Free Pick | NCAA | Sunday | Feb. 8

Nelly’s won our 2/3 in basketball yesterday and we are 7-4 in February! Check out a daytime pick on the hardwood and don’t miss our final pick of a very successful 2026-27 football season, riding a 13-4 football run into the Super Bowl!

#844 Penn State +3.5 over USC 11:00 AM CT

The addition of Alijah Arenas has provided renewed interest in USC as a March sleeper, but the Trojans are just 3-2 in his games with just one road win being a fortunate two-point finish at Wisconsin. Arenas had 29 on Tuesday but USC has played almost exclusively close games in Big Ten play with nine of 12 results in either direction decided by eight or fewer points. This is an early start road game and USC’s Big Ten road wins outside the west coast have come by one-point in overtime and by two points. Penn State was blown out on Thursday at Michigan, but the Nittany Lions played the Wolverines within two points at home in January. Penn State beat Minnesota in its last home game and competed well in home games with Michigan State, Illinois, and UCLA. The roster has been beaten up with Iven Juric and Eli Rice missing recent games, but Penn State does take good care of the ball and can score effectively inside and at the line. The defense for Penn State grades near the bottom of the Big Ten but USC ranks 16th in offensive efficiency and is the worst 3-point shooting team in the conference at below 28 percent. Penn State has been nearly nine percent better at the free throw line and turnovers and foul shooting could swing this game to the host for a minor upset threat.