As I released my futures from last week, it’s now time to win some cash on a few games. We learned a little bit as we just finished up the first week of the 2020-21 season. However, will learn a lot more about four AP Top 25 teams in the country on Tuesday night. That will be at The State Farm Champions Classic. The matchups switch between Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State and Kansas. We have, as always, two very intriguing matchups between four Hall of Fame coaches. When the four blue bloods meet up you know the college hoops season is officially underway. I know it’s early, but for any of these teams it’s a great win to put on their resume. This year we get the pleasure of watching Tom Izzo and the Spartans face off against Coach K and the Blue Devils for the early game. The late slate is a match up between Bill Self and the Jayhawks against John Calipari and the Wildcats. Get your popcorn ready and let’s fill your pockets with my first edition of Hoops Picks.

Michigan State (+3.5) versus Duke

The #13 Michigan State Spartans look to take on the #9 Duke Blue Devils. The Spartans are 2-0 in the season defeating Eastern Michigan and Notre Dame.

Michigan State

Michigan State looked especially good in their win against Mike Brey’s Fighting Irish. With Michigan State losing their two best players in Cassius Winston and Xavier Tillman to the draft, the Spartans need people to step up both offensively and defensively to fill these massive gaps. However, these gaps won’t be filled by just two individuals. This will have to come as a team effort. That will be just fine, as Izzo has a very deep roster with nine guys that make an impact. Michigan State is averaging 26.5 assists per game, which means the ball movement has been outstanding. They will need graduate guard, Josh Langford, who has had season ending injuries the last two years, and the redshirt junior transfer from Marquette, forward Joey Hauser, to step up in big spots if they look to upset the Blue Devils.

Duke

Coach K and his Blue Devils come into the season not being at the top of the conversation for a National Championship. Duke has more upper classmen in their lineup than years prior, starting only one freshmen in their opener against Coppin State. The freshman who did start put on an absolute clinic. That freshman is 6’9” forward Jalen Johnson. He put up 19 points, 19 rebounds, 5 assists and didn’t miss a field goal going 8-8 from the field. But he wasn’t even the leading scorer. DJ Steward, the 6’2” freshman that came off the bench, shot 10-18 from the field and 4-9 from downtown for 24 points and 9 rebounds. By the looks of the first game, Duke is going to go as far as these freshman take them. The vets on their team are no real stars, but can make a huge impact with leadership and the defensive side of the floor.

Hoops Pick: Michigan State +3.5

Although Coach K has had Izzo’s number in the past by going 11-2 against him in his career, I love the depth and team basketball from the Spartans. I think Duke has the better talent with Johnson and Steward but it’s too early for them to take over in such a big game like this. For this Hoops Pick, take the Spartans and the points.

Kansas (-0.5) versus Kentucky

The second matchup of the Champions Classic is Bill Self and the #7 Kansas Jayhawks facing off against John Calipari and the #20 Kentucky Wildcats.

Kansas

Bill Self and the Jayhawks have started off the 2020-21 campaign 1-1 with a loss to the #1 team in the country, the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Kansas didn’t look too impressive side of the ball letting up 102 and 72 point in their two games this season. The positive is that they have reached 90 points in both games. It seems they have already picked up the slack on the offensive side of the ball after departures from guard Devon Dotson and center Udoka Azubuike. Senior Marcus Garrett (13.5 PPG), junior Ochai Agbaji (17.5 PPG) and sophomore Christian Braun (19 PPG) is who the Jayhawks will need to rely on this season if they are going to beat the Wildcats on Tuesday. We know they can score but will they be able to defend the Wildcats?

Kentucky

The Wildcats has also gotten into themselves into a 1-1 start to the season but not in the same fashion as Kansas. Kentucky looked dominant in their 36-point win against Morehead State. They looked the exact opposite on Sunday night. On their home floor, the Wildcats lost by 12 to the unranked Richmond Spiders. Down four, Richmond outscored Kentucky by 16 in the second half. This is not what Calipari was hoping for going into the Champions Classic at all. As always, Coach Cal and the Wildcats are one of the youngest teams in college basketball. Even though they have a young team, they enter the season with the top recruiting class of 2020. Brandon Boston Jr., the fifth best player in the class has been the leading scorer so far averaging 17.5 points per game. The eighth best player in the class, Terrence Clarke, is averaging 13.5 points per game. After that, there’s no other freshman that is averaging more than 7.5 points per game. If the Wildcats are going to win this game, this freshman class is going to have to grow. They don’t have enough time to grow for this matchup.

Hoops Pick: Kansas -0.5

For this Hoops Pick, I’m going to go with the the experience of Kansas. I don’t think there’s enough time for Kentucky to rebound after that embarrassing loss to Richmond. Get the Jayhawks before the line keeps moving up.

The odds are via Draft Kings and are subject to change.

You can see more picks and College Basketball coverage, follow me @kscott3392 on twitter and visit Belly Up Fantasy Sports.