Just one ranked team — No. 25 Georgia — is in action in college basketball on Thursday. But that doesn't mean there isn't value to be had in the sport.
In fact, there are three spots our staff is targeting on Thursday.
Read below for college basketball best bets and NCAAB picks and predictions for Thursday, December 18.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9 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. | ||
Jackson State vs. Hampton
By Joshua Nunn
I don't think the Jackson State defense is as bad as the numbers show. This team has faced a murderers' row of opponents who have overwhelmed it.
Illinois, Louisville, Auburn, Arkansas, and Houston were just so much more supremely talented than Jackson State and ended up with layup lines on the other end after turning over the Tigers' offense. That won't be the case here.
Defensively, Hampton will match up well with Jackson State and should force the Tigers to be methodical on offense. I would expect both teams to operate at a slower pace, and I have this one being played at 65-67 total possessions.
Jackson State ranks 361st nationally in effective field goal percentage, and Hampton ranks 337th.
With this game being played at a neutral site in an unfamiliar gym, with two teams that should both be up for this one, I'll call for defense to set the tone.
Pick: Under 135.5
Check out Duck's full preview on this game:
Western Carolina vs. Georgia
By Evan Abrams
In a classic spot for Evan Abrams "Betting the Bad" system, Western Carolina fits perfectly as a struggling road team (0-6 away, multiple blowout losses including a recent 96-74 defeat to Virginia Tech) facing a massive inflated spread against an explosive, high-scoring Georgia squad (9-1, averaging 98+ PPG with lopsided wins like 107-73 over Florida State and 123-81 over Tennessee Tech).
Oddsmakers and the public have overadjusted to the Bulldogs' offensive dominance and ranking, pushing the line to 34.5-36.5 amid heavy-favorite bias, while perception of the Catamounts has hit rock bottom after repeated poor performances.
Teams in these "lowest point" scenarios often stabilize through motivation, reduced pressure, regression to the mean and game-flow advantages such as garbage-time scoring, free throws and eased defense from the favorite — creating consistent value for massive underdogs even in probable losses.
Back the Catamounts to outperform expectations and cover this overblown number in what should play out closer than the market suggests.
Pick: Western Carolina +34.5
Illinois State vs. Southern Illinois
Illinois State is 8-3 overall. The Redbirds have also been covering machines. They've beaten the spread in five of the last six, and missed the lone loss in that frame by 1.5 points in a double-digit win.
Is it legit?
Projections say yes, essentially.
In fact, predictive college basketball models in PRO believe the wrong team is favored on Thursday night.
Pick: Illinois State +2.5
Check out Alex's full PRO article now:
