play started (at Wisconsin, at Minnesota, at Penn State.. oops, ignore that last one.) PU goes ahead in a defensive struggle 68-59

WEDNESDAY: No. 3 Duke going to No. 10 Clemson looks like it will be a good match up.. but I see a one-sided affair as the Blue Devils are going to show up to every game after that heart breaking loss to Wake Forrest about a week ago. Sorry Tigers but prepare to get blown out at home 82-70 (the score will be misleading of how close a game it really was.)

THURSDAY: Well we have been touring different conference's all week, for today let's go out west to the Pac-10 for the No. 25 Washington team (that will be ranked higher by Thursday) going to play at the Cal Golden Bears house in what has potential to be a good one. I have trouble believing as well as the Huskies offense has been as of late that Cal will be able to stop them from scoring over 80 and which will be more than enough to beat Cal as the final score will read something like 84-69

FRIDAY: Back to the Big East in the only game with a ranked team all day as No. 8 Marquette goes on the road to face a dissappointing South Florida team who are on a bit of a skid losing 9 of their last 11. I know this match up favors only one team in almost every way but hey, it's the Big East and the underdog is at home. Sorry no upset pick though, Golden Eagles win it 78-65 (South Florida should be happy I gave them 65 in this one.)

SATURDAY: Last year's Final Four Memphis Tigers now ranked 15th go on the road all the way out to Spokane Washington to take on the (what I still feel is an overrated) No. 18 Gonzaga team. I don't like this years Memphis team for all the same reasons I didn't like last year's team, and I have just never liked Gonzaga.. But I am going to go with the Bulldogs in this one for my first upset pick of the week (barley, I kn

ow.)

SUNDAY: No football? Oh well, a full week of college basketball: nothing wrong with that. No. 13 Purdue going on the road to Champagne for another Big Ten match up but this one should be a barn burner as the No. 21 Fightin' Illini have been looking good all season (including that win at Purdue earlier in the season.) But these teams aren't the same as they were when they first met. A lot of things change and it's hard to beat a really good team twice in one year, but you don't honestly think I'm going to pick Purdue twice in one week do you? Come on, Illinois wins this one at home 85-82.

Oh and as a side note I will from now on be posting these on Friday mornings from now on. Best of luck to Chase and Adam and anyone else out there that's willing to put their picks against mine. 

COLLEGE BASKETBALL BABY!!!!!