Tonight’s college basketball action is highlighted by a trio of Big 12 matchups between Iowa State-BYU, TCU-Cincinnati and Baylor-Kansas State. However, this slate also contains a few under-the-radar matchups like Wake Forest-North Carolina State in the ACC. Now let’s get into today’s best college basketball predictions and player props for today. Make sure to check out our other college basketball articles and our college basketball betting tools!
Best College Basketball Predictions & Player Props Today
Best College Basketball Side & Total Picks Today
Wake Forest-North Carolina State Odds
Odds via bet365
Wake Forest: +110 | North Carolina State: -130
Wake Forest +2.0: -110 | North Carolina State -2.0: -110
Over 149.5: -110 | Under 149.5: -110
When: Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Wake Forest-North Carolina State Pick
Wake Forest hits the road at 12-4 to take on North Carolina State as a 2-point underdog in a game with a 149.5 total. Wake Forest has played the 104th-most difficult schedule, which ranks ahead of the 12-4 North Carolina State Wolfpack. North Carolina State’s strength of schedule is 158th on the year and only has two top-100 wins (Boston College in overtime and Virginia). Meanwhile, Wake Forest has six wins within the top 100.
Wake Forest has numerous advantages over North Carolina State, as it ranks 31st in offensive efficiency and 71st on defense. Meanwhile, North Carolina State checks in 77th on offense and 86th on defense. Wake Forest is also 10th in effective height, while North Carolina State is 149th. These advantages extend to rebounding, effective field goal percentage and foul ratio. Wake Forest has only one win away from home, but it has also improved since some of those losses. In addition to solidifying its rotation, Efton Reid III has provided a massive spark inside when he doesn’t foul.
Best College Basketball Predictions: Wake Forest +2.0 -110 at bet365
Butler-Xavier Odds
Odds via bet365
Butler: +195 | Xavier: -240
Butler +5.5: -110 | Xavier -5.5: -110
Over 150.5: | Under 150.5: -110
When: Tuesday, January 16 at 6.30 p.m. ET
Butler-Xavier Pick
Butler takes on Xavier n under the radar matchup in the Big East. Butler is 11-6 with the 26th-ranked strength of schedule, while Xavier is 8-8 and has fifth-most difficult schedule. Given the tough competition on both sides, the over looks like the top target in this matchup.
First of all, both teams play at an above-average tempo. Xavier ranks 80th in adjusted tempo and Butler comes in 144th. When adjusted for schedule, Butler ranks 36th in offensive efficiency and Xavier is 59th. Xavier has also improved throughout the year, climbing near the top 50 since the start of December. This team lost Zach Freemantle and Jerome Hunter before the season. With more time to gel, it isn’t surprising this team has played better of late. Finally, both teams have struggled defensively at times. Butler ranks 122nd if defensive efficiency, while Xavier is 70th. Overall, this matchup sets up well towards the over.
Best College Basketball Predictions: Butler-Xavier Over 150.5 -110 bet365
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Best College Basketball Props Today
Florida-Tennessee Player Prop
Florida takes on Tennessee as a 9.5-point underdog in a game with a 159 total. Many of the Tennessee players enter this slate with depressed props despite playing at home behind this massive total and Tennessee playing much faster of late. The Volunteers rank 90th in adjusted tempo.
Within the Tennessee starting five, Dalton Knecht stands out towards the over on his points + rebounds + assists prop. Tennessee will condense minutes for starters in competitive conference games, which this projects to be. Knecht averages 28.1 minutes per game on the year but has played 33 and 37 minutes in Tennessee’s last two games. He dominates this team, posting a usage rate above 20%, and he has the efficiency to back it up. He is the only starter to shoot 40% from 3 this year. Over the last three games, Knecht has a 22% shot rate, 11% rebound rate and 9.3% assist rate. Our player projections currently have Knecht for 27.9 points + rebounds + assists.
Best College Basketball Player Prop: Dalton Knecht over 23.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists -115 at DraftKings
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