Thursday is typically a mid-major-heavy slate, but there are still some high-major games to sweat out.
One of our college basketball experts is targeting a Big Ten matchup, while another is looking at a Big 12 battle. Plus, we have a projection for a lower-end WAC battle.
Read on for our college basketball best bets and NCAAB predictions for Thursday, Feb. 5.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:30 PM | |
  | 7:00 PM | |
  | 9:00 PM | |
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. | ||
Penn State vs. Michigan Pick
By Jordan Mann
As good as Michigan is at defending, the one area where it's graded as "average" (via Synergy) is guarding the ball handler off the pick-and-roll.
Freddie Dilione scored five times against Michigan as the ball handler in the first matchup, and Kayden Mingo didn't even play (and that's also his strength).
Though Michigan is the superior team, I think this is too many points.
We've seen Michigan dominate teams and take its foot off the gas, allowing the final score line to look better than it actually was.
I think we get that type of situation in this one, where Michigan is up by 30 and takes its foot off the gas and wins by 20.
Pick: Penn State +25 or Better
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West Virginia vs. Cincinnati Pick
By Sean Paul
The spread isn't worth playing on either end. KenPom gives Cincy a four-point edge, and the spread is at -5.5.
I wanted Cincinnati at -3 or less, so it'll be a pass for me.
But the total is appealing.
Sitting at 127.5, I see some value on the Under.
With the Mountaineers and Bearcats each posting several 60-point outings in league play, it's very possible each adds another to the tally.
The Bearcats will look to push the pace more than their opposition, but their offense is outside the top 200 in KenPom.
If one of the teams finishes in the high 50s, I wouldn't be surprised.
Pick: Under 125.5 or Better
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UT Arlington vs. Utah Tech Projection, Prediction
I project this total at 135.9 points, so I’m willing to bet the Under at 139 or better, which would represent at least a three-point difference between the market and my projection.
The first head-to-head meeting between these two WAC foes finished with just 108 points. These are two of the best catch-and-shoot denial defenses in the nation, meaning we’ll see very few 3-point attempts again, and everything will get funneled inside the arc.
We’ll see if both teams botch all their layup attempts again, but the Mavericks and the Trailblazers combined to shoot just 35-for-95 (37%) from inside the arc in the first meeting.
While I don’t expect that level of offensive ineptitude, it’ll take a vastly more efficient offensive performance from both teams to eclipse an 140-point total on 2-point attempts alone.
I’m willing to bet against that.
Pick: Under 139 or Better
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