College basketball tips off tonight with a top-100 matchup between Illinois and Michigan. However, plenty of action also exists out west with Washington-Cal and Oregon-Colorado on the slate. With plenty of college basketball action in store, let’s dive into today’s best college basketball betting picks and predictions, for Washington-Cal and more. Make sure to check out our other college basketball articles and our college basketball betting tools! Nonetheless, onto our best college basketball picks today!
Best College Basketball Predictions Today: Washington-Cal Bet (More!)
Washington-Cal Odds
Odds via Bet365
Washington: -105 | Cal -115
Washington +1.0: -110 | Cal -1.0: -110
Over 154.5: | Under 154.5: -110
When: Thursday, January 18 at 9 p.m. ET
Best Washington-Cal Bet
Starting the year 10-7 behind the 27th most difficult schedule, Washington opened conference play with a 2-4 start. This included an embarrassing 73-61 loss at UCLA on Sunday. Meanwhile, Cal has a 6-11 record with the 39th most difficult schedule. Also, 2-4 in conference play, Cal will now host Washington as a one-point favorite in a game with a 154.5 total.
Starting with the Washington side, this team has been without 6-11 Frank Kepang for seven games now. However, this team still ranks 52nd in offensive efficiency and 62nd inside, behind their 40th-ranked effective height. Even without Kepang, this team possesses elite size. Keion Brooks Jr., Moses Wood, Wilhelm Breidenbach, and Braxton Meah all stand between 6-7 and 7-1. Cal actually ranks 37th in effective height, but they’ve struggled defensively all season. This unit ranks 189th overall, including 192nd inside and 322nd from three. Washington isn’t the best shooting team, but their 85th-ranked effective shooting percentage still edges 167th-ranked Cal.
As mentioned above, Cal has been a liability inside despite their size. Fardaws Aimaq provides their primary interior presence at a height of 6-11. However, he comes in as the second-worst defender, according to EvanMiya.com. Cal does rank 77th in offensive efficiency, but they sometimes live and die by the three. They rank 54th in three-point rate, but only 143rd in three-point percentage. More troubling, Washington ranks 92nd in three-point defense. Aside from Sahvir Wheeler, this is a pretty solid defense by PAC12 standards
Best College Basketball Predictions Today: Washington +1.0 -110 at Bet365
Eastern Washington-Weber State Odds
Odds via Bet365
Eastern Washington: +180 | Weber State: -220
Eastern Washington +5.0: -110 | Weber State -5.0: -110
Over 146: | Under 146: -110
When: Thursday, January 18 at 9 p.m. ET
Eastern Washington-Weber State Best Bet
Starting the year 9-7 behind the 46th most difficult schedule, Eastern Washington opened conference play with a 3-0 start. Meanwhile, Weber State has an 11-6 record with the 167th most difficult schedule. Now 2-2 in conference play, Weber State will host one of the most dangerous teams in the Big Sky as five-point favorites in a game with a 146 total.
Starting with the road team, what makes Eastern Washington so dangerous is their lethal shooting. Metric-wise, this team ranks 81st in offensive efficiency, 18th in effective field goal percentage, 28th in three-point rate, and 12th in three-point percentage. They’re also 100th in effective height and 62nd in interior offense. Weber State ranks 192nd in defensive efficiency, but they hemorrhage points inside where they rank 317th on defense. If Weber State opts to pack the paint, Eastern Washington has three of their top six scorers shooting over 40% from three and five of their top six topping 35%.
As for Weber State, this team can also score. They rank 91st in offensive efficiency, which clashes against Eastern Washington’s 191st ranked defense. This team does have the two best players in the conference in Dillon Jones and Blaise Threatt. However, they aren’t as balanced as Eastern Washington. This team also doesn’t have the raw shot-making ability. They rank 105th in effective field goal percentage, 142nd in two-point percentage, and 65th in three-point percentage. All of which trail Eastern Washington. Home court certainly needs to be considered, but all of Eastern Washington’s road losses came against top 100 teams. It makes sense to catch the better team receiving five points here.
Best College Basketball Pick Today, Player Prop: Eastern Washington +5 -110 at Bet365
