Free Pick | Saturday | NCAA | Dec. 20

Nelly’s has turned in eight consecutive winning college basketball seasons.

We’re hitting 65% in our last 20 picks this season and we’ve won every 2/3 offer we’ve put out so far this basketball season.

#658 Washington State -5.5 over Mercer 4 PM CT

Mercer has the better record between these teams with a 7-4 start, but the Bears are 2-4 S/U in road games and are facing a third straight road game in the past week after losses at Clemson and UCF. While those games remained in the southeast, this is a long trip to Pullman after losing by 18 at UCF on Wednesday. The Bears have a week off after this game and this group has marginal shooting results on the season. Mercer plays at a fast tempo but has virtually no bench and will be at a size disadvantage in this game. Washington State is only 4-8 but the Cougars have played only five home games and have faced a top 60 schedule nationally. Most losses have been competitive games vs. quality teams through a significant travel burden. This is a more favorable home opportunity just ahead of the WCC schedule that Washington State will start next week. Washington State has solid shooting numbers at every level, and this was a competitive 19-win team last season. All three Division I wins for the Cougars have come by 10 or more points and the past seven losses for Washington State have all come against top 125 teams. Mercer is 7-2 ATS this season but this looks like a difficult scheduling spot for a road game with a long trip west.