We have nine ranked teams in action tonight in college basketball, but where can we find the betting value?
Well, dive in below for college basketball best bets and our staff's six top picks for Tuesday, January 23.
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.
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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. | ||
St. Bonaventure vs. Duquesne
Duquesne has been unkind to investors who back the Dukes in UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. Head coach Keith Dambrot has covered the number just twice in eight home games.
Duquesne is heading in the wrong direction, losing six straight games against Division I competition. While the Dukes are headed toward the bottom of the conference, St. Bonaventure is scrambling through the middle of the pack in the Atlantic 10.
The Bonnies are powered by a high distribution of points that come from beyond the arc. Not only does St. Bonaventure hold a top-35 shooting percentage from 3, but the Duquesne defense has also been bottom-100 at defending long-distance attempts.
Expect any misses to create easy putbacks for the Bonnies, who hold a massive advantage on the offensive glass.
The Dukes are in the same boat, electing to score the majority of their points from long distance. However, St. Bonaventure has been fantastic in 3-point defense, ranking 41st nationally and fourth in the Atlantic 10.
The Bonnies will have the same rebounding advantages on the defensive side of the ball, with many likely blocks from senior center Chad Venning.
Take St. Bonaventure down to a pick, as the Dukes' losing streak against Division I foes moves to seven games.
Pick: St. Bonaventure +1.5 (Play to PK)
Florida State vs. Syracuse
By Doug Ziefel
The Florida State Seminoles are a true Leonard Hamilton club. They feature elite size all over the floor as the tallest team in the country, and they also play solid defense, causing turnovers and protecting the rim.
However, what they also bring this season is tempo. The Seminoles rank 45th in Adjusted Tempo and face a Syracuse team that’s 13th in average defensive possession length.
So, while Florida State may not be the most efficient offensive club, it'll have the opportunity to hoist a bevy of shots tonight.
However, the Orange have shown they can match the Noles in terms of tempo. Syracuse sits right behind Florida State in Adjusted Tempo at 50th.
We should see the Orange find plenty of success inside, despite the Seminoles’ ability to protect the rim, as 41% of their points allowed have come in the paint.
So, with each of these teams trading baskets in what should be a tightly contested game, the over has value here.
Pick: Over 150.5 (Play to 152.5)
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Texas vs. Oklahoma
By Kevin Rogers
There has been a bit of a drop-off in Austin from last season’s run to the Elite Eight, as Texas is 2-3 in Big 12 play so far. The two victories have come by a combined three points against Cincinnati and Baylor. Texas can reach the .500 mark in league play with a win at Oklahoma tonight.
The Sooners are back home after holding off Cincinnati on the road Saturday, 69-65, despite shooting 41% from the floor and knocking down 5-of-16 attempts from 3-point range.
Texas has owned Oklahoma over the last few seasons by winning five straight games in the series, including a pair of victories by a combined three points in 2022-23.
In each of those games, the Sooners covered in the underdog role. Oklahoma has flipped to a favorite here, though. That’s important because the ‘dog has cashed in nine of the past 10 matchups.
Texas owns a dreadful 1-4 mark against the spread in Big 12 action, but all four non-covers came as a favorite, while the lone ATS victory came on the road as a ‘dog at Cincinnati.
The Longhorns have shot well from deep in conference play, ranking second in the league at 39% while hitting at least nine treys in each of the past three games.
Texas has two bad losses in the league after falling to West Virginia and blowing a 16-point lead in a home defeat to UCF.
However, beating Baylor on Saturday was a nice bounce-back from the UCF loss, and this is a good spot with Texas receiving points against a team it’s fared well against.
Pick: Texas +4.5 (Play to +3.5)
Ohio State vs. Nebraska
Nebraska has been dominant at home in league play, and the Buckeyes have been shaky on the road. So, why do I like Ohio State as a short road underdog here? The matchup.
Nebraska has been potent from the 3-point stripe at Pinnacle Bank Arena, but the Buckeyes have the personnel to guard the arc and contest shots from deep.
The Buckeyes have been a bit shaky to begin Big Ten play, but they bounced back on Saturday with a dominant win over Penn State, and the depth pieces are starting to come together.
A road win in Lincoln would go a long way in pushing OSU to the right side of the NCAA tournament picture, so I expect a spirited effort from Chris Holtmann’s team.
Lastly, there could be some negative shooting regression in line for the Huskers, who have been shooting the lights out at home throughout January.
I like the Buckeyes to pull off the small upset tonight, so I will happily back them catching a handful of points.
Pick: Ohio State +3 (Play to +2.5)
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Pitt vs. Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech +2.5
By D.J. James
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have looked a bit rattled in ACC play lately.
This team has a tendency to turn a corner right when the chips seem stacked against them, as it’s beaten Mississippi State, Duke and Clemson this season.
It takes a lot to turn a team around in the first year, which is what head coach Damon Stoudamire is attempting to do. But he can add another feather to his cap by taking down another quality opponent on Tuesday.
The Jackets play Pitt at home. The Panthers are coming off an impressive road win over Duke at Cameron Indoor on Saturday, so they may be a bit overrated in the market.
For one, Pitt is not the best offensive team. The Panthers are shooting 33% from deep while launching plenty of 3s. Georgia Tech also shoots 3s often, and the Jackets are shooting 32%.
Both teams hold opponents to under 32% from outside, as well.
Neither is shooting above 51% from 2-point range, and opponents are shooting about 49% against each team from inside the arc.
Pitt could hold the rebounding advantage in this game, as it tends to do, but GT can crash the glass offensively and offset this margin with putbacks on second-chance plays.
Finally, Georgia Tech holds a better Rim-and-3 Rate on defense than the Panthers do, per ShotQuality. This means the Yellow Jackets should be taking more efficient shots throughout the game.
With that being the case, look for Georgia Tech to cover in a one-possession game. Take it to +1.5.
Pick: Georgia Tech +2.5 (Play to +1.5)
Georgia Tech +2.5
By John Feltman
Arguably the best spot on the entire Tuesday card is not the greatest matchup on paper. After stunning Duke on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Panthers will travel to Atlanta to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
Although they've been inconsistent at times, I love the Yellow Jackets here.
The Panthers just had their biggest program victory in recent memory, and I have a feeling a major letdown is looming.
The Yellow Jackets are coming off a lopsided loss to Virginia, yet the market has them as only a short 'dog.
It seems like power-conference programs are having a difficult time winning on the road this season, and I expect that trend to continue.
The Panthers have allowed their opponents to shoot only 30% from the 3-point line, but they consistently give up a lot of attempts from that area. It appears they've been very fortunate, and regression is looming.
Georgia Tech needs to take advantage of Pitt’s loose perimeter defense and have some shots fall. GT isn’t a great 3-point shooting team, but I think it can find some success here.
Let’s not forget, this is the same Yellow Jackets team that defeated Duke last month. Their metrics may be ugly, but they’ve shown they can hang around against elite talent.
Between the situational spot and their poor free-throw shooting, the Panthers could easily look sleepy throughout the game. It could be an ugly game, but the Jackets should at least stay within the number if they build a big enough lead early on.
I’m going to bypass the analytics in this particular handicap. I’m going to fade the public and smash the Yellow Jackets in a tremendous situational spot.
Pick: Georgia Tech +2.5 (Play to PK)
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