College basketball Thursday tips off today with a slew of mid-major matchups and a pair of power six matchups between Arizona-Oregon State and Arizona State-Oregon. Within the mid-majors, today’s slate also offers elite matchups like Arkansas State-Louisiana and UC Irvine-Long Beach State. With plenty of college basketball action in store, let’s dive into today’s best college basketball betting picks and predictions. Make sure to check out our other college basketball articles and our college basketball betting tools!
Best College Basketball Predictions and Bets Today
Arkansas State-Louisiana Odds
Odds via Bet365
Arkansas State: +160 | Louisiana -190
Arkansas State +4.0: -110 | Louisiana -4.0: -110
Over 155.0: | Under 155.0: -110
When: Thursday, January 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Best Arkansas State-Louisiana Bet
A pair of teams sitting at 4-3 in the Sun Belt, Arkansas State travels to Louisiana as a four point underdog in a game with a 155 total. Currently, Arkansas State has an 8-11 record with the 222nd most difficult schedule. Meanwhile, Louisiana checks in 11-8 behind the 120th most difficult schedule. A rematch from earlier this year, Louisiana took the first meeting 84-80, despite playing on the road.
As far as stylistics go, this Louisiana team comes in with more balance. They rank 128th offensively, which clashes with a horrific Arkansas State defense ranked 285th. The Rajin’ Cajuns rank 88th in effective field goal percentage and 80th in three point percentage on the year. They also have the second-most efficient player in the entire conference, according to EvanMiya in Joe Charles. It should be noted, that Louisiana only ranks 297th in effective height and 271st in total rebounding, which will be a weakness in this matchup.
On the Arkansas State side, this team enters this contest with multiple injury concerns. Izaiyah Nelson suffered an in-game injury in their most recent contest. They already suffered from a short bench with Laquill Hardnett and Lado Laku missing that game. Despite the short bench, Taryn Todd and Dyondre Dominguez have still given this team top 12 efficiency within the Sun Belt. This team ranks 93rd in offensive efficiency and they do most of their damage from three. Unfortunately, Louisiana ranks 11th in opposing three point percentage and all of the injuries reside in Arkansas State’s frontcourt. Now returning home, Louisiana should complete the sweep of Arkansas State here.
Best College Basketball Prediction Today: Louisiana -4.0 (-110 at bet365)
UC Irvine-Long Beach State Odds
Odds via Bet365
UC Irvine: -165 | Long Beach State: +140
UC Irvine -4.0: -110 | Long Beach State +4.0: -110
Over 152.5: | Under 152.5: -110
When: Thursday, January 25 at 10:00 p.m. ET
UC Irvine-Long Beach State Best Bet
Moving to the Big West, UC Irvine takes on Long Beach State as a four-point road favorite in a game with a 152.5 total. UC Irvine enters this game with a 13-6 record, despite dropping their first conference game to UC Davis over the weekend. Overall, they’ve played the 105th most difficult schedule. As for Long Beach State, this team sits at 12-7 with upset wins over Michigan and USC coming as their signature wins. They’ve played the 185th most difficult schedule and sit at 4-3 within conference.
Starting with UC Irvine, this team appears fully healthy after Derin Saran, Devin Tillis, and Bent Leuchten all missed time earlier this season. Tillis and Leuchten rank as the two most efficient players within this conference, while Pierre Cockrell and Justin Hohn sit inside the top ten. Overall, UC Irvine ranks 172nd in offensive efficiency and 37th on defense. They’re also an elite shooting team within this conference, ranking 132nd in effective field goal percentage and 50th from three. This comes with four of their starters shooting at least 38% from three.
As for Long Beach State, the USC and Michigan victories continues to age poorly. Outside of that, they have two victories against top 200 opponents (Iona, Hawaii), but three losses to teams outside that mark (Portland, Illinois State, Cal St. Northridge). As a team they rank 141st in offensive efficiency and 253rd on defense. They win primarily through the interior, ranking 120th in two point percentage and 239th from three. However, they works right into the strength of UC Irvine, who sits at 13th in interior defense. Despite the talented transfers on this roster like Marcus Tsohonis, this roster simply hasn’t lived up to expectations of late.
Best College Basketball Prediction Today: UC Irvine -4.0 (-110 at Bet365)
FIU-Western Kentucky Odds
Odds via Bet365
FIU: +230 | Western Kentucky: -280
FIU +6.5: -110 | Western Kentucky -6.5: -110
Over 158.0: | Under 158.0: -110
When: Thursday, January 25 at 8:00 p.m. ET
FIU-Western Kentucky Best Bet
Heading to CUSA, FIU travels to Western Kentucky as a 6.5 point underdog in a game with a 158 total. FIU enters this game with a 7-11 schedule behind the 244th ranked strength of schedule. They currently sit at 2-2 in the conference. On the other side, Western Kentucky holds a 13-6 record behind the 209th most difficult schedule.
Western Kentucky remains an interesting evaluation to this point. A team built through two years of transfer portal acquisitions, they currently ranks 230th on offense and 59th on defense. They ranks 206th from three as a collective, but Dom McHenry, Tyrone Marshall, Khristian Lander, and Dontaie Allen all shoot at least 35% from three. Florida International ranks 250th in overall defensive efficiency and outside the top 330 in both opposing two and three point percentage. It should be noted that Lander is battling a concussion, but that occurred over a week ago, giving him a decent chance to suit up here.
As for Florida International, this team will likely be shorthanded again after second-most efficient player Jonathan Aybar has been out. This leaves just Arturo Dean as a legitimate threat and it shows. On top of their defensive woes, FIU ranks 244th in offensive efficiency. At 6-9, Aybar’s absence leaves the Panthers shorthanded in their frontcourt, which looked like their top path to a cover. Western Kentucky plays elite defense, ranking 132nd inside and 30th from the perimeter. The Hilltoppers should have no problem with this matchup.
Best College Basketball Prediction Today: Western Kentucky -6.5 (-110 at Bet365)
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