NCAA Basketball Lines for Best Games in the Week 18

2024 Top College Basketball Betting Analysis | NCAAB Week 17

It’s been just over a week since St. John’s basketball coach Rick Pitino lambasted his team for a lack of effort, physicality and even talent. The Red Storm had blown sizable leads in multiple Big East games, and Pitino had had enough. His players responded on Sunday by stopping then-#15 Creighton at Madsion Square Garden, 80-66. Daniss Jenkins led the Red Storm with a season-best 27 points, and Jordan Dingle chipped in 18. The team made all 10 of its free throws and dished out 24 assists while only turning the ball over three times. Their perimeter defense smothered the Bluejays, allowing only a 23% three-point shooting percentage. Pitino responded after the game: “I think we learned a lot tonight, what great basketball looks like.” Going into the week, let’s break down a couple of solid sports betting picks from college basketball.

Miami (FL) Hurricanes at #10 North Carolina Tar Heels

When: Monday, February 26 at 7:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: ESPN

The Miami Hurricanes (15-13, 6-11 ACC) have struggled this season, but they still have a chance at the spoiler role when they play North Carolina (21-6, 13-3 ACC) on Monday night. The Hurricanes made it to the Final Four last season and had large expectations coming into the 2023-24 season, but a six-game losing streak has made even an NIT berth somewhat dicey. The Hurricanes are 12th in the ACC standings, and their most recent loss might have been the worst as they entered their weekend showdown with Georgia Tech as 8 ½-point home favorites but got outshot and outrebounded. Norchad Omier is the team’s top scorer (17.1 points per game) and rebounder (9.7). Bensley Joseph is the team leader in steals (1.6) and blocks (0.8) and scores 9.1 points per game.

North Carolina enters Monday’s action with a one-game lead over Duke in the conference standings; if they can hold on, they would have their first regular-season ACC title since 2018-2019. They have a two-game winning streak after stopping Virginia Tech by 15 and Virginia by 10; in their last win over the Cavaliers, they showed they can win at Virginia’s grinding pace, using a stout defense to deliver a 54-44 win, covering as 2 ½-point road favorites and holding the host to just 14.3% shooting from beyond the arc. The Tar Heels’ top scorer is R.J. Davis (21.0 points per game), and Armando Bacot adds 14.4 points per game in the paint while leading the team in rebounding (10.4) and blocks (1.7). North Carolina to win and cover.

#15 Baylor Bears at TCU Horned Frogs

When: Monday, February 26 at 9:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Unranked TCU looks to complete the season sweep over the Bears after their earlier overtime victory down in Waco. The Bears also lost this past weekend to the Houston Cougars, rallying back from a 16-point halftime deficit to force overtime, only to see the offense fall apart in the extra frame. The Bears knocked down 40% of their shots from downtown but 19 turnovers didn’t help. Ja’Kobe Walter was the top scorer with 23 points, and Jalen Bridges put up a 17-point, 13-board double-double. The Bears have the #20 scoring offense in the nation (81.8 points per game). Despite the fact that they shoot 67% in the paint, they only get about a third of their points inside. Their three-point shooting (40%) has been outstanding as well, and they’ve made 10 or more three-balls in three of their last four games. The only real problem for Baylor’s offense has been ball security.

TCU won their last game, stopping Cincinnati, 75-57, shooting 45% overall and better than 40% from downtown. The defense pried away a dozen turnovers, leading to fast breaks galore. Emmanuel Miller scored 18 points, the only starter in double figures. JaKobe Coles came off the bench to add 18. The Horned Frogs are 25th in the nation in scoring (81.3 points per game). Their three-point shooting is close to 35%. Their offensive rebounding has been a strength, leading to a lot of second-chance points. TCU to cover.

2024 Top College Basketball Betting Analysis | NCAAB Week 16

The Jake Diebler era at Ohio State started as well as it could have as the Buckeyes upset the Purdue Boilermakers to win his first game as interim head coach – not even 24 hours after the NCAA tournament selection committee indicated that Purdue would be the top overall seed in next month’s men’s college basketball tournament. On the other end of the coaching spectrum from the weekend came Penny Hardaway, whose Memphis Tigers got blown out by 21 points at Southern Methodist, just a few weeks after the Tigers had been trumpeted as a dark-horse team in March Madness. Let’s look at a couple of primo online betting picks from college hoops.

#19 San Diego State Aztecs at Utah State Aggies

When: Tuesday, February 20 at 9:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: CBS Sports

The Aztecs (20-6, 9-4 Mountain West) head northeast to take on the Aggies (21-5, 9-4 MWC) in a battle for first place in the conference standings. The Aztecs just beat New Mexico at home, 81-70, covering as 6 ½-point favorites. If they can beat Utah State on the road, they would sweep the season series and hold the tiebreaker with just a few games left in conference play. The Aztecs have won four of their last five, with the only loss coming at Nevada. The Aztecs are led by Jaeden LeDee on offense (20.4 points per game) – and LeDee also leads the whole MWC. He also pulls down 8.2 boards per game, and he has 20 or more points in three games in a row, including a 27-point night in a win over Colorado State. The other player scoring in double figures is Reese Waters, who scores 11.2 points per game and has made 41.7% of his shots from downtown. The team’s defense ranks seventh in the nation in defensive efficiency.

