There are six teams that have set themselves apart as elite contenders in the 2019-20 men’s college basketball season. Baylor, Kansas, Gonzaga and San Diego State look like the 1-seeds in the four regions of the March Madness bracket, but Duke and Dayton are right behind them, waiting for one of them to slip up. Maryland is coming on too, winners of eight in a row after they took down Michigan State on the road Saturday night to lead the Big Ten with three weeks left in the regular season. Maryland is just 14-14 in February over the last four seasons, so keep an eye on their consistency down the stretch. Penn State is another intriguing Big Ten teams, also on an eight-game winning streak and pushing Maryland hard for the regular season title. They beat Maryland on December 10, so they would hold the tiebreaker advantage, and the teams only play once this year. Are you considering wagering on college hoops this week? Then don’t miss our top two College Basketball betting picks.
Top College Basketball Betting Picks of the Week February 17th Edition
Tuesday, February 18
#22 Illinois at #13 Penn State (6:30 pm ET, FS1)
The Fighting Illini looked like solid Big Ten contenders, and then it looks like reality may have struck, as they have dropped four in a row in Big Ten play. They have fallen to Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State and Rutgers. The first three losses were nothing to be ashamed of, as they came against contenders, but losing at unranked Rutgers hurts. In that game on Sunday, Rutgers kept their perfect home record, rolling over Illinois by 15. The Illini did not have top scorer Ayo Dosunmu, who hurt his knee in the loss to Michigan State, and despite triple figures from three players, Illinois only shot 26 percent in the second half. That won’t work against Penn State.
The Nittany Lions have that eight-game winning streak, most recently knocking off Northwestern at home, 77-61 on Saturday. Lamar Stevens led Penn State with 23 points. Myles Dread added 16, and Mike Watkins and Jamari Wheeler each chipped in 11. Penn State led for almost 34 of the 40 minutes of the game, and they have 20 wins faster than any other team in the history of the program. Wheeler now ranks third in the Big Ten in steals and is a big factor in the Nittany Lions’ transition game.
Final Score Prediction: Penn State 70, Illinois 66
Wednesday, February 19
#19 Butler at #10 Seton Hall (6:30 pm ET, FS1)
Butler has split their last six games, following up a win over Xavier with a home loss to Georgetown on Saturday. Georgetown picked up the win despite missing their two top scorers, Omer Yurtseven and Mac McClung. Kamar Baldwin led Butler, scoring 17 points, and Jordan Tucker had 16, 12 coming on three-balls in the first half. Butler did have the lead at a couple of points in the second half but could not hold off the Hoyas. They were missing point guard Aaron Thompson and could not get stops when they needed them.
Next up is a trip to Seton Hall, who lost at home to Creighton and at Providence last week. In that setback against the Friars, Seton Hall had no answer for Alpha Diallo, who scored a career high 35 points. Myles Powell did put up 27 points, and Quincy McKnight chipped in 14 despite shooting just 1 for 8 from the field. The two losses this week were the first this season in Big East play for the Pirates. Providence ran out to a 20-2 lead to start the game, and Seton Hall got within 14 at halftime and only lost by three, but they simply could not dig themselves out of that huge hole. The Pirates must find a way to turn things around against a Georgetown team that is fighting its way to victories without their best shooters.
Final Score Prediction: Seton Hall 77, Georgetown 73
