No. 8 Auburn heading on the road to Alabama is the highlight of Wednesday's college basketball slate, but there's betting value to be had elsewhere.
Below, we have college basketball best bets, including Three Man Weave's three top picks for Wednesday, January 24. Ky McKeon, take it away!
College Basketball Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Samford vs. Furman
By Ky McKeon
Samford puts its nation-best 17-game winning streak on the line tonight when it visits SoCon preseason favorite Furman.
The Bulldogs have been sensational on the offensive end this year, especially in conference play. No team has shot better from deep; no team has gotten to the line at a higher rate; and no team has been as deadly in transition.
But tonight is Furman’s game.
The Paladins have suffered through a trying season filled with injuries, which has led to their unsightly overall 10-9 record. Head coach Bob Richey’s three best players have all missed time with injury, but now his squad is finally back at full strength.
Marcus Foster, the 'Dins’ leading scorer, missed nine straight games with injury before returning two games ago against VMI. Foster is a massive contributor on both ends of the floor, and he’s picked off right where he left off in early December, averaging 16 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in the past two contests.
With him back in the fold, Furman has thumped VMI by 40 and triumphed over conference title contender Western Carolina.
Tonight’s game will pose a significant challenge for Furman, but the ‘Dins are built to compete with the ‘Dogs. Samford’s pressure shouldn’t bother an excellent ball-handling team in Furman, and the ‘Dins should own the offensive glass.
Defensively, transition is worrisome, as Samford is extremely dangerous in the open floor and Furman hasn’t shown much resistance in that area this season. While Furman might not send Samford to the line much, stopping the superlative Achor Achor inside will prove difficult.
Ultimately, the spot should serve Furman well. Richey is 4-1 against Bucky McMillan in his career, and the ‘Dins have a strong homecourt relative to SoCon competition.
Expect Furman to step up and realize its preseason expectations, ending Samford’s gaudy winning streak in the process.
Pick: Furman -2.5 (Play to -3)
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Jacksonville State vs. Middle Tennessee
By Ky McKeon
Sports bettors love to try to time the bounce back of struggling teams playing far below expectations. The strategy can be quite profitable if properly applied.
In the case of Middle Tennessee tonight — a team that's been woeful despite considerable expectations — we’ve seen the market call its shot. Despite KenPom lining this game Jacksonville State -3, books have this one around a pick.
But sometimes teams never bounce back and are in fact as poor as advertised.
MTSU had a solid start to the season, but it just hasn’t been the same since losing point guard Camryn Weston to injury all the way back in November. In fact only one team has been worse against the number this season than the Blue Raiders. And the last time MTSU covered was 10 games ago on December 5.
So, why try to catch a falling knife? MTSU’s offense isn’t turning around. The Blue Raiders have been horrendous on this end of the floor, ranking dead last in Offensive Efficiency in C-USA and 347th nationally. Shooting is non-existent and only 10 teams have turned the ball over at a higher rate.
The Gamecocks have had their fair share of droughts on offense this season, but at least they have players who can take over and create their own shot. KyKy Tandy is a power conference transfer from Xavier and one of the league’s best players.
JSU has also found success scoring in the post and beating up opponents on the glass.
MTSU has done well mucking up the middle, but it’s susceptible on the boards. Its best defenders also lie in the frontcourt, meaning Tandy should have no issue finding space for offense.
Jacksonville State is stout defensively, and head coach Ray Harper is known for his teams’ physical style of play. MTSU will find it extremely difficult to score consistently. Turnovers will be a problem, shooting is always a problem and JSU’s interior size is just as mighty as the Blue Raiders’.
Middle Tennessee has a strong homecourt, but it hasn’t been the same this season. JSU has proven it can win on the road — beating league favorite Liberty at its place — and should emerge victorious over the Blue Raiders tonight.
Pick: Jacksonville State +1 (Play to -1)
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Utah vs. Washington State
By Ky McKeon
Washington State looks to exact revenge on Utah tonight after the Utes pummeled the Cougars by 22 in Salt Lake prior to the New Year.
A closer look at that contest, though, tells a different story. While the final margin was significant, Wazzu played the Utes close for much of the contest. In fact, the Cougars held a six-point lead with 16 minutes left to play. But cold shooting — including 4-for-20 from 3 and 12-for-21 from the free-throw line — spelled doom for Wazzu in the end.
Not even an insane 45.3% offensive rebounding rate could save the night.
Shooting hopefully comes around within the friendly confines of Beasley Coliseum. Budding star Myles Rice can go for 30 on any given night, and he has a sizable supporting cast that can match up with the Utes’ considerable wing and frontcourt size.
The Cougars have already proven they can win the glass battle, and they’ve held Pac-12 teams to just 45.2% from 2 this season, the second-best mark in the league.
Having competent rim protection is key to Wazzu’s strategy on the defensive end, as it runs shooters off the 3-point arc and funnels them into the teeth of its defense as well as any team in the country.
Utah doesn’t really beat its opponents off the bounce, instead opting for ball movement and an inside-outside approach that revolves around center Branden Carlson. He’s a load for the Wazzu big men to handle, but the Cougars have plenty of bodies to throw at him all night.
Utah is likely down forward Lawson Lovering once again, leaving just two true bigs at its disposal in Carlson and Keba Keita. Any frontcourt foul trouble could end the Utes’ night early.
Senior guard Rollie Worster could also still be out for the Utes; he’s their best ball handler and would’ve been a logical option to throw on Rice. While Georgia Tech transfer Deivon Smith has been excellent the past few games, Worster’s absence will be felt.
Utah is 0-3 straight up and against the spread on the road this season in Pac-12 play. Expect that trend to continue as the Cougars compete for a full 40 minutes this time in Pullman.
Pick: Washington State -1 (Play to -2)
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