Utah State lost at Colorado State in their last action, taking a 75-55 beating up in Fort Collins. When they played the Aztecs earlier in the season, San Diego State rolled by 14 at home. The Aggies have dropped three of their last five, beating Boise State and Wyoming. Great Osobor put up 15 points and 13 boards in the losing effort against Colorado State. He leads the team with 17.8 points per game and is the top rebounder in the MWC (9.2 per game). He has a 14-game double-digit scoring streak with seven double-doubles in that stretch. Guard Ian Martinez puts up 13.6 points per game and has made 39 three-balls this season; senior guard Darius Brown II has made 40 from downtown as well. Mason Falslev (11.3) and Brown (11.3) also average double figures in points.

Pitt Panthers at Wake Forest Demon Deacons

When: Tuesday, February 20 at 9:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: ACC Network

The Pitt Panthers (17-8, 8-6 ACC) and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (16-9, 8-6 ACC) meet hoping to gain separation from one another in the crowded conference standings. The Panthers just routed Louisville at home, 86-59, covering easily as 12 ½-point favorites. Wake Forest lost a grinding defensive battle at Virginia, 49-47, covering as 2 ½-point road underdogs. Pitt won at home in the teams’ first meeting this season. Pitt rolls in on a five-game winning streak and currently sits fourth in the ACC, tied with Wake and N.C. State. Blake Hinson dropped 41 on Louisville in the Panthers’ last win, and he leads the team (and ranks third in the ACC) with 19.2 points per game. He also grabs 5.0 boards per game and has made 42.9% of his three-point shots. Freshman Carlton Carrington averages 13.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game and is projected to go 12th in the upcoming NBA draft. Ishamel Leggett (12.1) also scores in double figures.

The Demon Deacons have dropped two in a row, but both games were tough (at Duke and at Virginia). Wake Forest has a perfect 6-0 record at home in ACC play. Junior guard Hunter Sallis is scoring 18.4 points per game, and he is shooting 40.6% from downtown. Kevin Miller is scoring 15.4 points per game. Center Andrew Carr adds 13.6 points per game and leads the team on the boards (6.9 per game). They are ranked 26th in the nation according to KenPom, and while they have lost two in a row, those teams were ranked and those games were on the road. Pitt’s winning streak includes one ranked opponent, but that win came at home. Wake Forest to win.

2024 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks | NCAAB Week 15

On Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks improved to 18-1 all-time at home against the Baylor Bears. The Jayhawks were able to hold off the Bears despite not having Kevin McCullar Jr and losing Dajuan Harris Jr to an injured ankle late in regulation. That was a huge win in a Big 12 that is even tougher in basketball than it was after adding Houston, BYU, Cincinnati and UCF. The first three schools in that list are all in KenPom’s top 35, and UCF has beaten Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas this season. This means that a team like Baylor could end up well under .500 in conference play, and performances like Saturday’s, when the Bears had 21 turnovers, could send them to the tournament bubble – if not careening off into the NIT field. As we start a new week, check out our Top College Basketball Games and picks to Win this week.

#4 Kansas Jayhawks at #23 Texas Tech Red Raiders

When: Monday, February 12 at 9:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Both of these teams pulled off tough wins in Big 12 play on Saturday and now have to bounce back and play just over 48 hours later. Kansas (19-5, 7-4 Big 12) has the momentum of the big win over Baylor, but McCullar is still questionable – and the Jayhawks are just 2-4 on the road in conference play. Texas Tech (17-6, 6-4 Big 12) beat UCF, 66-59, ending a three-game losing streak. Forward Warren Washington and guard Darrion Williams each had double-doubles, and four Red Raiders overall hit double figures in the game. On the season, the Red Raiders are led by Pop Isaacs in scoring (16.9 points per game), but there is plenty of offensive depth as four players average double figures. The team shoots 46% overall from the floor and 38% from behind the arc, and they are 11th in the nation with 118.6 points per 100 possessions despite running at a grinding race, just 65.9 possessions per 40 minutes. Their rebounding could be better as they only average 31.3 boards per contest.

Kansas comes in with a 5-3 record in Quad 1 games and would love to make that 6-3 in Lubbock. In addition to McCullar, Jamari McDowell is another key contributor who is questionable for tonight’s game. McCullar (19.5 points per game) is the top scorer on the team, but in his absence it’s Hunter Dickinson, the 7’2” center putting up 18.7 points on average. K.J. Adams Jr is the best shooter in the Big 12 (63.8% overall), and the team is third in the nation in shooting percentage (50.6%) with a 35.3% three-point shooting percentage. Can they beat Texas Tech on the road? The road hasn’t been kind to the Jayhawks in Big 12 play. Red Raiders to cover.

#14 Iowa State Cyclones at Cincinnati Bearcats

When: Tuesday, February 13 at 7:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: ESPN2

Iowa State (18-5, 7-3 Big 12) heads east to take on the Bearcats (15-8, 4-6 Big 12), The Bearcats have the nation’s 51st best scoring defense, permitting 66.8 points per game, and they win the battle of the boards by about nine rebounds per game, pulling down 41.1 per game while permitting 32.1 for the opposition. They average 96.6 points per 100 possessions, which ranks 146th in the nation, but their defensive efficiency (84.6 points per 100 possessions) ranks 23rd in the nation.

