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College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (2/24)

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Welcome to the Friday college basketball slate. March Madness is right around the corner, and the bubble is starting to take shape. Be sure to check out my bracketology article, which I'll continue updating as March gets closer. There are some solid matchups today, but remember not to force any bets you don't love. There is still plenty of season left.

Past Week: 12-17-1
This Season: 93-103-8

And check out our other best bets for Friday:

View 5-star bets and historical prop performance by players with our Prop Bet Analyzer >>

Friday’s Best College Basketball Bets

Here are my best bets for Friday. 

Xavier vs. Seton Hall

Coming off a tough home loss to Villanova, Xavier has not lost three of their last four games and is falling further down the bracket seeding. They need to get right. Seton Hall won't roll over and die that easily, however, as the Musketeers are only a 1.5-point favorite. This should be an awesome game.

Xavier's offense will be a lot in this game. Ranked 11th in efficiency, Xavier can score anywhere on the court. They rank in the top 10 at shooting from long, mid, and short range and are solid on the offensive glass as well. 

The Pirates’ defense is stout, limiting perimeter threats at a solid rate. Offensively, Seton Hall excels at getting to the free throw line, ranking 12th best in free throws attempted per shot attempted.

On the road, I expect Xavier to struggle. Given that they rank 338th in bench minutes, foul trouble could be their death. I'm riding momentum and home-court advantage here. 

Play: Seton Hall +1.5 (DraftKings)

Richmond vs. VCU

VCU has been flying under the radar of late but deserves a bit more national recognition. Yes, the A-10 is down this year, but the Rams currently lead that conference and look to be the favorite to get the auto-bid. I promise they will be a popular 12-seeded upset pick if that happens.

Richmond is no joke, their interior offense is solid, and they have the capability to score from deep. VCU will force turnovers, however, so Richmond has to make sure they take care of the ball well.

VCU is one of the most consistent teams in the nation, coming in at 32nd ranked in that metric. They get what needs to be done, done, and are easy to trust. I expect their top-25-ranked defense to ride them to victory and a cover.

Play: VCU -9 (-110 DraftKings)

Be sure to follow me @rcoleman98 on the BettingPros app, as I post all my selections there that may not make it in these articles. Remember to monitor injury news because if you can beat the curve, there is plenty of value to be had on any given game day.

Whether you're new to sports betting or a betting pro, our How To Bet and Sports Betting Strategy and Advice pages are for you. You can get started with our How To Section - including How to Avoid the 7 Biggest Sports Betting Mistakes - or head to a more advanced strategy - like Thinking Like an Expert Sports Bettor - to learn more.

View 5-star bets and historical prop performance by players with our Prop Bet Analyzer >>

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