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College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (1/25)

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Though Eastern Michigan lost 84-79 to Toledo last night, the story of the game, and one of the biggest stories from the college basketball landscape on Monday, was that Emoni Bates scored 29 straight points at one point. His 43 total points were the most by an EMU player since Ray Lee scored 50 in 2017, and it is the third-highest-scoring game in school history. Will any player go off today like Bates did yesterday?

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings)

Here are our best bets for Wednesday’s college basketball action.

YTD: 5-7

Here are our other top picks for Wednesday:

Best College Basketball Bets for Wednesday

Xavier vs. UConn Spread

The fact that UConn lost by ten at Xavier less than a month ago and is now a relatively big favorite in the rematch is likely to have plenty backing the Musketeers. However, when these two teams first met, the Cintas Center was electric on New Year’s Eve, especially as the Huskies were one of three undefeated teams. Thus, this is precisely the kind of situation where home court can and will make all the difference, and the home team is 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings between these teams.

UConn only trailed Xavier by three points in the first meeting when head coach Danny Hurley was whistled for a technical foul. That ill-timed technical changed the game’s ending completely, as the Musketeers finished on a 9-2 run. Xavier seemingly got a friendly whistle in that game, attempting 19 more free throws than UConn, while the Huskies settled for 37 3-point attempts. Look for the Huskies to continue using their size to pound Xavier on the backboards (they out-rebounded them 38-31 in the first meeting) and score more consistently in the paint.

Bet: UConn -6.5 (-110 at DraftKings) 

Houston vs. UCF O/U

Houston has only lost nine games (not counting NCAA tournament games since 2021) and has only endured back-to-back losses once in that span. Its success in avoiding long losing streaks is often due to a tremendous defensive effort, as the Cougars have allowed an average of 54 points per game following losses. Thus, we look for another spirited defensive effort from Houston in the wake of its 56-55 home loss to Temple against a UCF team that plays at one of the country’s slowest tempos (335th). In addition, UCF is a solid defensive team in its own right, ranking in the top four in the AAC in adjusted defensive efficiency, turnover percentage forced, and effective field goal percentage defense.

The Under is 10-1-1 in Houston’s last 12 games following a loss, and has cashed in each of UCF’s last four home games against teams with a winning record.

Bet: Houston-UCF Under 127.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

West Virginia vs. Texas Tech ML

In a league as balanced as the Big 12, with the top six teams separated by just two games, it is unusual to find the Red Raiders not in that mix. Texas Tech’s 0-7 start in Big 12 play is its worst since going 0-11 to begin the 2012 season. In addition, the Red Raiders’ three-game home losing streak (by a total of 15 points to Kansas, Oklahoma, and Baylor) are the team’s only three losses at home (26-3 overall) in the Mark Adams era.

Texas Tech has a great chance at positive regression against a West Virginia team that ranks ninth in league play in effective field goal percentage and 3-point shooting percentage (29.8%). In addition, West Virginia’s poor free-throw shooting (64.2% in league play is dead last) could haunt it in a close game, while the Red Raiders rank in the top 45 in free throws attempted per field goal attempt.

Bet: Texas Tech ML (-155 at DraftKings)

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