Iowa State has an opportunistic defense, forcing 17.2 turnovers per game, which ranks third in the nation. They cough the ball up an average of 10.6 times per game, which is a nice differential. They permit just 62.1 points per game, which ranks seventh in the nation, while scoring 79.0 points on average, good for 62nd. The road is a tough place in the Big 12, but Iowa State already has some clutch road wins this season. Cyclones to cover.

2024 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks in the Week 14

Going into the first full week of February, it looks like college basketball has two elite teams – Purdue and UConn – and then everyone else. They both have eight Quadrant 1 wins; add in Quadrant 2 wins, and Purdue has 15, while UConn has 11. Neither school has lost to a team outside Quadrant 1. Wisconsin and Kentucky both lost twice this past week, but don’t sleep on South Carolina. The Gamecocks beat Tennessee and Georgia on the road; when they beat Tennessee on Tuesday, it was the first time a South Carolina team had beaten a top-five opponent on the road since 1997. Six different Gamecocks scored in double digits this past week, but the only player to do it in both games is Ta’Lon Cooper. At 19-3 (7-2 SEC), South Carolina is slowly moving from spoiler to contender. Check out our Top College Basketball Games and betting picks from college hoops for the week.

#4 Kansas Jayhawks at Kansas State Wildcats

When: Monday, February 5 at 9:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Kansas State (14-8, 4-5 Big 12) took a 75-72 loss at Oklahoma State on Saturday despite entering as two-point road favorites. They have an opportunity to get that momentum back in their direction when they host Kansas (18-4, 6-3 Big 12), as the Jayhawks may come in a little overconfident after a 78-55 tattooing of then-#4 Houston on Saturday – after entering as one-point home underdogs. Now the Jayhawks and Cougars are tied atop the Big 12 standings. The Kansas offense is just fifth in the Big 12 (79.1 pints per game) but their shooting average (51.5%) is second-best in the nation. Their defense is just seventh in the Big 12, allowing 67.5 points per contest. On defense, they post 7.2 steals and 4.1 blocks per game. It was Hunter Dickinson who led the way against Houston, putting up 20 points after going 9 of 15 from the floor. He tied for the team lead in rebounds (8). He is the top rebounder in the Big 12 (11.1 per game).

Kansas State finds themselves in a must-win situation. After starting Big 12 play 4-1, the Wildcats have dropped four in a row, averaging just 61 points per game in that stretch, bringing their season scoring average down to 72. It doesn’t help that they are turning the ball over 14.9 points per game, the 16th highest total in the nation. On defense, they are allowing 68.7 points per game, just tenth in the Big 12. In the loss to Oklahoma State, Tylor Perry did knock down five three-balls and led the Wildcats with 19 points. He has had at least four makes from distance in seven different games this season. Last year, these two teams met twice in conference play, and the home team both won and covered each time. Is this a trap game for Kansas? Not likely given the in-state rivalry. Jayhawks to win and cover.

#12 Iowa State Cyclones at Texas Longhorns

When: Monday, February 5 at 8:00 pm ET
TV / Streaming: Longhorn Network

These two teams are right in the middle of the Big 12 standings, and Iowa State (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) heads south to take on the Longhorns (15-7, 4-5 Big 12) looking to build some separation from the rest of the pack. The Longhorns went to TCU in their last game and won, 77-66, despite entering as 4 ½-point underdogs. Iowa State just lost by two at Baylor, covering as 4 ½-point underdogs. This is the only game between the two schools this year; last year, the home team won both matchups. Iowa State was a split second away from pulling off the road upset at Baylor, but Milan Momicilovic’s three-pointer was waved off after further review for coming after the buzzer. Keshon Gilbert led the Cyclones with 24 points in the loss. He is the top scorer on the team this season, putting 14.2 points per game while grabbing 4.6 boards and dishing out 4.1 assists per night. Tamin Lipsey leads the team in assists (5.6) and is third in the nation in steals per game (3.0). Momcilovic is shooting 40% from behind the arc on the season, putting up 12.9 points per game.

Texas is finishing a six-game stretch against AP Top 25 opponents and has gone 3-2 so far, with wins over then-#9 Baylor, then-#11 Oklahoma and then-#25 TCU while falling to then-#21 BYU and then-#4 Houston. In the win over TCU, Max Ambas led the way with 21 points. He is the third-leading scorer in the Big 12 (17.9 points per game) and shoots 39.9% from behind the arc. Tyrese Hunter leads the team with 4.3 assists per game and scored 11.4 points per night. The leading rebounder is Dillon Mitchell (8.8 per game). Playing at home should give Texas the edge here, as Iowa State has lost most of their road games against conference contenders. Longhorns to cover.

2024 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks in the Week 13

Which college basketball team has the most wins over AP Top 10 teams in the last two seasons? Would you believe it’s the Iowa State Cyclones? They have eight, including their win over Kansas this past weekend. They’ve also beaten Houston at home, and they beat TCU on the road. They have three Quadrant 1 wins and six combined against Quadrants 1 and 2. They rank #12 at KenPom, #10 in the NET, #7 at BPI, and #14 in ESPN’s strength of record. Can they keep pushing to a deep run in March Madness? We will see. In the meantime, don’t miss our Top College Basketball Games and betting picks in college hoops.

