There are two college basketball games that the CBB world is eying! The Syracuse Orange have not lived up to the hype this season, but a win over North Carolina would certainly change many fans’ perspective. They’ll look to pull off a massive upset on the road.
Later in the night, we’ve got a top-15 matchup between Big 12 teams, Kansas and Texas Tech. That one should be a thriller. That said, I see some value in both games and decided to share it all below.
Here are your college basketball picks today.
Get Your Popcorn!
Head Coach Adrian Autry hasn’t had the success in Syracuse that some had hoped. It’s gotten so bad that he’s had radio call-ins from fans asking who will take over his job when he’s fired. There’s a ton of pressure on him. But it kind of seems like the perfect time for Syracuse to surprise some folks.
Analytically, does Syracuse even have a fighting chance? Let’s talk about it.
Syracuse Orange vs. North Carolina Tar Heels (-12.5)
The Syracuse Orange finished a four-game cold spell with a win over Notre Dame at home, 86-72. However, the schedule for Syracuse isn’t getting any easier.
They’ll be on the road to face the Tar Heels, who rank in the top 20 in offensive efficiency. Syracuse has defended well enough, holding teams to 31.6% from deep and 47.8% from inside the arc. The defensive rebound could improve, but that’s the only majorly bad area for Syracuse on defense.
On the other hand, the Orange don’t shoot it well from the foul line. That likely won’t have a major impact, knowing North Carolina doesn’t foul very often. In fact, North Carolina ranks 8th in FTA/FGA on defense and has allowed just 43.8% from inside the arc this season.
Still, the Orange should be able to get shots up, and they’ve still hit nearly 55% from inside the arc this season. Give me Syracuse at +12.5.
Expert Pick: Syracuse +12.5 (-115) at BetOnline
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (-4.5)
The Kansas Jayhawks have won five straight games, including wins over Iowa State and BYU. But they’ve also got some weird losses on the resume, including road losses to UCF and West Virginia.
Guess what? Kansas is back on the road tonight.
Texas Tech hasn’t lost a home game this season and is currently 6-2 in the Big 12. The Red Raiders are also coming off a loss to UFC, 88-80, on the road, which was quite embarrassing.
Kansas is known for its incredible defense. The Jayhawks just aren’t earning enough turnovers. That said, Kansas should keep Texas Tech off the foul line and will be able to defend inside the arc well, knowing Texas Tech has shot below 55% from two-point range this season.
On the other hand, Kansas isn’t a dominant offense. The Jayhawks have added only 28.9% of offensive rebounds, and also don’t get to the foul line consistently. Like Texas Tech, Kansas should be able to limit turnovers, but the offense could struggle to figure some things out against Texas Tech.
After all, the Red Raiders are still top-150 in three-point and two-point field goal percentage.
I’m going to stick with the defenses in this one and take the Under 154.5.
Expert Pick: Under 154.5 (-110) at BetOnline
It’s Already February!
It’s already February. By the end of the month, some conference tournaments will begin, and some teams will see their seasons cut short.
This is when college basketball really takes over the sports world. Once the Super Bowl is complete, many bettors shift focus to college basketball.
You can do the same. Just make sure to check the OddsTrader dashboard for the best odds for any bet you want to place. If you get the best line for bets every time, you’ll profit in the long run. That’s the goal at the end of the day!
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