The Maryland Terrapins are ranked 18th in this week’s AP poll, which marks the teams first ranking in a year and its highest ranking since 2022. While they are the only ranked team in action today, Thursday’s college basketball slate is still loaded with plenty of opportunities to cash in on wagers.
Continue reading for a detailed breakdown of our college basketball best bets and top picks for Thursday, February 6th.
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Thursday's Best College Basketball Bets
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
North Carolina A&T (+18.5) @ Charleston (-18.5) | O/U 152 (-112/-108)
Everyone in the gym should get their track shoes on for this CAA matchup between two of the fastest-playing teams in the country. North Carolina A&T and Charleston each play at a top-31 tempo in the country, looking to outscore their opponents as neither is particularly good on the defensive end.
Charleston is particularly weak defensively and at the rim, and ranks 12th in conference play in turnovers forced (14% turnover rate). Meanwhile, the Aggies have lost 17 of their last 18 games and allowed 81-plus points 11 times in that span. Thus, Charleston should light up the scoreboard given that it ranks second in adjusted offensive efficiency in league play. I also do not expect the Cougars to be highly motivated on the defensive end while going against an Aggies squad that is winless in 10 league games.
Pick: Over 152 (-112)
Maryland (+2) @ Ohio State (-2) | O/U 148 (-110/-110)
It is a bit concerning that Ohio State’s only home win in its last four Big Ten home games was its latest home game against Iowa. The Buckeyes suffered home losses to Michigan State, Oregon, and Indiana in that span, but road wins over Purdue and Penn State in the last two weeks have me believing that Ohio State will turn things around at home against another quality opponent.
To beat Maryland, one has to confident in their abilities to negate Derik Queen, who is averaging 15 points and 8.3 rebounds per game this season. Queen scored 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in the first meeting between these teams that Maryland led 50-17 at halftime. But the Buckeyes rank second in league play in 3-point percentage allowed (29.9%) and should use that defensive prowess on the perimeter to focus more attention on Queen inside.
Maryland is just 2-4 ATS on the road this season, and I expect the Buckeyes to get up for this game and avenge that embarrassing loss earlier in the season.
Pick: Ohio State -2 (-110)
Elon (+1.5) @ Campbell (-1.5) | O/U 140 (-112/-108)
Don’t look now, but one of the hottest teams in the Colonial is Campbell, who enters this game on a five-game winning streak. Elon beat Campbell 81-68 at home on January 13, but the Camels have looked like an entirely different team since then.
Entering Campbell’s game against William & Mary two games ago, the Camels were allowing just 22% shooting from beyond the arc at home. They then held the Tribe to 3-of-25 from 3-point range, and followed that up with a 23-point home blowout of Hofstra, where they held the Pride to 20% from beyond the arc.
Elon should get next to nothing from the perimeter, as it already makes a league-worst 28.3% of its 3-point attempts in league play. And given that it ranks 12th in the CAA with 47.2% of its scoring coming from 2-point range, I do not see it having the offense to keep up in this matchup.
Campbell is 6-1 ATS when it has four-plus days off this season, and that extended rest should bode well for its chances again, especially since it has not played on the road in nearly two weeks.
Pick: Campbell -1.5 (-110)
Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.
