We're back for another edition of our Action Network college basketball content. Our proprietary model will help focus in and find edges to bring you our college basketball best bets.
With that in mind, here's our college basketball picks and two total bets for Saturday, January 24.
You can find all of our picks daily in the free Action Network app:
Houston vs. Texas Tech
No. 6 Houston travels to No. 12 Texas Tech to face-off in a clash between two of the Big 12’s most potent offenses. KenPom ranks both of these teams inside the top 20 in offensive efficiency.
At home, Texas Tech has been an offensive juggernaut, averaging nearly 90 points per game.
Houston’s offense enters the contest averaging just under 86 points per game over its last three games, well outpacing its season average of 79 points a night.
Despite both teams' defensive capabilities, their combined scoring trends and fast-paced possession styles suggest a game that will easily outpace the current line.
Other models from KenPom and Bart Torvik project this game’s total to be 145, and our own model forecasts it to be 146.
With a massive seven-point buffer between the projections and the market price, the over offers significant value for this marquee battle.
Pick: Over 139.5
Seton Hall vs. DePaul
The Big East battle between Seton Hall and DePaul presents a compelling opportunity to bet the over, as both teams enter this matchup with significant home/road scoring splits that favor a higher-paced game.
While Seton Hall is known for its defensive grit, it's been surprisingly offensively-efficient as "road warriors," averaging 76 points per game away from home — a notable jump from their 70 point-per-game home average.
Conversely, DePaul has been far more dangerous at Wintrust Arena, where it scores 77 points per game compared to a meager 67 an evening on the road.
The only hesitation here is due to Seton Hall’s elite defense, which ranks ninth nationally in opponent field goals attempted (allowing only 52 field goal attempts per game). However, the Blue Demons' ability to maintain their 77 point-per-game home rhythm suggests they could find success where others have failed.
If DePaul can push the tempo and capitalize on its home-court shooting, it'll force a methodical Seton Hall offense to keep pace, likely pushing this game into the high 130s.
Pick: Over 131.5
