There's only nine games on the Friday college basketball slate, including one power-conference duel between No. 3 UConn and No. 22 St. John's.
However, there's plenty of value on the board, and I've spotted it with three picks below.
Read on for my college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB picks and predictions for Friday, February 6.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 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. | ||
Brown vs. Yale
Yale is the class of the Ivy League this season despite two head scratching losses, including a recent one last week against Harvard.
The Bulldogs are 5-2 in conference play, and those five wins have come by an average of 22 points per game. No Ivy team they’ve defeated has come within 15 points of them.
Now that's dominance.
Brown hung with the Bulldogs in the first half when these teams met in Providence, but Yale extended in the second half, eventually winning by 17.
In that game, Brown couldn't score at all, putting up 0.76 points per possession and shooting 37% from 2 and 23% from 3. Yale has the best defense in the Ivy, and it’s frankly a mystery how the Bears score on Friday against it.
On offense, Yale is among the best teams in the country at putting the biscuit in the basket, ranking top-30 in KenPom’s adjusted offensive efficiency metrics thanks to the best 3-point percentage in the land.
The Bulldogs don’t turn it over and have multiple scoring options surrounding stud forward Nick Townsend. Though Brown is a great defensive rebounding team, Yale should still find chances for stickbacks.
Over the course of 40 minutes, it'll be difficult for Brown to keep this within 20. The Bears' offense isn’t dynamic and has very little shooting.
Yale should crockpot them — as it did in the first game — and bounce back from its recent defeat.
Pick: Yale -15.5 (Play to -16)
Drake vs. Illinois State
Friday's game in Normal, Illinois, is a rematch of a contest in late December that wasn’t close. Illinois State had its way with Drake on the Bulldogs’ home floor, thanks to some hot shooting and in spite of a wild turnover deficit.
The Redbirds shot 13-of-23 from bonus land, which helped them overcome their 23 turnovers (to Drake’s nine) and win by 17.
Though that performance might be labeled as an outlier, it’s worth noting how easily Illinois State scored inside the arc, as well. The Redbirds were 13-of-18 from 2 and Chase Walker was unstoppable against the porous Drake defense, the worst defense in the Missouri Valley.
He should have his way once again against a Bulldogs squad that ranks 307th nationally in rim field goal percentage allowed.
On the other end, Drake’s offense has been solid this season thanks to streaky outside shooting and an ability to rack up points from the line. Illinois State fouls a lot, so the Bulldogs could see plenty of chances from the stripe. However, it also guards the 3-point arc about as well as any team in the conference.
Head coach Ryan Pedon will be on his guys to take away the arc and funnel drivers into the league’s best interior defense.
This is a large spread for a Valley game, but it’s warranted. Drake matches up poorly with Illinois State, and it’s defense leaves it vulnerable to blowouts (see double digit losses to Illinois State, Bradley twice and Belmont).
Pick: Illinois State -10.5 (Play to -11)
Evansville vs. Valparaiso
Valpo has been truly impressive this season — far better than most expected coming into the season. But to be laying double digits to anybody in the Missouri Valley is a bridge too far.
Evansville is certainly the worst team in the league — and ranks outside the KenPom top-300 — but the Aces have proven they can compete in conference play under head coach David Ragland. Of its 11 league losses, four came by five points or less and another two came by 10 or less.
Connor Turnbull also returned last game for the Aces, which is enormous for their interior defense and post play on the other end. Valpo relies on pick-and-roll and the post to score points, and the Aces having a 6-foot-10 shot blocker in the middle of the lane should greatly help to deter both.
Turnbull’s presence on offense not only gives Evansville a legit post threat, but it also opens up the perimeter for shooters on the arc. Per CBB Analytics, with Turnbull on the floor, the Aces shoot 2.5% better from deep.
Ragland’s teams have always been solid 'dogs in league play because they scrap and fight until the bitter end. The Aces are one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the league and one of the best at not fouling, which is key against a Valpo squad that needs free throw trips.
Evansville’s poor 2-point percentage defense is heavily driven by opponents teeing off from the mid-range. Those shots will be significantly harder with Turnbull in the fold, and Valpo owns the league’s worst 2-point percentage offense.
Take the 'dog in a low-possession scrap.
Pick: Evansville +10.5 (Play to +10)
