We have a strong Friday college basketball slate, especially in the Big East and Big Ten.
I'm targeting one of those high-major games and two other Ivy League affairs for my best bets.
So, read below for college basketball best bets, including three top NCAAB expert picks and predictions for Friday, February 21.
(My official recommendation does not include a parlay, but there's an option for that below.)
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 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. | ||
Harvard vs. Princeton
Princeton was the clear preseason favorite in the Ivy League thanks to returning two stars in Xaivian Lee and Caden Pierce.
The Tigers’ performance in that favorite role, though, has been incredibly disappointing.
They've fallen 85 spots in KenPom since the preseason, specifically struggling as a favorite. Princeton is just 3-12 against the spread as a favorite this season, including a dismal 1-6 ATS in Ivy League games.
The Tigers simply don't have the same magic that they captured last season.
Harvard nearly toppled Princeton in Boston back on Jan. 11, falling 68-64 after a somewhat frenetic final minute. That should fuel Harvard’s confidence on the road against the struggling Tigers.
Most importantly, in that game, the Crimson limited the Tigers' prolific output from beyond the arc. Princeton ranks 23rd nationally in 3-point attempt rate, per KenPom. In that game, Harvard only allowed 21 attempted 3s, instead forcing the Tigers to chip away in the paint.
The Crimson can match Princeton’s overall lineup versatility, preventing the Tigers from slicing them up with pace and space.
Harvard, for its part, has been inconsistent this season.
Tommy Amaker’s team is talented, though, as he's continued to recruit well. Robert Hinton was a top 100 recruit and has been borderline unstoppable in Ivy play, giving the Crimson a weapon to answer Princeton’s lethal duo of Lee and Pierce.
Plus, junior wing Chandler Pigge has also blossomed as a scorer, and Harvard’s overall playmaking balance could be an issue for the top-heavier Tigers.
Princeton has been a poor favorite all season. Let’s hope that trend continues Friday night.
Pick: Harvard +9 (Play to +7)
Dartmouth vs. Penn
For a second Ivy selection, I'm riding with the team that's been playing significantly better basketball.
Since the calendar flipped to 2025, Dartmouth has been a buzzsaw, especially compared to the version of the team that limped through the non-conference.
Filtering Bart Torvik’s start date to Jan. 1, the Big Green have gone 6-3 overall and rank 114th nationally. If you narrow the scope even further to just February, they're 4-0 and rank a shocking 40th in the country.
Penn, on the other hand, is just 2-7 in 2025 and ranks 262nd since Jan. 1. In February, the Quakers are 0-4 and rank 294th.
You could argue that makes this a buy-low on Penn and a sell-high on Dartmouth, but I'm going the other way, with the team that's been boiling lava hot.
That’s especially true at this line in a conference in which home court means very little (home teams are just 19-17 straight up in Ivy play this season).
These two foes met back on Jan. 11, with Dartmouth narrowly pulling out a win at home, 73-70. That was at the very start of the Big Green’s hot streak, and the team they've evolved into since then is considerably better than that version.
Current form can sometimes be the best indicator for a handicap. That line of thinking makes Dartmouth a clear play for me here.
Pick: Dartmouth PK (Play to -2)
Michigan State vs. Michigan
The race for the Big Ten title faces a massive fork in the road on Friday night.
If Michigan is able to beat arch-rival Michigan State, the Wolverines will be up two games and in prime position to capture the league crown. If the Spartans steal one on the road, though, the race opens up wide. Wisconsin, Purdue and Maryland will surely be wearing green on Friday night.
I’ll be joining them.
Michigan is 7-2 over its last nine games, but the Wolverines actually have a negative point differential in that span. They haven't won a game by more than four points since Jan. 12.
Conversely, Michigan State has been in every single game this season, even its five losses. Getting a possession’s worth of points could be immense.
Michigan’s glaring Achilles' heel is its penchant to turn the ball over. Though Michigan State’s defense isn't wholly designed to take advantage of that, Michigan has consistently coughed it up no matter who the defense is.
That, along with Michigan State’s elite two-way rebounding, should allow the Spartans to muster an edge in shot volume.
Additionally, the Spartans have plenty of size to combat Michigan’s intimidating “Area 50-1” frontcourt duo.
Vlad Goldin (jersey No. 50) and Danny Wolf (jersey No. 1) are a tough combo to stop, but Michigan State can rotate four big men against them, giving Tom Izzo’s team a chance to slow down Michigan’s key cogs.
I actually expect this line to move away from me, with power conference home teams getting bet in big spots. Thus, it could be worthwhile to wait and see if you can grab a +4 or even better.
Pick: Michigan State +3 (Play to +2.5)
