John Fredericks Quick Picks for Nov. 30, 2023
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Read below for more John Fredericks Quick Picks for Nov. 30, 2023.
College Hoops
South Alabama (+2) Jacksonville State
I can’t believe I’m getting points with South Alabama tonight at Jacksonville State.
The Sun Belt Conference plays very competitive basketball while Jacksonville State plays in a very weak and depleted Conference USA.
Conference USA is now down to just eight teams, and Jacksonville State is not even in their top tier.
Get this: Jacksonville State has three wins this season, with one of them coming against an NAIA school. Seriously? They did beat two D-1 teams – Incarnate Word in O.T. by one point at home and a terrible Texas-San Antonio squad. Yikes!
Meanwhile the South Alabama returned four of five starters off a 19-13 season. I like the Jags because they operate with “four on the floor” – a four guard offense that runs their opponents ragged. They are small and fast and they can shoot. They put up a boatload of shots. Not much size, not a lot of rebounds, but a lot of open three-balls.
Pick: South Alabama (+2)
U.C. Davis at Oregon State (-2.5)
Dear U.C. Davis: Welcome to PAC-12 college basketball.
The Beavers have the best player on the court tonight: Jordan Pope. O-State needs to win this game for some big-MO going into conference play. I play good conferences over weaker conferences (see above).
Pick: Oregon State (-2.5)
NFL
Seattle at Dallas (-8.5)
Is it the playoffs yet? Nope, so Dallas won’t choke. Are the Cowboys at home? Yes, they dominate there. Are the Cowboys playing a good team (they lose to good teams) – No, the Seahawks are banged up.
Look, Seattle got crushed on Thanksgiving night at home by the ‘Niners.
They are really banged up right now, and Geno Smith did not look comfortable or anywhere near healthy.
This current Cowboys team rocks at home and I look for another blow-out tonight.
Another stinker game like Arizona and the ‘Boys naysayers will be out in droves.
Maybe Seattle isn’t really that good? They looked pitiful against San Francisco.
Either way, lay the wood and watch Dak go crazy on TNF. The Cowboys are having fun, and it shows. I’ll be watching woke Coach Pete Carroll chomping on a lot of gum as he paces the sidelines.
Pick: Dallas -8.5
NHL
Sabres at Blues (-120)
I don’t know anything about hockey. I went to two games in my life, I never played it and I don’t even skate. But I bet the Rangers Monday night (and lost) because I saw them play the Penguins (second game I ever saw) and boy they looked great.
Then they get blown out at home by Buffalo, 5-1. So whatever the sport, I’m thinking letdown for the Sabres. I don’t see them winning two tough road games in a row.
Like baseball, letdowns after big wins are a real thing. So I’ll take a shot with Blues.