Sports Picks

Tim Rink / Reporter

After a 4-1 week, I’m feeling pretty good about my picks.  And it is with that sense of confidence that I submit these five predictions to the masses.

Elon Men’s Basketball v. UNC-G

The Spartans handled the Phoenix nicely earlier this month, sending Elon home from Greensboro with a 67-53 loss.  This game was the only blemish in a five-game run in which the Phoenix won four games. With no major changes in either squad, there shouldn't be too much of a change in this game.  However, I feel that Elon has become a better team and matured during the season.  With Scottie Rice back from the injury that he aggravated during the first game against UNC-Greensboro, the Phoenix offense should be firing on all cylinders.  Matt Nowlin has hit his stride of late.  Nowlin has scored 24, 20, 11, 13 and 20 points respectively in the last five games.  If these two can accomplish what they’re capable of, I think the Phoenix takes this game at Alumni Gym. Elon 65, UNC-G 59

Elon Women’s Basketball v. Furman

The last time these two ladies squads met, it was ugly; ugly to the tune of 31 percent combined field goal shooting.  Field goals are one thing, but when both teams go 50 percent from the line, you know the game was not exactly an offensive exhibition.  Both of these teams pride themselves on suffocating defense.  Furman is second in the SoCon, and second in defense.  Furman allows 54.6 points per game, only one-tenth of a point more than conference-leading Chattanooga. Elon is allowing 63.6 points per game, in contrast to the 65.4 points per game it’s averaging. This should be a nasty game in Greenville that I just don’t see the Phoenix being able to pull out. Furman 65, Elon 55

Duke at Florida State

Tallahassee has quickly established itself as one of the toughest places to play in the Atlantic Coast Conference.  No one wants to visit Florida State because the Seminoles fear no one.  But the Blue Devils have never feared anyone either. Duke has established itself as an elite team in the country and it should receive a No. 1 seed in the tournament if it can win its remaining games.  Duke has been slowed considerably of late, as teams seemed to have figured out the Redick enigma.  Florida State plays excellent defense and is very athletic.  However, I’m not convinced that it has the front line to compete with Shelden Williams, Shavlik Randolph and Luol Deng.  This should be a tight one. Don’t miss it. Devils in a barnburner. Duke 89, FSU 88

UNC at NCSU

Is there a hotter team in the ACC than NC State? Correct answer: no.  Are there any teams in the ACC more in need of a big game win than the Tarheels?  Correct answer, maybe, but not many.  These two teams squaring off in Raleigh should make for a classic match-up.  NC State has won five of its last six games, beating Wake Forest, FSU, Duke, and pulling out a close one against The University of Washington.  Its little slip against Clemson can be pushed aside as Little John is an abysmal place for an opposing team to try and escape with a win.  Carolina has been playing well over the last few games, but consistency has been a problem all year.  The stat will throw the Tarheel fans into despair: State hasn’t lost all year in Raleigh, it’s a perfect 19-0 in the games played there this year (including exhibitions).  On the other side of the coin, the Tarheels are only 3-6 away from the Dean Dome this year. Those three wins came early in the season against Davidson, Cleveland State and Illinois. Tarheel fans shouldn’t count on coming home with a ‘W’ this time. UNC 75, NCSU 87

ETSU at College of Charleston

East Tennessee State has absolutely dominated the SoCon this year and is ranked among the top-10 mid-major teams in the country according to ESPN.com.  It has run the table in the SoCon up to this point and gave both Texas Tech and Clemson all they wanted on hostile courts.  No one who has played this Buc team (23-4, 14-0 SoCon) wants to do it again.  College of Charleston has been almost equally intimidating this season.  It has stumbled at times though, and I think its inconsistencies are going to cost them here.  This game should be all Bucs. ETSU 85, C of C 70

KRT Campus

Duke’s Sean Dockery goes for the steal against Wake Forest’s Chris Paul.