We're getting set for our first full college basketball Saturday (without major football) this week.
But before we get to the big day in our favorite sport, there's value to be had on Friday.
Read below for college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB picks and predictions for Friday, December 12.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 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. | ||
Missouri State vs. Xavier
Xavier has hit its stride the past several games after a truly brutal start to the season.
In fact, since its loss to Iowa, Xavier is 5-1 straight up and against the spread. The Muskies are starting to find their rhythm with their misfit of mid-major castaways.
On the flip side, Missouri State is barely a basketball team. The Bears have been wildly disappointing, dropping nearly 100 spots in KenPom and getting blown out at Tulsa, LIU and UT Arlington.
To make matters worse, Michael Osei-Bonsu — the Bears’ offensive fulcrum — missed last game and could be out again on Friday.
Xavier can’t really take full advantage of Missouri State’s weak rebounding, but its offense has been electric in transition, and Richard Pitino’s guards have done a fantastic job of protecting the rock and shooting the long-ball.
The same can't be said about the Bears, who severely lack competent guard play and rank 334th nationally in 3-point percentage.
If Osei-Bonsu is out, that takes away Missouri State’s primary offense: the post. The Bears will instead look to play through Keith Palek III, a big man who's been solid this season, albeit inefficient.
Xavier has plenty of size to throw at Palek, and 6-foot-8 forward Tre Carroll is coming off a career effort against Cincinnati. Palek will be no match for the waves of bodies Pitino can throw at him, and it’s not like he has much help anywhere else.
The pace should be high enough to allow Xavier to extend, continue its win streak and blow out the Bears.
Pick: Xavier -18.5 (Play to -20)
Texas vs. UConn
This is a bit of a “hold your nose” game with how good UConn has looked this year, but Texas has a ton of size and talent that is well-coached.
Blowing out the Longhorns is no easy feat, unless you’re Virginia and shoot 12-of-24 from 3 while the Horns shoot 4-of-19 from downtown.
Texas has shown it can rise up to top tier competition. It handled NC State in Maui, was up double digits on a feisty Arizona State squad (before ultimately losing) and hung with Duke for 30+ minutes.
UConn is a much better team than Texas, but Texas can hang.
More importantly, Texas has enough size to wall up in the paint and make it challenging for star UConn big Tarris Reed Jr. to operate.
On the other end, FAU transfer Matas Vokietaitis is skilled and crafty enough to get Reed in foul trouble to take him out of the game. Vokietaitis ranks second in the nation in fouls drawn per 40 minutes while Reed has picked up four fouls in each of his last two contests against Florida and Illinois.
The free throw line will be the key for the Longhorns, as they're a top-10 team nationally in free-throw attempt rate and UConn — despite all of Dan Hurley’s complaining — loves to foul.
On the other end, the Longhorns are long past due for some shooting regression to come their way. Despite doing a solid job at limiting outside shots with their lengthy perimeter, opponents are scorching the nets against them from deep. Texas ranks 289th in 3-point percentage allowed.
UConn has capable shooters, but Texas’ ability to defend one-on-one in the post and have the switchable Dailyn Swain chase around Alex Karaban should help the Longhorns thwart the Huskies’ shooting efforts.
UConn will win this game, but Texas can certainly make it interesting.
Pick: Texas +15.5 (Play to +15)
East Texas A&M vs. McNeese State
Huge conference dogs are usually ripe for betting, as the season sort of “resets” and the foes become familiar.
To boot, East Texas A&M has been pretty solid lately, beating Fairleigh Dickinson, Army and Central Arkansas in the midst of losing to bigger names. In fact, the Lions are a muscular 6-1 against the spread.
But Friday's matchup against McNeese is just not in their favor.
Since McNeese “got good” under Will Wade in the 2023-24 season, it's 4-0 against East Texas A&M with wins by six, 26, 19 and 16. The Lions have been successful mucking the game up once in four tries, but usually the Cowboys’ overwhelming talent has won out.
The key factor in Friday's contest is the turnover battle. Nobody in the country forces turnovers at a higher rate than McNeese, and East Texas A&M ranks 309th nationally in protecting the rock.
The Lions will barely be able to get into their offense against the tenacious McNeese defense, spearheaded by former Providence and Seton Hall guard Garwey Dual.
And considering East Texas A&M is one of the worst offensive rebounding teams in college basketball, precious possessions will be hard to come by.
The Lions’ only hope is to bomb away from deep and hope shots fall.
McNeese should decimate East Texas A&M, as it did Northwestern State in the last Southland game, winning by 48 points. A power-level-caliber roster will get to the rim at will against an East Texas A&M squad that ranks 341st in field goal attempt rate allowed at the rim, per CBB Analytics.
The Cowboys have been wrecking teams in transition, owning the offensive glass and earning regular trips to the foul line — all things they can do against East Texas A&M.
The pace should be high enough and East Texas A&M's offense is futile enough for McNeese to extend and win big as it continues its hunt for a third-straight NCAA Tournament bid.
Pick: McNeese -17.5 (Play to -19)
