Jim Feist Handicapper Review & Free Sports Picks

On Saturday, December 7, 2024, the Boston College Eagles (6-3) will face the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (7-3) at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, marking the commencement of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play for both teams. The Eagles are seeking to rebound from a 73-51 home loss to South Carolina, where they struggled offensively, shooting 33.3% from the field and 12.5% (2-for-16) from beyond the arc. Similarly, the Demon Deacons aim to recover from a 57-44 defeat at No. 22 Texas A&M, a game in which they shot 28.3% from the field and managed only 18 points in the second half. Boston College is led by guard Donald Hand Jr. with an average of 13.7 points per game, Hand Jr. is pivotal to the Eagles' offensive efforts. Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis is the team's leading scorer, averaging 17 points per game, Sallis contributed 19 points in the recent loss to Texas A&M. Boston College averages 70.3 ppg and 43.3 rebounds per games. Meanwhile, Wake Forest averages just 66.9 ppg and 37.9 boards. In their sole meeting last season, Wake Forest emerged victorious with an 84-78 win at Boston College. Hunter Sallis and Cameron Hildreth combined for 39 points in that game. BC looks the better team thus far and getting this many points today is hard to pass up. Take Boston College.

 The Ohio State Buckeyes (5-3, 0-1 Big Ten) are set to host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (5-3, 0-0 Big Ten) on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio, with tip-off at 12:00 PM ET. Ohio State is under first-year head coach Jake Diebler, the Buckeyes have averaged 82.5 points per game while allowing 66.2 points per game, resulting in a +16.2 scoring margin. The Scarlet Knights, led by head coach Steve Pikiell, have showcased a balanced attack, with key contributions from freshmen Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. Ohio State is led by guard Bruce Thornton who is averaging 15.5 points and 5.8 assists per game. The Scarlet Knights are led by forward Devin Royal who is leading the team with 7.6 rebounds per game, Royal also contributes 12.3 points per game. Ohio State: The Buckeyes are looking to rebound from an 83-59 loss to Maryland, aiming to improve their conference record. The Scarlet Knights seek to bounce back after a narrow 81-77 defeat to Texas A&M, focusing on tightening their defense. Ohio State averages 82.5 points per game, while Rutgers' scoring average is slightly lower. Ohio State averages 34.1 rebounds per game, with Devin Royal leading at 7.6 rebounds per game. In their last meeting on January 3, 2024, Ohio State edged out Rutgers with a 76-72 victory. This matchup marks the beginning of Big Ten play for both teams. Ohio State aims to leverage its home-court advantage and offensive depth here today. Lay the points with Ohio State.

 The Nevada Wolf Pack (6-2) are set to face the Loyola Marymount Lions (3-4) on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Gersten Pavilion in Los Angeles, California, with tip-off scheduled for 9:00 PM EST. The Wolf Pack have demonstrated a strong start to the season, averaging 86.6 points per game while allowing 65.4 points per game, resulting in a +21.2 scoring margin. They have been effective on the boards, averaging 23.1 defensive rebounds per game, with forward Nick Davidson leading the team at 6.0 rebounds per game. The Lions have faced challenges early in the season, averaging 80 points per game and conceding 68.4 points per game, leading to a +11.6 scoring margin. They have been proficient from beyond the arc, averaging 8.4 made three-pointers per game, which could be a critical factor against Nevada's perimeter defense. Nevada is led by guard Kobe Sanders, averaging 16.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, Sanders is a pivotal component of Nevada's offensive strategy. Loyola Marymount's Will Johnston (Guard) is leading the team with 14.9 points per game and averaging 2.9 rebounds, Johnston is a key playmaker for the Lions. Nevada averages 86.6 points per game, while Loyola Marymount averages 80 points per game. In their last meeting on December 2, 2023, Nevada secured a 73-59 victory over Loyola Marymount, with Jarod Lucas leading the Wolf Pack with 20 points. Nevada aims to continue its strong start by leveraging its offensive depth and rebounding prowess. Nevada has too much for this Loyola squad, especially on defense. I'll lay the points late on Saturday with Nevada.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship Game on Saturday features the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Bulldogs enter the championship with a 10-2 overall record and a 7-1 mark in SEC play, securing their spot after a narrow 44-42 victory over Georgia Tech. Boasting an 11-1 overall record and a 7-1 conference record, Texas clinched their championship berth with a 17-7 win over Texas A&M. The Bulldogs have shown resilience, with their defense contributing significantly to their success. Under head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Longhorns have demonstrated a balanced offensive attack, finishing the regular season strong. This matchup marks the second meeting between Georgia and Texas this season. In their previous encounter on October 19, 2024, Georgia defeated Texas 30-15. Clemson QB Carson Beck in the previous matchup against Texas, Beck completed 36 of 48 passes for 459 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. His 36 completions tied a school record. Texas QB Quinn Ewers completed 17 of 28 passes for 218 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the win over Texas A&M. I'm taking Georgia here on Saturday to win the SEC Championship. Take Georgia.

