College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: Saturday (12/2)

by Daniel Dobish |
Dec 02, 2023

We bounced back last Saturday with a 3-1 record. Overall on the season, I have a documented record of 65-46 (59%, with a $1,469 ROI). I want to share some of those winners with you, and weâ€™ll choose a couple of smaller-school games, and at least one marquee game, to get you into the black on this very busy Saturday slate.

Letâ€™s get started!

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Saturdayâ€™s Best College Basketball Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All wagers are for 1 unit

Purdue Fort Wayne at Oakland

In the Horizon League opener for both teams, Purdue Fort Wayne (7-1) heads to Oakland (5-3) in what should be a good game at the OU Credit Union Oâ€™rena in Rochester, Mich. at 3 p.m. ET. The game can be viewed on ESPN+.

The Mastodons have won seven of eight games overall, but except for a road win against DePaul, one of the worst Power 6 teams, Purdue Fort Wayne has a bunch of wins against teams that arenâ€™t very good. Additionally, the Mastodons have failed to cover the past two outings.

For the Grizzlies, they covered 65-50 as a 6.5-point favorite against Detroit on the road last time out, and Oakland has been cover kings. The Grizzlies are 8-0 against the spread (ATS) so far, including an outright win at Xavier on Nov. 27, and covers at Ohio State and at Illinois. Keep playing the Golden Grizzlies until they are no longer ticking off covers on a regular basis.

Bets: Oakland -6.5 (-112)

Lipscomb at UCF

Lipscomb (6-3) heads south to tangle with UCF (4-2), and itâ€™s a great spot for the Bison, especially catching double-digit points.

The Bison posted an impressive 82-68 win over a good Chattanooga team last time out to cover a 3.5-point number. Lipscomb is 6-1 ATS in the past seven games overall, including a 2-0 ATS mark in its two true road games to date.

The Knights are coming off an 85-82 loss at home against Stetson on Nov. 26, failing to cover as 12.5-point favorites. The good news is that UCF should be well rested, but the bad news is that it is 1-4 ATS, and facing a red-hot team against the number.

Bet: Lipscomb +10.5 (-106)

South Carolina State at Charleston Southern

I like to play at least one moneyline underdog, and this week itâ€™s all about South Carolina State (2-6) in an intra-state game against Charleston Southern (2-5).

The Bulldogs havenâ€™t had a lot of success straight up, losing five in a row, but they have covered five of the past six games overall. In this one, South Carolina State is a â€˜dog by 1.5 points, so a moneyline play makes plenty of sense.

The Buccaneers have dropped four in a row, including an 81-52 blowout loss at The Citadel last time out as 6.5-point underdogs. Charleston Southern is 1-4 ATS in the past five games, too, so itâ€™s rather surprising that they are favored in this battle. South Carolina State won the most recent meeting, also in Charleston, by a 75-65 score, and I like the Bulldogs to get it done yet again.

Bet: South Carolina State Moneyline (+104)

Colorado State vs. Washington

A ranked Colorado State (7-0) team, currently No. 20 in The Associated Pressâ€™ Top 25 poll, takes on Washington (4-2) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The Rams have not only won all seven games to date, including a 5-point win over rival Colorado last time out, but they has covered six in a row since their lone non-cover in the opener on Nov. 6 against Louisiana Tech.

The Huskies bounced back from an OT loss to San Diego State on Nov. 19, posting an 83-56 win over UC San Diego last time out as a 15.5-point favorite. Still, Washington is just 2-2 ATS in four games overall. The Rams are the play here, as Colorado State has fired out of the chute and into the rankings. Colorado State also has impressive wins over Boston College and Creighton in addition to topping Colorado.

Bet: Colorado State -5.5 (-110)

Make sure to check out our other best bets for Saturday:

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