We're getting ready for an absolutely stacked Saturday college basketball slate that features the CBS Sports Classic, among other big matchups and events.
But before we get there, we have a Friday slate with plenty of value from a betting perspective.
Read below for college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB expert picks and predictions for Friday, December 19.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Belmont vs. UC Irvine
A mid-major heavyweight battle tips off Friday night on the West Coast. UC Irvine and Belmont are both contenders in their respective conferences and threats for the NCAA Tournament.
After a rough start to the season that saw the Anteaters go 0-5 against the spread, Russell Turner’s crew has finally found its footing. UC Irvine has won its last four games — all by double digits — and is 3-0-1 against the number.
Lockdown defense has led the way, as is tradition with Irvine. The Anteaters are a top-20 defensive squad and sport the second-best 2-point field goal percentage defense and rim field goal percentage defense in the country.
Belmont loves the long ball, but the Bruins have been the nation’s fifth-best rim finishing team and rank ninth in 2-point field goal percentage.
So, strength meets strength.
On the other end, offense hasn’t come easy for the Anteaters, but they’ve been solid the past three games. UC Irvine has a few talented guards — Derin Saran, Jurian Dixon and Jovan Jester — who should be able to get something going against a good but not elite Bruins defense.
The key is the defensive end. UC Irvine will hope to decimate Belmont on this end, denying the precious 3-ball and funneling drivers into one of the strongest interior walls in the nation.
Defensive stops should lead to offensive confidence and success.
It also doesn’t hurt that this is an essentially meaningless game in late December for Belmont, which has already started conference play and now has to fly halfway across the country before the holiday break.
Pick: UC Irvine -1.5 (Play to -2)
Cal Poly vs. UCLA
This is a big spread for a very competent and well-coached mid-major squad driving just four hours to play in what should be a fairly empty Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA is fat and happy off a win over Arizona State and could certainly sleep its way to a victory on Friday night.
While the Bruins have smashed two teams by nearly 40 (Sacramento State and Presbyterian), multiple mid-major squads — including Eastern Washington, Pepperdine and West Georgia — have played UCLA within 21 points.
Cal Poly plays extremely fast, which is worrisome when backing the less talented dog, but UCLA runs a half-court-based attack and likely won’t be looking to make this a transition-only contest.
As alluded to above, Cal Poly isn't a pushover. Over the past one-and-a-half seasons under Mike DeGeorge, Cal Poly has won at Stanford, hung around at Arizona State and Saint Mary’s, and beat Utah.
Power competition doesn’t scare the Mustangs.
USC did thump them in a 30-point win on opening night, but USC plays much more up-tempo than UCLA and has more offensive firepower.
As is often the case, this game likely comes down to how well Cal Poly is shooting the 3. The Stangs rely on the outside shot (top-20 nationally in 3-point attempt rate), and they have a plethora of capable marksmen.
If they can handle the rock and reasonably limit turnovers against a tough UCLA perimeter defense, they should be able to make enough shots to keep this within 25.
On the other end, Cal Poly has legit positional size to match up with the Bruins on the glass, though UCLA won’t likely find it too difficult to score.
Grip it and rip it on the 'dog and hold on for dear life.
Pick: Cal Poly +26.5 (Play to +24)
North Alabama vs. Loyola Marymount
While everyone is either at a bar or fast asleep in their beds, we have the honor of betting an under in a game featuring two mid-major teams nicknamed the Lions. How lucky are we?
This game should be an ugly affair — a slow, low-possession game with a lot of defense, little offense and tons of half-court basketball.
North Alabama games have gone under the point total in four of the last five. The purple Lions rank 281st in rate of possessions used in transition and are among the bottom in the nation in offensive pace.
A lack of shooting helps the under trend, and North Alabama plays primarily through the post while using a ton of off-ball movement and cutting. Possessions often linger late into the clock.
Loyola Marymount is well-equipped to defend North Alabama on this end. The crimson and blue Lions are huge and defend the post and the paint very well.
North Alabama will likely be limited to one shot every time down the floor and likely won’t be able to get to the charity stripe much against a disciplined defense.
On the other end, Loyola Marymount's offense hasn’t exactly been pretty. The Lions run a little more than North Alabama, but they rank outside the top 200 in points per possession in transition.
They shoot fairly well from deep but are prone to cold streaks, are horrible free throw shooters and settle for a lot of five-to-eight footers instead of getting all the way to the cup.
North Alabama is very scrappy inside the arc — Tony Pujol’s team battles and will fight tooth and nail against the bigger Loyola Marymount squad. Expect North Alabama to make it a war in the paint.
If Loyola Marymount is cold from deep, this game should finish comfortably below the total.
Pick: Under 136.5 (Play to 134)
