The Los Angeles Clippers (28-23) will host the Utah Jazz (12-38) on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The Clippers, currently sitting seventh in the Western Conference, are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Despite their recent struggles, they have been strong at home, holding a 17-10 record. Their defense has been a major strength, allowing just 107.7 points per game, ranking third in the NBA.

Offensively, Norman Powell leads the team with 23.9 points per game, while James Harden adds 21.3 points and 8.4 assists per contest.

Utah, meanwhile, has struggled all season, sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. They’ve had a rough time on the road, posting a 7-20 away record. The Jazz average 111.6 points per game, but their defensive woes are glaring, allowing 118.6 points per contest, ranking 27th in the NBA. Lauri Markkanen leads the team with 19.3 points and 6.2 rebounds per game.

The Clippers are looking to bounce back after a 119-112 loss to the Indiana Pacers, where they squandered a 22-point lead. Harden and Powell each scored 22 points in the defeat.

Utah is coming off a 135-127 overtime loss to the Phoenix Suns, where John Collins led with 21 points and Lauri Markkanen added 20. The Jazz showed resilience, overcoming an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit before falling in overtime.

This is a tough situational spot for Utah, playing the second night of a back-to-back after an overtime game and having to travel. That’s a tall task for any team, making this a prime spot for the Clippers to take advantage. Play Los Angeles.

The upcoming Big East showdown between the No. 11 Marquette Golden Eagles and the Creighton Bluejays on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at CHI Health Center Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Marquette Golden Eagles (18-5, 9-3 Big East): Marquette enters this game looking to rebound from a two-game losing streak, with recent losses to UConn and St. John's. Despite these setbacks, the Golden Eagles maintain a strong season record, averaging 78.1 points per game while allowing 67.5 points per game. Their offense is spearheaded by guard Kam Jones, who leads the team with 18.8 points and 6.0 assists per game. Forward David Joplin contributes 14.1 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds per game. Marquette's defense is notable for its ability to generate turnovers, averaging 10.2 steals per game, which ties them for first in the nation. Creighton Bluejays (17-6, 10-2 Big East): Creighton is riding an impressive eight-game winning streak, recently securing an 80-69 victory over Providence. The Bluejays average 75.6 points per game and allow 68.3 points per game. Center Ryan Kalkbrenner leads the team with 19.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game, showcasing his dominance in the paint. Guard Steven Ashworth adds 16.6 points and 6.8 assists per game, providing a strong perimeter presence. Creighton's defense has been particularly effective, ranking 27th in defensive efficiency nationally. In their prior encounter on January 3, 2025, Marquette emerged victorious with a 79-71 win over Creighton. In that game, Creighton struggled with shooting, hitting only 22% from three-point range (7-of-31). Despite the loss, the Bluejays managed to keep the game competitive, indicating potential adjustments for the upcoming rematch.  A pivotal aspect of this game will be the battle between Marquette's defense and Creighton's offense. I'll be on the home team here today. Take Marquette. 

The No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide (19-3, 8-1 SEC) will take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (14-8, 3-6 SEC) on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with the game set to air on ESPN.

Alabama enters this matchup on a five-game winning streak, including key victories over LSU (80-73), No. 14 Mississippi State (88-84), and Georgia (90-69). The Crimson Tide lead the nation in scoring, averaging 90.2 points per game, and rank second nationally in rebounding with 40.9 boards per game. However, their high-powered offense is offset by a defense that allows 78.3 points per game, ranking 330th in the country.

Arkansas has turned a corner after a tough start to SEC play, securing back-to-back road wins against No. 12 Kentucky (89-79) and Texas (78-70). The Razorbacks average 76.8 points per game with a +8.1 scoring differential, showing improvement and gaining momentum as the season progresses.

Key Players to Watch for Alabama are Mark Sears – The senior guard led the team with 20 points and 6 assists in the win over Georgia and continues to be a key factor in Alabama’s offensive success.

