College basketball doesn't exactly heat up in December, but Tuesday night has intriguing matchups.
The first game features the No. 13 Dayton Flyers, who have looked dominant all season but have a tricky home game against a feisty North Texas team.
The second game features a battle between two teams that could be on the NCAA Tournament bubble come March, with Temple battling Miami at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Let's see which teams have the advantage on the college hardwood.
Tuesday College Basketball Betting
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Dayton vs. North Texas
- Spread: Dayton -16.5
- Over/Under: 133.5
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPN+
Red-hot Dayton (8-1) hosts North Texas (4-6) at home on Tuesday night. The Flyers boast the top effective field goal percentage and 2P% in the nation and are also the 22nd best team in the nation from beyond the arc shooting 39.7% collectively.
However, they will face a North Texas team that has played a very challenging non-conference schedule. The Mean Green lost by three points at VCU, trailed by three with under 10 minutes left at Arkansas, led Utah State with four minutes left in Jamaica, and lost at home to Oklahoma by two points.
North Texas plays a slow, deliberate pace, ranking third-slowest in the nation, per KenPom.
They are solid offensively, shooting 35% from 3P (103rd) and 73.2% from the free-throw line (92nd). Sophomore Umoja Gibson (15.8 ppg, 43.5% 3P) has 18 or more points in each of the Mean Green's last six.
Dayton is led by the dominant Obi Toppin (21.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) but has struggled at times playing inferior opponents. Against Houston Baptist (0-8) just two weeks ago, the Flyers held a precarious six-point lead with under 18 minutes left.
The Flyers do not guard the 3P line well, allowing opponents to shoot an average of 36.3%, ranking just 289th in the nation. In that game against Houston Baptist at home, the Huskies shot 8 of 21 (38.1%) from beyond the arc.
This time of year there can be letdown spots for many top programs, as the home-court advantage is reduced when students are not in session.
North Texas is 6-3 against the spread this season including 2-1 in road games.
I see a disciplined, battle-tested North Texas team covering the spread in a game that will feature limited possessions for both teams.
The Pick: North Texas +16.5
Miami vs. Temple
- Spread: Temple -1.5
- Over/Under: 141.5
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV: ESPNU
Temple (7-2) and Miami (6-3) travel to the Barclays Center to play in the Air Force Reserve Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational.
Temple brings a stifling defense that ranks 20th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Owls hold opponents to 42.7% from the field and just 28.2% from beyond the arc.
While the Owls can score, they have failed to break 70 points in their three neutral court games. Temple games have hit on the under seven out of nine times this season.
Miami brings an efficient offensive team that ranks 19th in adjusted offensive efficiency while also shooting a blistering 39.8% from beyond the arc. In their 81-79 win at Illinois, the Hurricanes shot an incredible 10 of 18 (55.6%) from deep.
Even with their efficient offense, Miami has also had its struggles offensively in neutral court games. The Hurricanes did not break 60 points in consecutive losses to Florida and Connecticut at the Charleston Classic in South Carolina.
I expect a close, competitive game in Brooklyn, with both teams struggling again to score on a neutral court. Temple's stifling defense should limit the flammable shooting of Miami, keeping both teams below 70 points.
The Pick: Under 141.5
