The first Tuesday of the 2026-2027 basketball season delivered a few exciting games, including one upset.  South Dakota State went to Manhattan, Kansas, and beat the rebuilding Kansas State Wildcats. Kansas State is not going to be very good this year.  South Dakota State becomes the second lower-major to beat a power conference school this year, joining East Texas A&M, which beat Oklahoma on opening night.

It is another very light day of games on Wednesday night, as only three power conference teams play and none of them play anyone that will provide an upset.  Opening-week games leave a lot to be desired, but be patient; the excellent games are coming this weekend.  After three days of college basketball, the picks record stands at 113-23. Picks for Day 4, November 4th, 2026 are below.

High Point over Eastern Shore

Saint Joseph’s over Longwood

Butler over FDU

Wichita State over Northridge

Northern Kentucky over South Dakota

Auburn over Southeastern Louisiana

California over Radford

Queens over LMU

Santa Clara over Milwaukee

Saint Mary’s over North Dakota State

The light slate has two excellent mid-major games.  Northern Kentucky and South Dakota will be one to watch.  The Norse have two guards in Eric Acker and Willie Foster.  Those two players make up one of the best backcourts in the Horizon League, and Foster will play for a Blue Blood next year. The Norse have an all-conference big man in Noah Pagotto, who makes life much easier for his two guards.  

Queens and LMU is another game that will be very intriguing for college basketball sickos.  If you don’t know the name Jordan Watford, the star for Queens, learn about him. He is a star, will be the Atlantic Sun Player of the Year, and will play in a Power Five conference next season.  Enjoy the hoops.