Sports Handicapper Jim Feist's Picks & Predictions

The Purdue Boilermakers (15-4, 7-1 Big Ten) are set to host the Ohio State Buckeyes (10-8, 2-5 Big Ten) on Tuesday at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue enters the matchup on a seven-game winning streak, showcasing their dominance in the Big Ten. Their recent victories include a 65-58 win over Oregon on January 18 and a commanding 104-68 triumph against Nebraska on January 12. Ohio State, conversely, is aiming to halt a three-game losing streak, with all losses being narrow one-possession games. Trey Kaufman-Renn: Leading the team with an average of 17.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Braden Smith: Contributing 15.1 points and an impressive 8.9 assists per game. Ohio State Buckeyes: Bruce Thornton: Averaging 17.4 points and 4.2 assists per game. Devin Royal: Providing 13.8 points and 7.4 rebounds per game. Ohio State averages 80.1, while Purdue averages 77.2. Purdue allows 67.4, compared to Ohio State's 71.4. Purdue's home-court advantage at Mackey Arena and their current winning momentum position has me on their side here on Tuesday. Play Purdue. 

 The Iowa State Cyclones (15-2, 5-1 Big 12) are set to host the UCF Knights (12-5, 3-3 Big 12) on Tuesday at Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Iowa State is coming off a 64-57 loss to West Virginia on January 18, snapping a 12-game winning streak. Despite the setback, the Cyclones have demonstrated strong performances this season, including a notable 74-57 victory over Kansas on January 15. UCF, meanwhile, suffered a narrow 69-68 loss to Houston on January 18. The Knights have shown resilience, with a significant 95-89 win over Arizona State on January 14. Iowa State Cyclones: Curtis Jones: Leading the team with an average of 16.6 points per game, contributing significantly to the Cyclones' offense. Keshon Gilbert: Averaging 16.2 points and 4.7 assists per game, playing a pivotal role in both scoring and playmaking. UCF Knights: Tyem Freeman: Leading the Knights with consistent scoring and versatility on the court. Ithiel Horton: A key contributor in the backcourt, known for his shooting prowess. Iowa State averages 85.44 points, ranking 14th nationally. The Cyclones shoot 49.53%, placing them 16th in the nation. Iowa State allows 65.31 points, ranking 37th defensively. Iowa State's high-powered offense and home-court advantage make them a Major Mismatch here on Tuesday. Play Iowa State.

The Cincinnati Bearcats (12-5, 2-4 Big 12) are set to host the Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-4, 4-2 Big 12) on Tuesday at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati is coming off a 67-60 victory over Arizona State on January 18, marking their second consecutive win after defeating Colorado 68-62 on January 15. Prior to these victories, the Bearcats faced a challenging stretch with losses to Kansas, Baylor, and Arizona. Texas Tech secured a commanding 70-54 win against Arizona on January 18. The Red Raiders have demonstrated resilience, bouncing back from a narrow 85-84 overtime loss to Iowa State on January 11 with subsequent victories over Kansas State and Arizona. Cincinnati Bearcats: Dan Skillings Jr.: Leading the team with an average of 12.5 points per game, contributing significantly to the Bearcats' offense. Dillon Mitchell: Averaging 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, providing a strong presence in the paint. Texas Tech Red Raiders: JT Toppin: Leading the team with 16.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game, showcasing his versatility and dominance on the court. Darrion Williams: Averaging 15.6 points and 4.6 assists per game, playing a pivotal role in both scoring and playmaking. Texas Tech averages 83.1 points, ranking 24th nationally, while Cincinnati averages 72.4 points. Cincinnati allows 60.6 points, ranking 7th defensively, compared to Texas Tech's 65.4 points allowed. I like the Cincinnati defense to keep them in this game and give them a chance to win outright. Play Cincinnati.

The Louisville Cardinals (14-5, 7-1 ACC) are set to face the SMU Mustangs (14-4, 5-2 ACC) on Tuesday at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas. Louisville, under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey, has experienced a significant turnaround from their 8-24 record last season. The Cardinals are currently on an eight-game winning streak, with notable victories over Virginia (70-50) and Syracuse (85-61). SMU has also shown strong performance this season, holding a 14-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark in ACC play. The Mustangs recently secured a 54-52 win over Virginia, demonstrating their ability to compete in close games. Louisville Cardinals: Chucky Hepburn: Leading the team with an average of 15.2 points and 4.8 assists per game, Hepburn is a dynamic guard who contributes significantly on both ends of the floor. J'Vonne Hadley: Averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, Hadley provides a strong presence in the paint, aiding the Cardinals in controlling the boards. SMU Mustangs: Kevin Miller: Leading the Mustangs with 14.4 points and 5.7 assists per game, Miller is a key playmaker who drives the team's offensive efforts. Matt Cross: Averaging 8.6 rebounds per game, Cross is instrumental in securing possessions and providing second-chance opportunities for SMU. Louisville averages 76.9 points, while SMU averages 84.7 points, indicating a high-scoring offense for the Mustangs. This matchup features two teams experiencing successful seasons and looking to strengthen their positions within the ACC. Louisville's recent winning streak and defensive capabilities are the difference for me in this matchup. I'll take the road dog here today. Play Louisville.

 The Orlando Magic (23-21) are set to face the Toronto Raptors (10-32) on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The Magic are in the midst of a three game losing streak, including their last game at home to Denver, 100-113 where Denver's Nikola Jokic secured his 18th triple-double of the season. Prior to this, Orlando faced a challenging game against the Boston Celtics, resulting in a 121-94 defeat. The Raptors have been struggling this season, holding a 10-32 record. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games but have won two of their last three games. Their recent performance includes a 112-130 loss to the Bucks. Orlando has been dealing with significant injuries: Paolo Banchero: Sidelined indefinitely due to a torn right abdominal oblique muscle sustained in November. Franz Wagner: Out for at least four weeks with a right abdominal muscle tear suffered in December. Mo Wagner: Out for the season after tearing his ACL in December. Jalen Suggs: Suffered back spasms during the January 3 game against the Raptors; his status for the upcoming game is uncertain. The Raptors have also faced health challenges but are working towards full strength. RJ Barrett, who missed recent games due to illness, was listed as questionable ahead of their last meeting with the Magic. The Magic laying points here on the road against a Toronto team that has beat Boston and Golden State in their last two games is enough for me. Take Toronto.