#12 Duke Blue Devils (-3.5) at Virginia Tech Hokies

When: Monday, January 29 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, VA
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Duke (15-4, 6-2 ACC) barely escaped Clemson at home on Saturday, 72-71, failing to cover as 7 ½-point home favorites. Duke has won 10 of 11, and their offense has driven the bus all season as they score 81.2 points per game, which ranks third in the ACC. They lead the conference in fewest turnovers per game (9.2), and their 1.73 assist-to-turnover ratio is eighth in the nation. Their scoring defense ranks fourth in the ACC (67.2 points permitted per game). Jared McCain led the Blue Devils with 21 points in the win over Clemson, going 8 of 12 from the floor and nailing three shots from distance. He is averaging 12.5 points per game on the season but has pushed that up to 16.1 points per game over this current 11-game stretch.

Virginia Tech (13-7, 5-4 ACC) rolled Georgia Tech out of their home gym on Saturday, 91-67, easily covering as 10-point favorites. They have now won three straight and four of their last six, now in a logjam for sixth in the ACC. During this winning streak, they have put up 83.7 points per game, bringing their season average up to 74.7, which ranks 11th in the ACC. They have the fourth-highest turnover average (12.3 per game). Their scoring defense ranks fifth in the ACC, permitting 68.2 points per game. They only pull down 33.6 rebounds per game (14th in the ACC), but they still outrebound the opposition by 2.6 boards per game. Lynn Kidd went 7 of 9 overall for 18 points in the victory over Georgia Tech. The center also leads the Hokies with 6.6 rebounds per game. Virginia Tech has won four of their last five home games against Duke, covering all five times. Duke is just 1-3-1 against the spread in true road games. Hokies to cover.

San Diego State Aztecs at #24 Colorado State Rams

When: Tuesday, January 30, 9:00 pm ET
Where: Moby Arena, Fort Collins, CO
TV / Streaming: CBSSN

The San Diego State Aztecs (16-4, 5-2 MWC) made it to the Final Four last year and have a chance at another March Madness bid last year if they can get on a hot run in conference play. They beat Wyoming, 81-65, in a big home win last Tuesday, using a 67% shooting performance in the second half to pull away. Lamont Butler led the Aztecs with 23 points. That gives them two wins in their last three games despite an offense that only ranks 141st in the nation in field goal percentage and 105th in scoring. Their scoring defense ranks 137th, but their field goal allowed percentage ranks 53rd, and their three-point field goal allowed percentage is just 21st.

The Rams (15-5, 3-4 MWC) had a terrific non-conference season, but MWC play has tripped them up. On Saturday, they blew an 11-point lead in just over a minute at the end of regulation and saw the game go to overtime. That turned into a 79-76 loss at Wyoming. Patrick Cartier led the way with 19 points, including four three-point makes, and Nique Clifford added 13 points and a dozen boards. If the Rams can’t turn things around, what looked like a path to March Madness might not even garner an NIT berth. They are ninth in the nation in field goal percentage, but they are just 22nd in field goal defense and 306th in total rebounds per game. Rams to cover.

2024 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks in the Week 12

Chaos at the top of the men’s college basketball AP Top 25 promises to make the rest of the 2023-24 season a challenging one for sports betting experts to handicap. Consider the Kansas Jayhawks – all season long, they’ve been near the top of the list or projected seedings and rankings, but their predictive metrics have them ranked outside the top ten. They have wins against the nation’s elite in Kentucky, UConn and Tennessee, but they also took hideous losses against UCF and West Virginia. The Jayhawks are not the only inconsistent team that has dreams of elite status, as Kentucky beat North Carolina but lost at home to UNC Wilmington and have worse metrics than Kansas. Then there’s Houston – the Cougars have great metrics but haven’t beaten anyone more impressive than Texas Tech or Dayton. Handicapping will become more of a premium task with the biggest games of the season still to come. Heading into this week, don’t miss our Top College Basketball Games and picks.  

Cincinnati Bearcats (+5.5) at #3 Kansas Jayhawks

When: Monday, January 22 at 9:00 pm ET
Where: Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Cincinnati (13-5, 2-3 Big 12) has a tall task to complete to get back to .500 in Big 12 play as they visit the Kansas Jayhawks (15-3, 3-2 Big 12) on Monday night. Cincinnati failed to cover as four-point home favorites on Saturday as they fell to #15 Oklahoma, 69-65. The Bearcats are in a brutal part of their schedule as they have six straight games against AP Top 25 teams, but such is life in the Big 12. Their offense ranks seventh in the Big 12 (78.7 points per game), and they shoot 45.3% overall, including 34.2% from downtown. Their ball security ranks fifth in the Big 12 (11.2 turnovers per game), and their assist-to-turnover ratio (1.47) ranks 30th in the country. On defense, they are also seventh in the Big 12, allowing 66.6 points per game. They have the second-best rebounding average in the conference (41.8 per game) and they average 4.4 blocks per game, thanks in large part to center Viktor Lakhin, who had five blocks all by himself against Oklahoma. He is the team’s top scorer as well, putting up 13 points per game, and his 53.95% shooting percentage ranks fourth in the conference.

