Tonight’s college basketball action is highlighted by a Big 12 matchup between BYU and Baylor. However, this slate also contains marquee matchups between Houston and Iowa State within the same conference. Without further ado, let’s get right into today’s best college basketball picks and player props, for today, January 10. Make sure to check out our other college basketball articles and our college basketball betting tools!
Best College Basketball Picks & Player Props Today
Best College Basketball Side & Total Picks Today
BYU-Baylor Odds
Odds via bet365
BYU: +160 | Baylor: -190
BYU +4.5: -110 | Baylor -4.5: -110
Over 154.5: -110 | Under 154.5: -110
When: Tuesday, January 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET
BYU-Baylor Pick
BYU has burst onto the scene as a newcomer to the Big 12 with a 12-2 record behind the 286th-ranked strength of schedule. Similarly, perennial contender Baylor also is 12-2 with the No. 96 strength of schedule. As a 4.5-point underdog, BYU will look for its first top 20 win of the season.
Baylor presents a tricky stylistic matchup for BYU with a superior body of work. BYU is top 5 in offensive and defensive efficiency and generally has multiple paths to victory, including inside. BYU ranks 39th in effective height and fourth in rebounding. However, Baylor is 28th in effective height and 22nd in rebounding behind veteran Jalen Bridges and 7-0 newcomer Yves Missi.
Baylor also has two elite guards in RayJ Dennis and Jayden Nunn. In total, Baylor has five players currently shooting above 40% from 3, ranking second in the country in effective field goal percentage. More importantly, Baylor has achieved this over elite competition, beating Auburn and Florida already. Now playing on its home court, Baylor is worth a look in BYU’s first true jump in competition.
Best College Basketball Pick: Baylor -4.5 -110 at bet365
Houston-Iowa State Odds
Odds via bet365
Houston: -140 | Iowa State: +120
Houston -2.5: -110 | Iowa State +2.5: -110
Over 132: | Under 132: -110
When: Tuesday, January 9 at 7 p.m. ET
Houston-Iowa State Pick
Houston draws Iowa State in their second Big 12 game of the year. has a perfect 14-0 record behind the 236th-ranked strength of schedule while Iowa State is 11-3 after playing the 334th-most difficult schedule in the country.
At this point, neither team has played a difficult schedule, but Houston ranks 14th in offensive efficiency and first on defense. A trademark of Houston teams year-over-year has been its elite rebounding and causing turnovers, which is the case again this year despite a lack of outright size. Importantly for this matchup, Houston recently returned stud J’Wan Roberts, who stands 6-foot-7 and has one of the best defensive ratings in the country. The team also reloaded with L.J. Cryer and Damian Dunn in the transfer portal. Cryer shoots over 40% from 3, giving Houston multiple paths to victory in any matchup. This could be especially important with Iowa State ranking 194th in 3-point defense.
Iowa State has one top-100 win, which came over Iowa in December. Its three losses did occur against top-70 teams in Virginia Tech, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. Much of Iowa State’s success this season comes from its interior play, where Houston ranks first overall in interior defense. While Iowa State does get this game at home, Houston should find its second conference win of the season.
Best College Basketball Pick: Houston -2.5 -110 bet365
Looking for more college basketball action? OddsShopper Premium has identified this Georgia Tech first half moneyline as the highest-value one on today’s slate due to the market disparity between ESPNBet, where you’ll find this wager priced at -190, and the rest of the market. Our true odds say this should be priced at -203, so take advantage of the misprice while you can!
Best College Basketball Player Prop Bets Today
BYU-Baylor Player Prop
Baylor’s Yves Missi enters this game averaging 6.7 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 10.8 points per game on 20.2 minutes. However, as an elite 6-foot-10 freshman, Missi has recently worked his way into more minutes. With BYU also ranking 39th in effective height, Missi’s size will be needed in this matchup.
Missi has received an uptick in minutes since conference play started. In Baylor’s last two games, Missi played 21 and 30 minutes. Most recently, Missi put up 21 points and 10 rebounds in a 5-point victory over Oklahoma State. Outside of foul trouble, Missi has routinely eclipsed 25 minutes in competitive games, which projects to be the case here. BYU ranks 357th at drawing fouls, which should help Missi stay on the floor here.
Best College Basketball Player Prop: Yves Missi Over 17.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists -130 at DraftKings
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