Welcome to another big night in college hoops, as teams begin to really settle into conference action.
We have three college basketball best bets for the action, including picks for matchups in the ACC, Big 12, and SEC.
Check out our NCAAB predictions for Tuesday, January 13th, below.
College Basketball Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:00 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
  | 9:00 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. | ||
Virginia vs. Louisville Pick
By Ryan Minion
Tuesday’s ACC showdown has sizable implications for the Cardinals, as a 2-2 start to their conference schedule has dwindled their NCAA Tournament resume.
In a matchup featuring two offenses that love to run and gun, I expect an extremely up-tempo contest with a ton of scoring.
While Virginia enters the contest red hot offensively, Ryan Odom’s bunch has played three of its first four conference games in the comfort of its home arena.
I expect the Hoos’ first real ACC road trip to be an extremely difficult test, especially when matched up with a Louisville team that can match their offensive firepower.
The Cardinals have their backs against the wall and are desperate for a conference victory to improve to 3-2 in the ACC.
Pick: Louisville ML
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West Virginia vs. Houston Prediction
By Evan Abrams
This game has activated one of our Action PRO betting systems:
In college basketball, games played in specific arenas often trend under due to consistent environmental and stylistic factors tied to the venue rather than neutral-court unfamiliarity.
Many of these stadiums, both home and neutral, feature deeper backdrops, unique lighting, and court setups that slow the pace and limit shooting efficiency.
Teams playing in these environments, especially those coming off an under in their previous outing, tend to continue that pattern as coaches emphasize defense and control over tempo.
Across multiple seasons, these venues have shown a reliable tendency toward lower-scoring outcomes, making the under a favorable play in stadiums where shooting rhythm and offensive flow are historically harder to sustain.
This system is 28-13 this season, a 68% win rate producing a 31% ROI. And it's hard not to back Houston's elite defense at home, where Cougar games are 7-4 to the Under this year.
Pick: Under 128.5 or Better
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Alabama vs. Mississippi State Pick
Although Alabama is banged up and coming off two disastrous back-to-back losses, I still project the Tide as a nine-point favorite in this matchup. I would play them at -6 or better, or at a three-point difference between the market and my projections.
Nate Oats is 7-0 straight up and 6-1 against the spread against Chris Jans. Even though Josh Hubbard went nuclear in both head-to-head matchups last season, Alabama won and covered both games.
The Bulldogs struggle to protect the dribble, often over-helping and allowing catch-and-shoot 3s. That leaves them particularly vulnerable to an elite drive-and-kick offense like Alabama's.
Pick: Alabama -6 or Better
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