Arkansas has Johnell Davis – A transfer from Florida Atlantic’s 2023 Final Four squad, Davis has been on fire, averaging 20.0 points per game over his last three outings, giving the Razorbacks a major boost offensively.

The Alabama Offense: Leads the nation with 90.2 PPG and their rebouding is 40.9 RPG (2nd nationally). 

The Arkansas Offense: 76.8 PPG, gaining momentum while the Arkansas Defense is showing improvement after key road wins. 

This SEC showdown presents a clash of styles, with Alabama’s elite offense and rebounding against an improving Arkansas squad that has found its rhythm. Playing at home, Arkansas is in a great spot to keep this game competitive. I’ll take the points with the Razorbacks, and an outright upset wouldn’t be shocking. Play Arkansas.

The San Antonio Spurs (22-27) travel to face the Orlando Magic (25-28) on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.

San Antonio enters this matchup coming off a tough 117-116 road loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, marking their fifth loss in seven games. Currently sitting 12th in the Western Conference, they are two games behind Sacramento for the final play-in tournament spot. A major concern for the Spurs is their struggles in back-to-back situations, where they hold a 2-5 record—and having to travel for this game only makes things tougher.

Orlando, meanwhile, just wrapped up a six-game road trip, closing it out with a 112-90 loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday. The Magic went 1-5 on that trip, but they return home, where they’ve been much stronger, holding a 15-9 record at the Kia Center. They currently sit 8th in the Eastern Conference, just 1.5 games behind Detroit for the final guaranteed playoff spot.

Victor Wembanyama, the rookie phenom,  leads the team with 24.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks per game, making an impact on both ends of the floor. Newly acquired De’Aaron Fox has been a game-changer, averaging 23 points, 9.5 rebounds, and two three-pointers per game since joining the team. Orlando Magic are led by Franz Wagner, the team’s top scorer, averaging 24.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. 

Team Breakdowns: 

San Antonio Offense: 15th in the NBA, averaging 112.8 PPG on 45.9% FG and 35% 3PT.

San Antonio Defense: Allows 114.3 PPG (19th in the NBA).

San Antonio Rebounding: 7th in the league with 45.5 RPG.

Orlando Offense: Ranks last in the NBA, averaging 103.8 PPG on 43.8% FG and 30.3% 3PT.

Orlando Defense: 2nd-best in the NBA, allowing just 105.6 PPG.

Orlando Rebounding: Struggles on the glass, ranking 28th with 41.5 RPG.

San Antonio has been inconsistent and struggles in back-to-back situations, making this a tough spot for the Spurs. With Orlando returning home after a long road trip, this looks like a great opportunity for the Magic to take care of business. Play Orlando.

The Michigan State Spartans (18-4, 9-2 Big Ten) return home to host the Oregon Ducks (16-7, 5-7 Big Ten) on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at the Jack Breslin Student Events Center in East Lansing, Michigan.

Michigan State is coming off a tough West Coast road trip, where they suffered narrow losses to USC (70-64) and UCLA (63-61). However, they remain unbeaten at home (11-0) this season, proving their dominance at the Breslin Center. Their defense has been particularly strong at home, holding opponents to just 65 points per game.

Oregon, on the other hand, is in the middle of a rough stretch, dropping four straight games and five of their last six. Their most recent 80-76 loss to Michigan exposed their defensive struggles and inability to close out tight games. During this losing streak, the Ducks have been held to 76 points or fewer in each defeat, highlighting their offensive inconsistency.

Michigan State: Jaden Akins: Leads the team with 13.5 points per game and is key to setting the offensive pace.

Jaxon Kohler: A dominant force on the glass, averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, which will be crucial against Oregon: Nathan Bittle: The Ducks’ top scorer, averaging 12.7 points and 7.2 rebounds per game.

Jackson Shelstad: Adds 12.5 points and 2.7 assists per game, providing additional offensive support.

Michigan State’s rebounding dominance and defensive strength make them the clear choice at home, where they’ve been unstoppable all season. Take Michigan State to stay perfect at home and cover the spread.