College basketball tips off today with a top-100 matchup between Alabama-Tennessee. However, today’s slate also offers a slew of elite matchups including Marquette-St. John’s and Connecticut-Villanova. With plenty of college basketball action in store, let’s dive into today’s best college basketball betting picks and predictions, for Alabama-Tennessee 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: Alabama-Tennessee State Bet (More!)
Alabama-Tennessee Odds
Odds via Bet365
Alabama: +165 | Tennessee -200
Alabama +5.0: -110 | Tennessee -5.0: -110
Over 157.5: | Under 157.5: -110
When: Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m. ET
Best Alabama-Tennessee Bet
Starting the year 12-5 behind the 18th most difficult schedule, Alabama opened conference play with a 4-0 start. Their only four losses occurred against top 50 opponents and all of them occurred away from home with the exception of Clemson. Meanwhile, Tennessee has a 13-4 record with the fifth most difficult schedule. 3-1 in conference play, Tennessee will now host Alabama as a five-point favorite in a game with a 157.5 total.
Starting with the Alabama side, this team has been an enigma for much of the season. This team ranks first in offensive efficiency and largely wins through their elite guard play. Mark Sears currently shoots 48% from three, while Rylan Griffen and Aaron Estrada come in just shy of 40%. Tennessee does rank fourth in defensive efficiency, where they excel across the board. Alabama has struggled in matchups like this so far this year and they have a reputation for living and dying by the three. They rank fifth in the country in three point percentage, but Tennessee is 38th in defending the perimeter. Inside, Alabama remains a foul-dependent roller coaster.
As for Tennessee, this team retains the elite defense of previous seasons, but they’ve jumped to 26th in offensive efficiency behind transfer Dalton Knecht. Alabama ranks 62nd in defensive efficiency, which stands out in this matchup. On top of Knecht, Tennessee’s true point guard Zakai Zeigler has ramped up to 30+ minutes after last year’s ACL tear. They also have an experienced frontcourt with Josiah-Jordan James and Jonas Aidoo to combat the foul-prone Alabama big men. In what should be an uptempo game, Tennessee should continue to find ways to frustrate Alabama here.
Best College Basketball Predictions Today: Tennessee -5.0 -110 at Bet365
Marquette-St. John’s Odds
Odds via Bet365
Marquette: +105 | St. John’s: -125
Marquette +1.5: -110 | St. John’s -1.5: -115
Over 156.0: | Under 156.0: -110
When: Saturday, January 20 at 12 p.m. ET
Marquette-St. John’s Best Bet
Somewhat up and down to start the year, Marquette enters this game with a 12-5 record behind the ninth most difficult schedule. Four of these losses occurred away from Milwaukee with the exception of Butler last week. Overall, Marquette sits at 3-3 in conference. Meanwhile, St. John’s has a 12-6 record behind the 14th most difficult schedule. Now 4-3 in conference play, St. John’s will host Marquette as 1.5-point favorites in a game with an 156 total.
Hitting the road here, Marquette has been forced to condense their rotation after losing Sean Jones and Chase Ross to injury. With that said, their big three in Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones, and Oso Ighodaro remains intact. In what has been a down year for the Golden Eagles, Marquette still ranks 39th in offensive efficiency and 14th on defense. This team has been excellent inside behind the improved play of Ighodaro and David Joplin and they continue to force turnovers at the sixth highest rate. Interestingly, this team ranks 257th in three point percentage after ranking top 100 last year. With the same personnel, positive regression should hit Marquette at some point.
St. John’s enters this game off a blowout loss to Seton Hall, where Rick Pitino didn’t coach due to an illness. The team completely altered their rotation during that game, adding some confusion here. Furthermore, transfer Jordan Dingle will miss this game, while contributors Brady Dunlap and Chris Ledlum have battled injury over the last two weeks. As for on-court performance, St. John’s still trails Marquette in most shooting categories, despite Marquette’s down year. This team ranks 188th in effective field goal percentage, while Marquette ranks 84th. St. John’s does have a rebounding advantage, but Marquette actually comes in with superior effective height metrics. Overall, expect Marquette’s pressure defense to give St. John’s problems, making them playable at the underdog price.
Best College Basketball Pick Today, Player Prop: Marquette +1.5 -115 at Bet365
Purdue-Iowa Odds
Odds via Bet365
Purdue: -280 | Iowa: +230
Purdue -6.5: -110 | Iowa -6.5: -110
Over 165.5: | Under 165.5: -110
When: Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m. ET
Purdue-Iowa Best Bet
A top three team by most metrics, Purdue takes their 16-2 team to Iowa after playing the most difficult schedule in the country to this point. Interestingly, both losses occurred within conference and on the road (Northwestern, Nebraska). On the other side, Iowa has an 11-6 record behind the 45th ranked schedule. Despite an 0-3 start to conference play, this team has rattled off three straight wins and now enters this game as a 6.5 point underdog.
Perhaps the premier sell high spot of the season, Iowa enters this contest riding high after knocking off Rutgers, Nebraska, and Minnesota in three consecutive games. Like most Iowa teams of late, defense remains the primary concern. The Hawkeyes rank 119th in overall defensive efficiency and 222nd on the interior. They will cede a major height advantage, which stems all adjacent statistical categories like rebounding. Overall, they’re severely overmatched in this game.
As for Purdue, player of the year frontrunner Zach Edey might go for 30 points. Edey exploits one of the premier mismatches on the slate and really only has fouls to worry about. Fortunately, Edey has one of the lowest foul rates in the country for big men. He only averages 2.3 fouls per 40 minutes. If that wasn’t enough, Purdue ranks sixth in three point percentage, while Iowa also ranks outside the top 100 in three point defense. Running hot and home court only account for so much. Purdue alternate lines are in play here.
Best College Basketball Predictions Today, Player Prop: Purdue -6.5 -115 at Bet365
Virginia-Georgia Tech Odds
Odds via Bet365
Virginia: -125 | Georgia Tech: +105
Virginia -1.5: -110 | Georgia Tech +1.5: -110
Over 128.5: | Under 128.5: -110
When: Saturday, January 20 at 6 p.m. ET
Virginia-Georgia Tech Best Bet
Beginning the year 12-5 behind the 107th most difficult schedule, Virginia opened ACC play with a 3-3 start. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech has a 9-8 record behind the 23rd most difficult schedule. Now 2-4 in conference play, Georgia Tech will host Virginia as 1.5-point underdogs in a game with an 128.5 total.
A tale of two teams, Virginia enters this game as a veteran team with a capped ceiling, while Georgia Tech has continued to improve through their exciting youth. Typical of most Virginia teams, the Cavaliers continue to play at one of the slowest paces in the country. This adds volatility to each matchup, which remains important with this team’s lack of scoring ability. Virginia ranks egregiously low for a power six team with the 194th ranked offensive efficiency. They still rank fifth in overall defense, but this team simply cannot score. They also create few second chance points, ranking 264th in rebounding.
A younger, more volatile team, Georgia Tech has already knocked of Duke and Clemson in conference. With that said, they’ve also lost an overtime game to Notre Dame. Georgia Tech ranks 105th in offensive efficiency and 132nd on defense. However, they’ve made significant strides through the year. This shows up particularly on offense, where they’ve climbed to 77th since December. Two premier freshman in Naithan George and Baye Ndongo have continued to see their minutes climb, which has been a major boost for this team. This bet does come with risk, given Georgia Tech’s lack of experience, but they’re the more talented team.
Best College Basketball Predictions Today, Player Prop: Georgia Tech +1.5 -115 at BetMGM
