Friday's in college basketball get occasionally overlooked because of how deep Saturday's slate typically is.
But Matt Cox from Three Man Weave is here — as usual — to give you the best betting value on the board.
He has three best bets below, so dive in now to get the top college basketball odds and picks for Friday.
Friday's Three Man Weave College Basketball Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Matt is targeting from Friday's slate of games. Click the team logos for one the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
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| Specific bet 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. | ||
Penn vs. Cornell
Friday, Jan. 6 7 p.m. ET ESPN+ |
Penn +3.5  |
By Matt Cox
Betting against Cornell is a scary proposition. The Big Red have been a cover machine the last two seasons under Brian Earl, who made wholesale changes to Cornell’s offensive and defensive blueprints.
The new Cornell is predicated on constant pressure on defense and perpetual cutting on offense. The pace is frenetic, but it’s truly organized chaos.
Outside of the Ivy, opponents struggle to pick up Cornell’s unorthodox style of play. From a defender’s vantage point, it’s uncomfortable having to hug shooters on the perimeter, while living in constant fear of the back cut.
However, the Princeton principles of this offense are not unique to the Big Red’s Ivy League brethren.
We saw Cornell taper off last year in conference play after a blistering non-conference performance. Expect to see similar regression this season, as opposing coaches are more in tune with scouting the Big Red.
Few are as good as Steve Donahue, the Red and Blue’s head honcho who once roamed the sidelines at Cornell. Against his former employer, Donahue has dominated Earl since he took over in 2017 and swept the Big Red last season.
Above all, Penn may be a sleeping giant in conference play, now fully healthy after a litany of injuries crippled the depth chart in non-conference. Led by pro prospect Jordan Dingle and trusty sidekick Clark Slajchert, Penn boasts the two best players on the floor tonight.
Pick: Penn +3.5 (Play to +2) |
What is QuickSlip?
QuickSlip is an Action Network feature that allows users to automatically pre-load their bet slip at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Harvard vs. Brown
Friday, Jan. 6 7 p.m. ET ESPN+ |
Harvard PK  |
By Matt Cox
Harvard garnered attention toward the end of non-conference play with a feisty effort against Kansas at Phog Allen Fieldhouse. The Crimson competed admirably, given they were playing in their third time zone in five days.
Harvard’s talent is undeniable. Its cohesion and intelligence, ironically, is what lags behind.
Look no further than the Ivy League opener against Princeton. The Crimson wasted away precious possessions down the stretch and shot themselves in the foot with a dreadful 7-for-16 performance from the charity stripe.
So, why back them tonight against Brown? Because the Crimson’s athleticism is the perfect kryptonite to Brown, which is one of the more physically imposing teams in the Ivy.
Both teams are superior on the defensive end, where their lateral quickness and length shine the brightest.
However, Brown lacks what Harvard owns, which is an offensive catalyst in Chris Ledlum. Brown may execute in the half-court with more precision, but finishing those looks is often a chore — and Harvard’s stifling defense can surely keep Brown’s offense in check tonight.
If Harvard can convert around the rim and at the free-throw line, the Crimson should prevail in an ugly affair.
In a clash between two foes with similar personnel makeup, take the team with superior talent.
Pick: Harvard PK (Play to -1) |
Stanford vs. Cal
Friday, Jan. 6 9 p.m. ET ESPNU |
Cal +9  |
By Matt Cox
Don’t look now, but is Cal a cover machine?!
Eh, not exactly. The Bears are currently 3-1 against the number over their last four contests.
Perhaps more importantly is that they’ve won two of their last three games outright, including a stunning home victory over Colorado. For a team that’s been the butt of jokes all year long — and who many projected to go winless deep into January — a small sampling of success can make all the difference.
This mini resurgence makes little sense when you consider Devin Askew, Cal’s alpha dog, did not play in either victory over UT Arlington or Colorado.
There could be an addition by subtraction dynamic at play, though it’s hard to discern how that’s possible given how talent-depleted Cal is.
Regardless, this mini mojo makes the Bears a smart buy-low target against their crosstown rival tonight. Stanford’s categorically more talented, but the Cardinal are renowned for wasting such talent.
Meanwhile, there are few remaining games on Cal’s schedule that matter as much as this one. It’s safe to assume it’ll be locked in to beat the Tree.
Timing this play is critical. The market disagrees with this angle, as the early money bet Stanford up from -7 to -9 quickly. They may see the recent Cal success as a mirage, but there’s no better time to buy this dip than right now.
Pick: Cal +9 |
