Welcome to another beautiful Saturday in college basketball.
With football officially in the rear-view mirror (save for next Sunday’s Super Bowl), the nation turns its eyes to the hardcourt. We’re here to help in that endeavor with five of our favorite wagers for the 141-game slate, including bets from Noon to Midnight.
Read on for our college basketball best bets and NCAAB predictions for Saturday, Jan. 31.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 2 p.m. | |
  | 4:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 10:30 p.m. | |
 | 12 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. | ||
Cincinnati vs. Houston Pick
By Sean Paul
I'll lay the number with Houston.
The total is low. But would it surprise me if Houston popped off for 75 or more, as it did against West Virginia? Not at all.
The Cougars scored 1.05 PPP against Cincinnati's defense in the first meeting, but they shot just 32% from deep. I expect a higher-scoring output if their shooting gets closer to their season average of 34%.
In the first meeting, Cincinnati shot 52% on 2s, and the Bearcats' bigs were able to find a lot of easy layups.
If I know anything about Kelvin Sampson, he'll find a way to take Thiam and Miller out of the game and force the Bearcats to play more on the perimeter than at the rim.
Pick: Houston -15 or Better
North Carolina vs. Georgia Tech Pick
I project just 153.8 points for this ACC showdown, so I’d bet the Under at 157 or better — or a three-point-or-greater difference between my projection and the market.
North Carolina ranks dead last among ACC teams in defensive efficiency, but I think the Tar Heels have been super unlucky on that side of the ball, as opponents have shot over 41% from 3. That’s an unsustainable number, and I think the Heels’ defense is super underrated.
All that regression should come against Georgia Tech, as the Yellow Jackets have poor spacing and hate to shoot, ranking dead last in the ACC in 3-point attempt rate (32%).
Instead, Damon Staudamire’s offenses are predicated on downhill ball-screen and cutting sets. But I doubt that works against the Tar Heels, who are elite in ball-screen coverage (.78 PPP allowed, 96th percentile) and can wall off the rim with Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesar (22 at-the-rim points allowed per game, second-lowest in the ACC).
I’m banking on North Carolina shutting down Georgia Tech’s offense, and I just need the Yellow Jackets to provide some resistance on the other end.
But Georgia Tech's defense is not bad, ranking third in the ACC in effective field goal percentage allowed (49%). I think Baye Ndongo and Kowacie Reeves can contain Wilson on rolls and post-up sets, as the Jackets rank well above-average defending both actions (.79 PNR PPP allowed, 94th percentile; .89 post-up PPP allowed, 63rd percentile).
Regardless, I trust my numbers.
Pick: Under 157 or Better
BYU vs. Kansas Pick
By Jim Root
The primary storyline in this game will be the showdown between the two highly-touted freshmen.
AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson could be the top two picks in the NBA Draft come June, and Allen Fieldhouse will be crawling with professional scouts as a result.
They may not defend each other for most of the game, though. Expect BYU to throw Kennard Davis Jr.'s length at Peterson, while Kansas probably alternates Melvin Council and Tre White on the lanky Dybantsa.
The overall matchup matters far more to the handicap.
Can BYU score against this highly switchable Kansas defensive unit? The Cougars’ collection of individual scorers probably makes them more capable than most foes.
However, Kansas’ offense with Peterson in the mix will be a challenging wrinkle for the Cougars, as Davis — like basically any college defender — will struggle badly to contain the electric scoring guard.
Expect BYU to mix in a couple of zone possessions here and there if the Kansas offense gets going. Head coach Kevin Young and his staff love to toss a curveball, and that would prevent Peterson and Council from getting downhill off the bounce.
That changeup could trip the Jayhawks up at times, but I still think Kansas — with extra time off — is my pick here.
Bill Self’s health seems to have stabilized, and Kansas is clearly ascending with Peterson back healthy.
Even with Kansas in a tougher spot — the Jayhawks have to go to Texas Tech on Monday — give me the home team at -5 or better.
Pick: Kansas -5 or Better
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UConn vs. Creighton Pick
By Evan Abrams
This game triggered one of our Action PRO Betting Systems:
In regular-season college basketball conference play, unranked teams coming off large defeats often present hidden value when facing highly ranked opponents.
After losing by between 15 and 45 points, teams tend to be undervalued by both the public and oddsmakers, creating favorable situations against inflated spreads.
The combination of embarrassment, focus, and motivation to regain credibility can elevate effort and execution, particularly when facing a top-six opponent that may overlook them.
Within familiar conference settings, where preparation and style matchups are well understood, these teams often channel that urgency into competitive performances that outperform market expectations.
The Bluejays are coming off one of the most embarrassing performances by any Power Conference team this season, a 26-point defeat at the hands of a very bad Marquette team.
However, Greg McDermott has always played Dan Hurley tough, winning three of the past four head-to-head matchups, twice as underdogs of over a possession.
The Bluejays' strict drop-coverage defense typically throws a wrench into UConn's complex motion offense. I'm banking on the same thing happening in Omaha on Saturday.
This is an ideal bounce-back spot for Creighton. Meanwhile, UConn has been overvalued all season, as the Huskies are just 6-15 ATS — they've failed to cover in six straight.
Pick: Creighton +6 or Better
Saint Mary's vs. Gonzaga Pick
By Duck
This line opened with Gonzaga listed as a 10.5-point favorite, with a total set at 148.5.
And I like the Under.
Saint Mary’s has a long and storied history with Gonzaga and has actually gotten the better of its counterpart in recent history.
The Gaels have won four of the past six regular-season meetings, and Randy Bennett has done well to defend against the Gonzaga offensive system.
The Gaels have a strong post presence, and I believe their defense will be effective enough to limit Gonzaga's offense.
Gonzaga has seen their offensive output drop without Braden Huff and Graham Ike in the fold. Getting Ike back will be a big lift, but I believe we will see effective defense from Saint Mary’s in the post.
Gonzaga will have to score in other ways. The Bulldogs lead the country in points in the paint by a wide margin and have been able to exploit less-talented defenses in the paint.
But that won't happen here, so the guards will have to hit jumpers.
I fully expect Saint Mary’s to muck this game up and slow the pace down. The Gaels handle ball pressure well and do not get sped up on offense.
This is going to be a pace war, and I believe the slower-paced Saint Mary’s will win that battle.
At the same time, I think both defenses step up, leading to a slower-paced slog that finishes with fewer than 147 points.
Pick: Under 147 or Better
Stuckey's Full Action App Card
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