The Jayhawks also look to get back into the win column after losing, 91-85, at West Virginia on Saturday despite entering as 10-point road favorites. That made two losses in their last four contests and knocked them out of first place in the Big 12. Their offense ranks fifth in the Big 12 (79.5 points per game), and their 51% team shooting percentage ranks fourth in the nation. Their 1.75 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks ninth in the nation. On defense, they rank tenth in the Big 12, allowing 67.7 points per game. Their rebounding average (37.0) is eighth in the Big 12. Kevin McCullar Jr had a big game in the loss to West Virginia, going 10 of 14 from the floor with 24 points, five assists and four boards. He is the top scorer in the Big 12 (20.0 points per game). I expect the Jayhawks to take out some frustrations on the Bearcats here. Kansas to win and cover.

#12 Duke Blue Devils at Louisville Cardinals

When: Tuesday, January 23 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, KY
TV / Streaming: ACC Network

Duke (13-4, 4-2 ACC) looks to bounce back from an unlikely home loss to Pitt in their last game. Despite 20 points out of Jared McCain, the Blue Devils still fell to the Panthers, 80-76. Their next stop is Louisville (6-12, 1-6 ACC), where the Cardinals are still looking to reestablish what was once a dominant college hoops program. Over their last ten games, the Blue Devils have an 8-2 record, putting up 80.9 points per game while allowing just 67.2. Their top scorer has been Kyle Filipowski, averaging 17.1 points per game over that stretch.

Louisville has won just two of their last ten games, scoring 71.2 points over that stretch while permitting 80.4. Mike James is putting up 14.1 points and grabbing 5.6 rebounds per game over that stretch, while Ty-Laur Johnson is chipping in 9.7 points and 4.1 assists over the same time frame. They lost to North Carolina, 86-70, in their last game. Duke to win and cover.

2024 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks in the Week 11

T.J. Otzelberger continues to defy expectations as the head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones. Two years ago, the Cyclones were picked in preseason polls to finish dead last in the Big 12, but Otzelberger guided them to the Big Dance. Last year’s preseason polling had them finishing eighth in the conference, but they not only made March Madness but picked up a 6-seed. The preseason polling still didn’t respect the Cyclones this year, picking them to finish seventh, but they sit in the top 15 in the majority of metrics, including the BPI top 10. This week, they handed an overrated Houston team its first loss of the season and then drilled Oklahoma State by 24. They rank #1 in the nation in defensive turnover percentage and tenth in two-point shooting percentage defense. How far can they go? Don’t sleep on them with your NCAAB betting. Check out our Top College Basketball Games from the NCAA basketball court going into the week.  

Florida Gators at #6 Tennessee Volunteers

When: Tuesday, January 16 at 5:00 pm ET
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, TN
TV / Streaming: ESPN 2

Florida (11-5, 1-2 SEC) likes to play at a breakneck pace. That paid off when they handed Ole Miss a 90-68 beating at home behind 20 points from Riley Kugel, who went 8 of 14 overall, including 2 of 3 from behind the arc. Kugel also pulled down five boards and grabbed a pair of steals. Tyrese Samuel had a double-double (17 points, 11 boards), and Will Richard added 13 points. That was Ole Miss’ first loss in SEC play, and the Gators look to make it two straight upsets when they head to Knoxville. The Gators are sixth in the nation in scoring offense despite ranking just 67th in field goal percentage, a testament to their pace of play – and to their rebounding, in which they lead the nation. The problems come on defense as the Gators are 255th in scoring defense and 195th in three-point shooting percentage defense.

Tennessee (12-4, 2-1 SEC) got a tough win at Georgia on Saturday, holding off the Bulldogs by six. The Volunteers actually built a 14-point lead before losing their shooting touch and falling behind by 11 with fewer than seven minutes left in regulation. Dalton Knecht led a furious rally, totaling 36 points to lead all scorers, to bring the Volunteers back for the victory. He ended up going 12 of 20 overall and 5 of 8 from behind the arc. They have the 57th-ranked scoring offense in the country, and they depend on makes from distance as they are 54th in three-point makes per game. Their scoring defense ranks 44th, and their field goal percentage defense is fourth in the nation. Can they hold off Florida at home? They have a perfect home record (8-0) and have the inside presence to contest the rebounds. With Florida’s porous defense, the Volunteers should be able to control this. Volunteers to win and cover.

#24 Iowa State Cyclones at #20 BYU Cougars

When: Tuesday, January 16 at 9:00 pm ET
Where: Marriott Center, Provo, UT
TV / Streaming: Big 12 Network, ESPN+

Iowa State (13-3, 2-1 Big 12) is ninth in the most recent NCAA Net Rankings and 12th in KenPom, as their win over Houston gave them a huge jump. That win over Houston and the subsequent 66-42 rout of Oklahoma State marked a recovery from their eight-point loss at Oklahoma to open conference play. Against Oklahoma State, the Cyclones forced 19 turnovers and limited the Cowboys to 32% overall shooting and 29% from behind the arc. Their success comes because of their defense: they are third in the nation in scoring defense (58.4 points permitted per game) and ninth in field goal defense (38.2%). They score 81.7 points per game and rank 19th in the nation in field goal shooting (49.1%).

The BYU Cougars (13-3, 1-2 Big 12) started conference play with losses to Cincinnati at home and then at Baylor before bouncing back to beat UCF on Saturday, 63-58, for the first Big 12 win in program history. UCF had just beaten Kansas in their previous game, so the Cougars’ win was an impressive one. The BYU defense held UCF to just 29% shooting overall and 17% shooting from three-point land. Aly Khalif was the top scorer with 17 points, and Trevin Knell chipped in 14. BYU is now ranked fifth in NCAA NET rankings and 11th on KenPom. Their nation is seventh in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency, and they only permit 63.1 points per game, which ranks 18th in the nation. They are 19th in the nation in rebounding margin (+10.6 per game), a trait that helped them post occasional upsets of Gonzaga when they were in the West Coast Conference. Their offense averages 85.6 points per game. Even so, I see Iowa State coming in with the edge here. Cyclones to win against the spread.

2023 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks in the Week 10

How good are the Houston Cougars? They are the last unbeaten men’s college basketball team in Division I following losses by Ole Miss and James Madison on Saturday. They lead the nation in turnover percentage, block percentage, steal percentage, and adjusted defensive efficiency. They are fourth in the nation in three-point defense. However, they haven’t played anyone that you could consider their peer. Their best victories have come against Utah, Dayton, and Texas A&M. They have exactly one true road win – at Xavier, and the Musketeers are not a top contender this year. They visit Iowa State and TCU this week as their Big 12 schedule gets underway, so we will learn if they are really a top-five team in the next week or so. Going into this week, check out our Top College Basketball Games to consider in your NCAAB betting plans.

Missouri Tigers at #6 Kentucky Wildcats

When: Tuesday, January 9 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Rupp Arena, Lexington, KY
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Kentucky (11-2, 1-0 SEC) has a five-game winning streak going as they prepare to welcome the Missouri Tigers (8-6, 0-1 SEC) for their second game of conference play. Kentucky’s offense is high-octane, putting up 90.8 points per game, led by the 19.0 points that Antonio Reeves puts up per contest. Reeves also grabs 4.2 rebounds and dishes out 1.5 assists per game. The leader on the boards is Tre Mitchell (7.3 per game), and he also scores 12.7 points and posts 3.2 assists per game. The assist leader is Reed Sheppard (4.2), and he also scores in double figures (12.6), pulls down 4.7 rebounds per game and generates 2.5 steals per night.

Missouri scores at a much more measured pace, putting up 75.9 points per game, which is right in line with the 74.3 points that Kentucky permits per night. The Missouri defense holds opponents to 71.6 points on average. Inside, Missouri’s paint presence is led by Noah Carter (6.2 per game). He blocks almost one full shot per game, and he puts up 11.5 points and 1.6 assists per game. The other double-digit scorer for Missouri is Nick Honor (10.9), with 2.1 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game. Kentucky to win.

#25 Texas Longhorns at Cincinnati Bearcats

When: Tuesday, January 9 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, OH
TV / Streaming: Big 12 Network

Texas (11-3, 0-1 Big 12) heads north to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats (12-2, 1-0 Big 12). The Longhorns were surprised at home in their conference opener by Texas Tech, losing 78-67 as 6 ½-point favorites. Cincinnati pulled off the upset in their conference opener, winning at then-#12 BYU by 11 despite entering as ten-point underdogs. In their loss to Texas Tech, the Longhorns were led by 20 points from Tyrese Hunter and got 18 more from Max Abmas. Abmas leads the team with 17.2 points per game and dishes out 4.4 assists per night. Hunter is averaging 13.2 points per game but has put up 20 or more points in two straight. Forwards Dillon Mitchell, Kadin Shedrick and Dylan Disu all average between 11.0 and 11.4 points per game. The Longhorns rank 39th overall in the KenPom metrics, 40th in offensive efficiency and 54th in defensive efficiency. They play at a grinding pace, ranking 222nd in the nation in tempo.

Cincinnati went into the locker room at BYU down by seven, but they won the second half, 47-29, thanks in part to their paint presence. The Bearcats outscored the Cougars 30-12 inside, behind 17 points and seven boards from Viktor Lakhin. He leads the team in both scoring and rebounding with 13.4 points and 8.4 boards per game. He is also a danger from outside, with a dozen makes from behind the arc. He has hit double figures in four straight games with a season high of 18. Guard Dan Skillings Jr scores 11.1 points and grabs 6.5 points per game, highlighted by a 29-10 game against Stetson. Four different Bearcats average between 7.5 and 9.6 points per game, with center Aziz Bandaogo posting 9.6 points and 9.1 boards per game. KenPom has Cincinnati ranked 27th overall, 25th in defensive efficiency and 52nd in offensive efficiency. I like the Bearcats to make it 2-0 in Big 12 play. Cincinnati to win.

2023 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks in the Week 8

The week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is often a quiet one for college basketball. The top teams are in action, but until conference play begins, the big teams have some cupcakes on their schedules. Later in the week, though, things seem to perk up, so let’s look at some sports betting opportunities from Top College Basketball Games closer to the end of the year.

Washington State Cougars at Utah Utes

When: Friday, December 29 at 8:30 pm ET
Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT
TV / Streaming: Pac-12 Network

Washington State (9-2) bounced back from a 69-61 loss to Santa Clara at the Jerry Colangelo Classic with a 66-61 home win over Boise State on Thursday. In that game, Isaac Jones scored 21 points and took over the game in the last 1:30 of regulation, scoring five points that include a key three-point play. Kymany Houinsou made a pair of clutch free throws, but a turnover by WSU almost endangered the win. Luckily, Boise State clanked a pair of three-pointers to let the Cougars off the hook. Washington State got 13 points from Jabe Mullins off the bench, helping them to a 15-2 advantage in points by reserves. The Cougars’ other loss in 2023-24 came to Mississippi State in early action.

