The college basketball slate is appealing tonight. With tons of exciting non-conference matchups to watch and bet on, we’ve added three spots that our computers like for tonight’s college basketball action.
Picks Summary
- Baylor-Duke Over 154 (-110) at Unibet
- Oklahoma +2.5 (-110) at BetRivers
- Alabama-Arizona Under 173.5 (-110) at Bet365
Baylor Bears vs. Duke Blue Devils
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – 07:00 PM ET at Madison Square Garden
Our AI Model believes Baylor and Duke will combine for 163 points. With oddsmakers at 154 for the total, our AI Model loves the Over for this matchup.
Baylor ranks 5th in offensive efficiency, while Duke ranks 9th in that category. The Bears have nailed 44.6% from three and 54.6% from inside the arc while earning 38.5% of offensive rebounds per game. While offensive rebounds could be hard to come by against Duke, quality shots won’t be.
On the other hand, Duke has nailed 36.9% from deep and 54.9% from inside the arc. They’re great at limiting teams and have also earned over 29% of offensive rebounds.
The Blue Devils won’t get to the foul line as often as Baylor. But Baylor’s defense has also had some poor showings this season. That’s dropped the defense to 68th in defensive efficiency. Duke will find its way offensively too.
Let’s back the Over 154 at -110 betting odds in this game.
NCAAB Pick: Over 154 (-110) at Unibet
North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – 09:00 PM ET at Spectrum Center
The AI Model suggests Oklahoma will earn an 85-79 win against North Carolina. With Oklahoma sitting at +2.5, the value is all over the Sooners in this one.
The Oklahoma Sooners are 10-0 on the season. They’ve got wins against Iowa, USC, Providence, and Arkansas. So they’ve been tested. However, a win against North Carolina would be Oklahoma’s biggest win of the season.
Challenging Streak for UNC
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels have lost two straight games to UConn and Kentucky. It won’t get any easier against Oklahoma tonight, despite being in a semi-home environment in Charlotte, North Carolina.
North Carolina has shot 35.6% from three and 51.5% from inside the arc. They’ve also nailed 76% from the foul line and have been getting to the foul line at a very high rate.
The Tar Heels have also limited turnovers well and have earned nearly 32% of offensive rebounds per game this season. However, Oklahoma has also limited teams to a 42.1% effective field goal percentage. That’s fourth in the nation. Teams have shot just 25.6% from deep and 44.1% from inside the arc against the Sooners this season.
Defensive Discrepancies
Oklahoma is currently ranked inside the top ten in defensive efficiency right now.
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels are 47th in that same category. Opponents have only shot a 49.3% effective field goal percentage. But that’s much higher than Oklahoma’s 42.1%.
The Sooners have been brilliant inside on offense, shooting 60.5% from inside the arc. Even from deep, Oklahoma has added 34.8% from downtown. These Sooners are dominant on the offensive glass and should get more opportunities for second chances.
Let’s take the Sooners at +2.5.
NCAAB Pick: Oklahoma +2.5 (-110) at BetRivers (check our BetRivers Review)
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Arizona Wildcats
Wednesday, December 20, 2023 – 11:00 PM ET at Footprint Center
The AI Model suggests Alabama and Arizona will combine for only 167 points. While that sounds like a lot of points, the total for this game is at 173.5 per Bet365. The Under is the play in this game.
The Alabama Crimson Tide and Arizona Wildcats have two of the best offenses in the nation. However, a total of 173.5 might be getting a little too high. After all, Arizona has held opponents to only 18.6% of offensive rebounds this season. The Wildcats are dominant on the defensive glass and won’t allow many second chances.
On top of that, Arizona has done very well limiting teams at the foul line and has held teams to 44.5% from around the rim. These stats have helped Arizona be the third-best defensive team in the nation. That should surely limit Alabama’s offense throughout the game.
Alabama’s Defense
On the other hand, Alabama’s defense doesn’t compare to Arizona’s. Still, Alabama has allowed only 28.3% of offensive rebounds. Limiting second chances is huge to keep this game under the total.
It’s possible that Alabama doesn’t get many stops in this game. The Crimson Tide have given up a 51.3% effective field goal percentage, with teams shooting 33.6% from three and 51.8% from inside the arc.
But it takes two teams to hit the Over. If Alabama struggles from the field against Arizona, the total of 173.5 will be hard to hit, with just one team being successful. Let’s back the Under 173.5 in this one. That Arizona defense is special.
NCAAB Pick: Under 173.5 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
*The line and/or odds referenced in this article might have changed since the content was published. For the latest information on line movements, visit OddsTrader’s free betting odds tool.
