Wise n' Shine: College basketball picks, NBA predictions and NHL best bets for Saturday, February 25

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Caleb Wilfinger

NBA

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Deputy Editor for Pickswise with years of experience handicapping and giving out winning picks. Lover of all US sports and Southampton FC.

Good morning, Pickswise Nation and welcome to a wonderful Saturday of sports. Another massive college basketball Saturday is on the menu and we have NHL, NBA, soccer and XFL action to entertain us, as well. Let’s get straight to making your next bet better!

About Last Night

NBA mega parlay cashes at +1243
With college basketball gearing up for a massive Saturday, the NBA took the reins on the hardwood on Friday. There were a number of competitive games throughout the evening, including a furious Knicks comeback to beat the Wizards and a terrific offensive showing from the Hawks in a win over the Cavaliers. Our NBA mega parlay was a +1243 winner.

Defending champions show out on the ice
Friday’s NHL slate was punctuated by a dominant showing by the Colorado Avalanche, as the defending Stanley Cup Champions went into Winnipeg and crushed the Jets by a 5-1 scoreline for their 4th straight win. The Western Conference standings are extremely tight at the moment, with 9 teams separated by just 9 points across both divisions. Our NHL handicapping team is 12-5 over their last 17 NHL side and total predictions, so be sure to grab today’s NHL picks.

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Today’s Slate

College hoops takes center stage
As Selection Sunday draws closer, each Saturday college basketball slate becomes even more fascinating. Saturday’s action features compelling matchups throughout the day, including Texas vs Baylor, Indiana vs Purdue, Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga, and more! Check out today’s NCAAB picks.

Fun day in the NBA
Saturday is another interesting night in the Association, as we have multiple matchups featuring playoff caliber teams. The marquee matchups take place at night, with the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies squaring off at 8pm ET, and the Boston Celtics visiting the Philadelphia 76ers at 8:30 pm ET on ABC. Check out today’s NBA picks.

Compelling NHL slate
The NHL has 11 Saturday games, with the New York Rangers vs Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning and Detroit Red Wings as the main highlights, while the Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche is the marquee late-night matchup at 10pm ET. Check out today’s NHL picks.

XFL Week 2 continues
Hungry for more football? The 2023 XFL season continues on Saturday and we have XFL predictions for all of the action.

There’s soccer, too
In addition to the college basketball, NBA, XFL and NHL action, we also have soccer predictions for today’s jam-packed EPL slate and opening day of the 2023 MLS season.

Best Bet of the Day

NCAAB: Gonzaga Bulldogs -4.5 (-110) over Saint Mary’s Gaels
10:00 pm ET, ESPN

Since the last time they met, these teams have been trending in different directions. On one hand, Gonzaga is in the midst of a torrid stretch offensively, averaging nearly 96 points per game over their last 4 contests. This is now the most efficient offense in the country per KenPom, and I expect the stellar play of Drew Timme, Julian Strawther and company to continue on Saturday. On the other side, the Gaels’ offense has been quite inconsistent against mostly awful defenses, which doesn’t bode well in a hostile road environment that could speed the game up. The Zags should be able to dictate the pace and game flow more at the Kennel, where Gonzaga has owned this rivalry historically. Given that the Zags have the best unit on the floor and they’ll be itching to exact revenge and even the race for the WCC title, I have no issue laying the points here. Read our full Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga predictions.

The Saint Mary’s vs Gonzaga game is available to bet on at DraftKings Sportsbook, where new customers can bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets if your team wins. Click this link to take advantage of this great offer. 

Must-read

Our college basketball predictions are a must-read before diving into Saturday’s massive slate, along with our college basketball mega parlay. We also have a Saturday EPL soccer parlay, and our MLS season preview for the incoming season.

The 2023 XFL campaign continues on Saturday, and we have XFL predictions, plus a mega parlay for the weekend’s action. Looking ahead to Sunday, we have Auto Club 400 picks and best bets for the big NASCAR race of the weekend.

You can read all of our great sports analysis as it arrives throughout the day on the Analysis tab.

Stat of the Day

Baylor has not lost at home since January 7. The Bears host Texas in a massive Big 12 showdown on Saturday.

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Pickswise is the home of free sports picks, news and best bets. Check out our expert NFL Picks, NBA Picks, MLB Picks and NHL Picks pages for our latest game picks.

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