The Utah Utes (9-2) lost their two games back in mid-November, losing to then-#6 Houston and St. John’s before embarking on what is now a six-game winning streak that includes a 73-69 win over then-#14 BYU. Their last game came on Wednesday and was a home rout of Bellarmine, done in 85-43 fashion. Lawson Lovering led the Utes with 17 points, going 8 of 10 on the night, and pulled down seven boards. Gabe Madsen put up a dozen points on four three-balls; as a team, the Utes shot 50% from the floor and 41% from downtown, turning 23 Bellarmine turnovers into 28 points. Given the difference in quality of opponent, I see Utah picking up this win. College Basketball Final Prediction: Utah 78, Washington State 69

San Diego State Aztecs at #13 Gonzaga Bulldogs

When: Friday, December 29 at 9:00 pm ET
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, WA
TV / Streaming: ESPN2

The Aztecs (10-2) have a three-game winning streak going as they head north to take on Gonzaga (9-3). Both teams have struggled against the spread; the Bulldogs are 4-7-0 while the Aztecs are 3-7-0. The Gonzaga offense has been prolific this year, averaging 84.3 points per night, led by Anton Watson, who puts up 14.1 points per game. He is shooting 54.8% from the field and grabbing 7.8 rebounds per game. Graham Ike also puts up 14.1 points per game and grabs 7.9 rebounds. Ryan Nembhard scores a dozen points per game and dishes out 5.4 assists per night.

The Aztecs are led on offense by Jaedon LeDee, who scores 21.6 points per game and pulls down 9.4 boards per game. Micah Parrish scores 10.8 points per game and 4.7 rebounds from Micah Parrish and 13.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game from Reese Waters. San Diego State scores 77.2 points per game, while the Bulldogs allow an average of 67.1. On the other side, Gonzaga scores 18 more points per game than the Aztecs permit (66.3). San Diego State did make it to the national championship game last season, but Gonzaga has done a better job of reloading and should win at home. College Basketball Final Prediction: Gonzaga 75, San Diego State 69

#4 Arizona Wildcats at Cal Golden Bears

When: Friday, December 29 at 10:30 pm ET
Where: Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, CA
TV / Streaming: Pac-12 Network

Cal (4-7) opens Pac-12 play with a visit from the fourth-ranked Arizona Wildcats (9-2). Cal has a solid post presence in Fardaws Aimaq, who averages 10.7 rebounds to go along with 16.9 points per game, shooting 51.7% from the floor. Jalen Cole contributes 16.3 points, 2.5 assists and 2.5 boards per game.

For Arizona, Caleb Love is the top scorer, putting up 16.5 points per game. He is also the assists leader (3.6) and grabs 5.3 boards per game. Oumar Ballo leads the team on the boards (8.1) and scores 12.9 points per game while shooting 61.9% from the floor. Keshad Johnson adds 13.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. The Wildcats might show a little rust from the holidays but should take control. College Basketball Final Prediction: Arizona 80, Cal 68

2023 Top College Basketball Games and Betting Picks in the Week 7

The Michigan State Spartans (5-5) finally showed the form that had led college basketball experts to rank them #4 in the preseason Top 25, as they routed previously undefeated Baylor, 88-64, in Detroit on Saturday. Tyson Walker put up 25 for the Spartans, including 18 in the first half as Michigan State built a big lead – as large as 30 in both the first and second halves. A.J. Hoggard had 14 points, five assists, and three steals, and Tre Holloman came off the bench to score 11. Baylor had six players averaging double figures in scoring, but none of their team made it into double figures on Saturday until RayJ Dennis knocked down a shot with 7:10 left in regulation. Going into the week before Christmas, don’t miss these Top College Basketball Games to make money with your NCAAB betting.

#22 Virginia Cavaliers at #23 Memphis Tigers

When: Tuesday, December 19 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
TV / Streaming: ESPN2

Memphis knocked off previously undefeated Clemson at home last week and now hosts Virginia on Tuesday night. David Jones led the Tigers with 22 points, and Jahvon Quinerly added 17 points and six assists. This gives Memphis four Quad 1 wins going into AAC play.

Virginia had to roar back from a double-digit deficit in the second half to knock off Northeastern, 56-54, in their last game. Reece Beekman was the only Cavalier in double figures, with 21 points and five assists. Virginia plays at a grindingly slow pace; their defense is elite, allowing just 53.3 points per game, but they also have a tough time getting to 60 on offense. They have a small lineup, with everyone under 6’8”. Memphis won’t have Jordan Brown or Nae’Qwan Tomlin, most likely, so they won’t have the big men to take advantage of that size problem. Memphis to win.

Florida Gators vs Michigan Wolverines

When: Tuesday, December 19 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Florida and Michigan meet in one of the few interconference Power 5 matchups before conference play begins.They square off in the Jumpman Invitational, but the Wolverines have a key player on the shelf in guard Jaelin Llewellyn, who transferred in from Princeton. Also, guard Jace Howard will not play, leaving the team a bit short in wing depth. The Michigan program is also caught in some drama as head coach Juwan Howard and strength and conditioning coach Jon Sanderson have been embroiled in a publicized confrontation. The Wolverines have dropped two fo their last seven games, but most of their games have come against challenging competition; their own bad loss came against Long Beach State, although that team has also stopped DePaul and USC.

