The Cincinnati Bearcats take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in Atlanta, GA. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET on ACC Network Extra.
The Bearcats are favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -360. The total is set at 150 points.
Here’s my Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech predictions and college basketball picks for November 23, 2024.
Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech Prediction
My Pick: Cincinnati -8.5
My Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech best bet is on the Bearcats spread, with the best odds currently available at DraftKings. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech Odds Spread, Pick
| Cincinnati Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total Points | Moneyline |
-7.5 -110 | 150 -110 / -110 | -360 |
| Georgia Tech Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Point Spread | Total Points | Moneyline |
+7.5 -110 | 150 -110 / -110 | +280 |
- Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech spread: Cincinnati -7.5
- Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech over/under: 150 points
- Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech moneyline: Cincinnati -360, Georgia Tech +280
- Cincinnati vs. Georgia Tech best bet: Cincinnati -8.5
My Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech College Basketball Betting Preview
Cincinnati has done a great job dominating its early season foes. Sure, it's been a cupcake schedule, but great teams know how to beat inferior squads by margin, and Cincy has won each game by 16+ points.
Simas Lukosius isn't just Cincinnati's best player; he's arguably the best offensive player in America so far.
I'm not just airing out takes here. Lukosius is the most efficient player in college basketball, with a 94.6 effective field goal percentage (per KenPom). Now, will Lukosius shoot 73% from the field and 69% from 3 all year? No, but the gravity of Lukosius' dominant shooting opens up the rest of the Bearcats' offense.
Of note, Cincinnati is without starting forward Dan Skillings Jr., who suffered an injury a few weeks ago. It's not all bad, though, as point guard Day Day Thomas returned from an injury he sustained in last year's NIT.
The Bearcats have the most improved offense in the country. Wes Miller's squad has the best effective field goal percentage in the nation, rarely turns it over and shoots 44% from 3.
While Cincinnati won't rattle off a ton of 3s, it has the weaponry with Lukosius, Jizzle James, Connor Hickman and gifted freshman Tyler Betsey.
James is among the top breakout performers in the sport. He went from someone who occasionally ran the point last year to someone sprouting in Thomas' stead by averaging 14 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
The dazzling sophomore is the best guard in this game and will look to limit Georgia Tech's Javian McCollum.
Up front, Coach Miller brought in a pair of transfer bigs to help Aziz Bandaogo, a 7-foot shot swatter. He brought in Arrinten Page, who's averaging 11.5 points in just 16 minutes per game, and the uber-athletic Dillon Mitchell, who helps the Bearcats' stout interior defense.
The only stain in Cincinnati's profile is rebounding, as it ranks 254th in defensive rebounding rate.
Georgia Tech Basketball
Georgia Tech went from potential ACC darling to a team hoping to evade the ACC cellar after North Florida scored 100 on it and Georgia had no issues beating it.
A lot of the Yellow Jackets' preseason prognostication centered around a leap from sophomore Naithan George. Instead, the second-year guard is shooting 28% from the field and 21% from 3. He's been a total negative for Georgia Tech's otherwise stout backcourt.
The aforementioned McCollum and veteran Lance Terry have picked up some of George's slack, combining for 29 points per game. Head coach Damon Stoudamire may need to hand the offensive keys to McCollum if George can't figure things out soon.
The problem is Georgia Tech doesn't have proven depth, so trying out freshman Jaeden Mustaf might be worth a shot.
The top player on Georgia Tech's scouting report is sophomore forward Baye Ndongo. The 6-foot-11 forward is a force at scoring inside and flashes an occasional jumper. He might meet his match with Bandaogo, since the Cincinnati big doesn't let opponents score in the paint easily and stands four inches taller than Ndongo.
The Yellow Jackets aren't great on either end of the floor, ranking 108th in offensive efficiency and 103rd in defensive efficiency.
Their only path to competing feels like a strong shooting performance, as they launch 40% of their shots from 3. Georgia Tech will need a group effort — and one of its guards to have a breakout performance — to beat a team with top-10 upside.
Cincinnati vs Georgia Tech Betting Analysis
I can't pass on the Bearcats here.
They have the advantage at just about every position, and they should be well on their way to another dominant win.
