Jim Feist Handicapper Review & Free Sports Picks

The Texas Longhorns (17-14, 6-12 SEC) are set to face the Vanderbilt Commodores (20-11, 8-10 SEC) in the first round of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Men's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The game will tip off at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and will be broadcast on the SEC Network. Texas has experienced a challenging inaugural season in the SEC, finishing with a 6-12 conference record. The Longhorns have struggled recently, losing seven of their last nine games, including a 76-72 defeat to Oklahoma in their regular-season finale. Despite these setbacks, Texas boasts five Quad 1 victories and aims to bolster its NCAA Tournament resume with a strong performance in the SEC Tournament. Vanderbilt concluded the regular season with a 20-11 overall record and an 8-10 mark in SEC play. The Commodores have been competitive throughout the season and are considered by some analysts to be on the fringe of the NCAA Tournament conversation. However, they enter the tournament on a two-game losing streak, having fallen to Georgia and Arkansas in their final regular-season games. The two teams met earlier this season on February 8, with Vanderbilt securing an 86-78 victory at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville. In that contest, the Commodores overcame a 10-point second-half deficit, largely due to their dominance on the offensive glass, securing 17 offensive rebounds. Both teams shot around 42% from the field, combining for 164 points despite the modest shooting percentages. Offensively, both teams have been productive, with Texas averaging 78.1 points per game and Vanderbilt 79.9 points per game. The Longhorns' reliance on mid-range shots and isolation plays, primarily through Johnson, has been a double-edged sword, leading to both high-scoring games and inconsistent offensive performances. I like Vandy in this matchup for Wednesday.

The Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners (14-18, 8-12 Big West) are set to face the UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) Gauchos (19-12, 11-9 Big West) in the first round of the Big West Conference Men's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The game will tip off at 9:00 p.m. EDT at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, Nevada. Cal State Bakersfield secured the eighth seed in the tournament after winning four of their last six games, including a 76-64 victory over Hawaii in their regular-season finale. The Roadrunners have averaged 74.0 points per game this season while allowing 73.7 points per game. UCSB enters the tournament as the fifth seed, aiming to achieve a 20-win season. The Gauchos have been efficient offensively, averaging 75.1 points per game and shooting 47.4% from the field, including a notable 39.4% from three-point range, ranking sixth nationally. Defensively, they have held opponents to 68.8 points per game. UCSB has dominated the recent head-to-head matchups, winning the last 11 encounters against Cal State Bakersfield. This season, the Gauchos secured two victories over the Roadrunners: a 78-66 win at home on January 10 and an 81-75 victory on the road on February 7. Cal State Bakersfield's defense has been a concern, allowing opponents to shoot 45.7% from the field and 34.7% from three-point range. This vulnerability could be exploited by UCSB, given their proficiency in shooting, particularly from beyond the arc. Additionally, the Roadrunners have struggled with discipline, sending opponents to the free-throw line frequently, which could be detrimental in a closely contested game. Take Cal Santa Barbara here on Wednesday.

The Quinnipiac Bobcats (19-12, 15-5 MAAC) are set to face the Rider Broncs (14-18, 10-11 MAAC) in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Tournament on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The game will tip off at 6:00 p.m. EDT at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Quinnipiac finished the regular season with a strong 15-5 conference record, securing a favorable seed in the MAAC Tournament. The Bobcats have been efficient offensively, averaging 73.8 points per game, and defensively, allowing 71.6 points per game. Rider concluded the regular season with a 10-11 conference record, positioning them as a lower seed in the tournament. The Broncs have shown resilience, particularly in recent games, and aim to capitalize on their momentum entering the postseason. The teams have met twice this season, with Quinnipiac emerging victorious in both encounters. On December 6, the Bobcats secured a 72-67 win on the road, and on January 25, they defended their home court with a 75-64 victory. I'll take the nice points here on Wednesday with Rider.

The Atlanta Hawks (31-34) currently hold the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They have shown resilience recently, securing three consecutive victories, all at their home venue, State Farm Arena. This winning streak has bolstered their postseason aspirations, placing them 8.5 games ahead of teams outside the play-in bracket. Conversely, the Charlotte Hornets (16-48) have faced challenges throughout the season, reflected in their position near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. However, they have demonstrated potential in their recent outings, achieving back-to-back wins against the Brooklyn Nets and Miami Heat, both by a score of 105-102. This marks only the third instance this season where the Hornets have secured consecutive victories. This season, the Hawks have won both encounters against the Hornets, with scores of 125-120 on October 25 and 107-104 on November 30. Over their last ten meetings, Charlotte holds a slight edge with a 6-4 record, but Atlanta has been more successful recently.  I look for a Hawks blowout here on Wednesday. Play Atlanta

The South Carolina Gamecocks (12-19, 2-16 SEC) are set to face the Arkansas Razorbacks (19-12, 8-10 SEC) in the opening round of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Men's Basketball Tournament on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The game will tip off at 1 p.m. ET at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.

South Carolina has endured a challenging season, securing only two conference victories, one of which was a notable 72-53 win over Arkansas on March 1. In that game, sophomore forward Collin Murray-Boyles delivered a standout performance, scoring a career-high 35 points. Despite this highlight, the Gamecocks have struggled overall, ranking last in the SEC in several offensive metrics, including effective field goal percentage (46.1%) and turnover rate (19.8%).

Arkansas, under the guidance of Coach John Calipari, has experienced an up-and-down season. The Razorbacks are currently on the NCAA Tournament bubble, making their performance in the SEC Tournament crucial. They have shown resilience, winning four of their last five games, with the sole loss being the aforementioned defeat to South Carolina. Notably, Arkansas has been effective defensively, ranking 17th nationally in adjusted defense according to KenPom.

The previous encounter between these teams saw Arkansas struggle offensively, shooting just 29% from the field and 3-for-22 from three-point range.

Lots more at stake for Arkansas here tonight. Plus they have revenge from that earlier loss to the Gamecocks. I'll take Arkansas.