Florida comes in with a 7-3 record, scoring 82.3 points per game, winning by an average of 9.5 points per contest. From the floor, the Gators are shooting 45.4% for the season, holding their opponents to just 41.9% shooting. Despite their setbacks, the Wolverines are shooting 49.7% overall from the floor. The top scorer for Florida is Walter Clayton Jr (16.5 points per game). Tyrese Samuel also averages double figure scoring (13.9). They only lost to Baylor by four, but they also lost to Wake Forest by 11 and only beat East Carolina by five. Wolverines to win.

#6 Marquette Golden Eagles at Providence Friars

When: Tuesday, December 19 at 8:30 pm ET
Where: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI
TV / Streaming: FS1

Both of these teams come in with identical 9-3 overall records and 1-0 Big East marks. The Friars had just four non-conference games against teams in KenPom’s Top 200. They did open conference play with a 71-67 win at Seton Hall, going on runs of 13-2 and 11-1 after the intermission, but they also saw a seven-point lead with three minutes left dwindle to one with 16 seconds left.

Marquette comes in ranked 18th in made baskets that feature an assist (almost 62%). They also rank 71st in the nation in three-point shooting percentage. Providence has skill at permitting a low three-point field goal shooting percentage and using perimeter defense to limit assists. The Providence perimeter defense has to keep a hand in the face of the Marquette shooters to have a chance here. These two teams have split their last eight meetings. Golden Eagles to win.

Top College Basketball Games in the Week 5

Let’s take a look at the Top College Basketball Games as we start the week betting on your favorites NCAAB teams.

Iowa Hawkeyes (+12.5) at #4 Purdue Boilermakers

When: Monday, December 4 at 7:00 pm ET
Where: Mackey Arena, Lafayette, Indiana
TV / Streaming: Big Ten Network

Iowa (5-2) heads to Purdue (7-1) in an early Big Ten contest on Monday night. Iowa last played on Wednesday, routing North Florida, 103-78, earning a push on a 25-point spread, while Purdue opened conference play with a major thud, losing at Northwestern on Friday. Iowa looks to make it three wins in a row after also beating Seton Hall, 85-72, last week. Senior forward Ben Krikke is averaging 18.7 points per game and has broken 20 in three different games. Junior forward Payton Sandfort put up 22 in the win over Seton Hall. Senior guard Tony Perkins is averaging 12.9 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, and he has scored in double figures in six of the Hawkeyes’ seven games. KenPom has Iowa ranked 38th in defensive efficiency, and they did lose their only true road game to Creighton back in November. Their offense is cooking, putting up 90.7 points per game, eighth in the nation, but their defense is 280th, permitting 75.7 points per night.

Even with the loss to Northwestern, Purdue is still the team to beat in the Big Ten. They stopped Gonzaga, Tennessee, and Marquette in the Maui Invitational, and they followed that up with a 99-67 laugher over Texas Southern on Monday. Their defense was a bit soft in that 92-88 overtime loss at Northwestern, though, and the Boilermakers have dropped two of their last three against the spread. Zach Edey has 23 or more points in four of his last five contests, with five double-doubles on the season, averaging 23.5 points and 11.1 boards per game. Sophomore guard Braden Smith has made at least half of his shots in five of eight games, averaging 12.9 points and 7.0 assists per game. This is a big spread, though, against a tough Iowa team. Hawkeyes to cover.

#11 Florida Atlantic Owls vs (+2) #20 Illinois Fighting Illini

When: Tuesday, December 5 at 6:30 pm ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Illinois (6-1) suffered their only setback of the season on November 14, when they fell to Marquette by seven. They opened Big Ten play on Saturday, rolling to a 76-58 win at Rutgers. The Illini have dominated the boards all season, winning the rebound battle by an average of 14.2 per game. Their three-point shooting is on the weaker side, as they only make 32.8% of their shots from downtown, but they only permit 27.9% shooting from behind the arc, so their perimeter defense is strong. They are vulnerable in ball security, turning the ball over 12.7 times per game, which ranks 241st in the nation.

Florida Atlantic (7-1) is beating the opposition by 16.8 points per game. They score 83.9 points per contest, good for 36th in the nation. They do win the rebounding battle, but only by about six per game, and they average ten fewer rebounds per game than the Illini do. They are slightly better at ball security, with 10.3 turnovers per game, but they force more than a dozen per game, while Illinois only forces 8.7. On a neutral floor, I see the Owls prevailing. Owls to win.

#9 North Carolina Tar Heels vs #5 Connecticut Huskies

When: Tuesday, December 5 at 9:00 pm ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York
TV / Streaming: ESPN

Both teams come in with identical 7-1 records; the Tar Heels’ lone setback came on Thanksgiving Day as they fell to Villanova by two. They have the 20th most prolific offense in the nation, scoring 86.3 points per contest, and they opened ACC play with a 78-70 home win over Florida State on Saturday. The Huskies saw their perfect season come to an end on Friday, when they went to Kansas and lost by four. Their offense ranks just behind North Carolina, ranking 21st with 85.8 points per game. Their defense ranks 19th as they permit just 61.6 points per game. UConn outrebounds the opposition by 15.5 boards per game. I do expect the Huskies to bounce back from that tough loss. Huskies to win.