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College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: Thursday (2/22)

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It’s Thursday, and we have another full slate with plenty of interesting games on the college hardwood, especially in the smaller conferences. I tend to focus more on the mid-tier teams which do not get quite the handle as the larger conferences. But bettors don’t seem to care, as winners are winners, and small schools cash just the same. We split the four games on Wednesday, going 2-2, and that’s just 5-4 (+83) across the past two days. It’s in the black, but barely. Let’s get started!

Thursday’s College Basketball Best Bets

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

Queens University of Charlotte at Stetson - 7 p.m. ET

The Royals (11-17) head down to The J. Ollie Edmunds Center in DeLand, Fla. to battle the Hatters (17-10) in an ASUN battle on Thursday night, and the game can be viewed on ESPN+.

For Queens, it’s been all about the Over, going 9-1 across the past 10 games. The total actually went low in Friday’s 74-65 win over Jacksonville, and Queens cashed the Under in the first meeting with Stetson back on Jan. 12, too. However, the Royals have scored at least 74 points in each of the past 10 games, while allowing 75 or more points in nine of the past 10 contests.

For Stetson, it cashed the Over (139.5) in an 84-77 win at Bellarmine in the team’s most recent road game. The Over is 2-1 in the past three games, going for 84 or more points in those two Over games. The Hatters have allowed 77 or more points in six of the past nine games, too.

Bet: Over 157.5 Total Points (-113)

Texas-Rio Grande Valley at Utah Valley - 8 p.m. ET

The Vaqueros (6-19) hit the road to meet the Wolverines (12-14) for the second meeting of the season. UTRGV picked up a 76-68 win at home against Utah Valley on Jan. 13 as a 3-point underdog. It was the last victory for Rio Grande, as it has dropped eight straight games while going 1-7 against the spread (ATS) in those losses.

Utah Valley has won and covered a season-high three straight games, playing their best basketball of the season with victories over Abilene Christian, Cal Baptist, and Southern Utah. However, as a favorite, UVU is just 3-2 ATS in the past five, including the outright loss to these Vaqueros in South Texas. This is the first time Utah Valley has been a double-digit favorite. The Wolverines should exact a little revenge, grabbing the win, but this is an awful lot of points.

Bet: Texas-Rio Grande Valley +13.5 (-104)

Little Rock at Southeast Missouri State - 8 p.m. ET

I’ve enjoyed betting on Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) games this season, particularly Little Rock Unders. The Trojans (16-11) hit the road for Cape Girardeau to battle the Redhawks at the Show Me Center. UALR and SEMO cashed the Under (154.5) in the first meeting in Little Rock on Jan. 27, as the Trojans eased by the Redhawks 66-61.

Little Rock has cashed the Under in eight straight games, scoring 69 or fewer points in four of the past seven games, while allowing 62 or fewer points in four of the past five. For SEMO, the Over is on a 4-1 run in the past five games, but the offense has posted 61 or fewer points in seven of the past 10 games while allowing 77 or fewer points in six of the previous seven. This one should be a defensive slog in the OVC.

Bet: Under 149.5 Total Points (-111)

Tennessee-Martin at Lindenwood - 8:30 p.m. ET

Staying in the OVC, the Skyhawks (17-10) travel to meet the Lions (8-19) at the Robert F. Hyland Performance Arena in Saint Charles, MO. The total (151.5) went low in the first meeting on Jan. 27, as UTM eased by Lindenwood 76-67.

For Tennessee-Martin, it’s been all about the Under lately, cashing in three of the past four games, and 11 of the previous 13 outings, including that first meeting with Lindenwood. The Lions have also hit the Under in three of the past four games while going 6-2 across the past eight, and 11 of the previous 15 games.

Lindenwood is a light-scoring team, going for 64.7 PPG while shooting 40.2% from the field, and 27.1% from behind the 3-point line. All of those marks are among the worst in the country. Defensively, the Lions are just so-so, although teams have hit 36.7% against them from behind the 3-point line.

As for UTM, they are performing well offensively, going for 80.3 PPG, but it is a poor shooting team at 44.3% from the field. Defensively, the Skyhawks allow 76.3 PPG, but they limit teams to just 41.4% from the field. Again, Martin has been on a roll with the Unders, and until that changes we’ll roll with it.

Bet: Under 148.5 Total Points (-113)

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

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