Top College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday, January 3rd (2022)

Jan 3, 2023 - 12:43 PM

In our New Year’s Eve article, we accurately predicted UConn’s first loss to Xavier, and the Huskies’ 14-game winning streak to start the season abruptly ended. Now there are just two unbeaten teams left in Division I, and one of them takes the court today as New Mexico faces Fresno State in a late 11:00 p.m. ET tip.

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

Top College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Tuesday, January 3rd (2022)

Mississippi State-Tennessee O/U

This game has the feel of “the first to 60 wins” given how solid each team has been on the defensive end of the floor. The Volunteers rank first in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage, and 3-point percentage allowed (21.2%). Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are not far behind, ranking sixth, 12th, and 38th in the same categories. Mississippi State’s defense is a top-ten defense inside the arc (42.3% allowed), and Chris Jans’ squad has held 11 of the first 13 opponents to fewer than 60 points, while three of Tennessee’s first three opponents have cracked the 60-point barometer.

The Under has cashed in six of Mississippi State’s last seven road games, and is 4-0 in Tennessee’s last four games following a SU win.

Bet: Mississippi State-Tennessee Under 123.5 (-110 at DraftKings) 

Seton Hall vs. Creighton Spread

It seems like ages ago that Creighton suffered a six-game losing streak, as the return of Ryan Kalkbrenner from a three-game absence has spurred back-to-back wins over DePaul and Butler by a combined 37 points. With a healthy Kalkbrenner, a ten-point home loss to Nebraska is the team’s only inexcusable loss, as the two other losses were by a combined seven points at Texas and on a neutral court against Arizona. Meanwhile, Seton Hall has lost three of four away from home and is turning the ball over at an alarming rate (21.8% ranks 325th). The Pirates have committed at least 14 turnovers in each of their three road losses, and they do not figure to be able to rely on a high offensive rebounding percentage, as Creighton allows opponents to secure misses just 21.8% of the time (sixth-lowest).

Creighton is 21-8 ATS in its last 29 games against teams with a winning record, and we like them to cover again tonight.

Bet: Creighton -8 (-110 at DraftKings)

Kansas vs. Texas Tech ML

Kansas dodged a bullet at home over the weekend, coming back from a 15-point second-half deficit to beat Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks have won six of their last seven meetings with Texas Tech, and while the teams have split their previous four meetings in Lubbock, this year’s Red Raiders team is not as talented as those we had gotten accustomed to under Chris Beard recently. Texas Tech is 0-3 in its three games against top-150 KenPom opponents, losing by an average of eight points to Creighton, Ohio State, and TCU. The Jayhawks are one of five teams that rank in the top 14 of both offensive and defensive efficiency, and that is a formula that should travel well to a tough road environment.

The Red Raiders are 0-5-1 in their last six games against teams with a winning percentage above .600, and we expect that to translate in another outright loss tonight.

Bet: Kansas ML (-140 at DraftKings)

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