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship Game on Saturday features the No. 7 SMU Mustangs against the No. 17 Clemson Tigers at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. In their inaugural ACC season, SMU boasts an 11-1 overall record and a perfect 8-0 conference record, securing the top spot in the ACC. Clemson holds a 9-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in ACC play, finishing second in the conference standings. The Mustangs have demonstrated offensive prowess throughout the season, averaging 39.3 points per game. The Tigers have showcased a balanced attack, averaging 37.6 points per game, with a defense allowing 22 points per game. SMU RB Brashard Smith has been a dynamic force in SMU's backfield, contributing significantly to their ground game. This matchup marks the first meeting between SMU and Clemson, setting the stage for an intriguing contest. I like Clemson to prevail here on Saturday and take the ACC Championship.

The Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday, December 7, 2024, features the No. 16 Iowa State Cyclones against the No. 12 Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Cyclones enter the championship with a 10-2 overall record and a 7-2 mark in Big 12 play, securing their spot in the title game after a 29-21 victory over Kansas State. The Sun Devils boast a 10-2 overall record and a 7-2 conference record, clinching their championship berth earlier in the day. Iowa State is led by their stout defense. Arizona State is under second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham, the Sun Devils have exceeded expectations, finishing the regular season strong despite being picked last in the Big 12 preseason poll. The Cyclones' defense has been formidable, ranking among the top 20 nationally with a +9 turnover margin. ASU QB Sam Leavitt has been efficient, throwing 21 touchdown passes against five interceptions. Running back Cam Skattebo has been a dual threat, contributing significantly in both rushing and receiving yards. I believe they have the wrong favorite here today. Iowa State should be favored and as such I'm taking them here to win outright. Play Iowa State

The Big Ten Championship Game on Saturday, December 7, 2024, features the No. 3 Penn State Nittany Lions against the No. 1 Oregon Ducks at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Oregon is undefeated with a 12-0 overall record and 9-0 in Big Ten play, Oregon leads the conference. Penn State is 11-1 overall record and 8-1 in conference games, Penn State ranks second in the Big Ten. The Ducks concluded the regular season with a decisive 49-21 victory over Washington, showcasing their offensive strength. The Nittany Lions secured their championship berth following a pivotal loss by Ohio State, positioning them for their first Big Ten title game appearance since 2016. This marks the fifth meeting between the programs, with Penn State leading the series 3-1. Their last encounter was in the 1995 Rose Bowl, where Penn State triumphed 38-20 to complete a perfect season. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, a Heisman Trophy candidate, has been instrumental in Oregon's offensive success this season. You can make a case here on paper for either of these teams. However, Oregon has yet to lose and with them laying just 3 1/2 points on Saturday they are hard to pass on. Oregon is the complete team and I expect them to prove it again here on Saturday with their first Big 10 Championship.