Top College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday, December 21st (2022)

Dec 21, 2022 - 12:19 PM

Of the 11 AP top 25 teams in action today, three play true road games against high-profile non-conference opponents, with all three instances involving Pac-12 teams. TCU visits Utah, Auburn heads to Washington, and Arizona State faces San Francisco. Do any of these games make our top three best bets?

Here are our best bets for Wednesday’s college basketball action. (Odds courtesy of DraftKings)

Top College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday, December 21st (2022)

St. John’s vs. Villanova First Half Spread

Recent history suggests the Wildcats have owned the Red Storm, as they are 6-1 against them in Mike Anderson’s tenure. However, former Big East Player of the Year Collin Gillespie and backcourt partner Justin Moore were available for all those games to handle most of the point guard duties against Mike Anderson’s intense pressure. With Moore still injured and Gillespie graduated, the Wildcats will trot out freshmen Mark Armstrong, Brendan Hausen, and Cam Whitmore against the Red Storm press. Senior Caleb Daniels is better off the ball than he is as a lead guard, and Chris Arcidiacono is still coming into his own in an expanded role.

St. John’s last two losses to Villanova were by a combined seven points, but without Moore and Gillespie, the Wildcats will be shell-shocked early in this one. When this line becomes available, we will grab it at anything +2.5 or higher.

Bet: St. John’s First Half Spread (OFF at DraftKings) 

Michigan-North Carolina O/U

Neither defense should do much to disrupt the opponents’ offensive rhythm in this game. The Wolverines and Tar Heels rank 299th and 309th in turnovers forced. Meanwhile, Michigan is the best team in Division I at taking care of the basketball with a turnover percentage of 13.1%, while North Carolina is not too far behind at 15.7% (29th). Considering each offense ranks in the top 25 in adjusted offensive efficiency, there should be plenty of scoring in this game.

Bet: Michigan-North Carolina Over 153.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

USC vs. Colorado State Spread

USC is amid a five-game winning streak and earned tons of praise for its latest upset of Auburn. However, Colorado State’s last victory over Saint Mary’s is equally impressive and going much more under the radar. Isaiah Stevens, John Tonje, and Isaiah Rivera are the best trio of guards in the Mountain West. Their versatility is a big reason the Rams rank in the top 13 in both effective field goal percentage and turnover percentage. In addition, all are shooting better than 43% from 3-point range, which is a necessity against a Trojans defense that walls off the paint (fifth-best 2-point percentage defense in the country). In addition, it is nearly impossible to get anything in transition against the Rams, as they eschew offensive rebounds (362nd in offensive rebounding percentage) to get in the proper position for transition defense.

Bet: Colorado State +2.5 (-105 at DraftKings)  

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