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College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (12/6)

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The last week in college basketball has been absolute madness. The Jimmy V Classic games did not disappoint while top teams like UConn, Tennessee, Marquette, Duke, Purdue, Villanova, and Mississippi State suffered losses – some not bad, others not great. This point has already been made plenty, so it shouldn’t be a new point, but it does appear that no team will be head and shoulders above anyone else. Be ready for a lot of close games and upsets not only in March but leading up to the tournament as well. The last few weeks have been difficult from a betting standpoint but we have learned some valuable information needed to make the necessary adjustments.

Here are my best bets for Wednesday’s slate. You can follow all my bets on my BettingPros profile as I add last-minute bets and player props once they drop.

Wednesday’s Best College Basketball Bets

Last Time: 2-1 | Season: 17-14

Texas at Marquette

Regarding inconsequential starts to the season, Texas may be at the top of that list after their first seven games. The Longhorns’ lone loss reasonably came against UConn while they’ve yet to beat a top-150 KenPom team. We’re still figuring out what level Rodney Terry has his squad at.

Marquette, meanwhile, is the only team to beat Kansas so far this year and has played an absolute gauntlet of a schedule, already having faced Illinois, UCLA, Kansas, Purdue, and Wisconsin. The Golden Eagles offense has stayed stellar while their defense has played surprisingly well, ranking 16th in the early going on KenPom.

My biggest question tonight is if Texas can keep up defensively against Tyler Kolek and company. Louisville scored 80 points against Texas with Tre White and Skyy Clark scoring 20 each. The playmakers under Shaka Smart are much more dangerous and have the chance to take over this game. Texas lines up well in the near-proximity range but with Marquette leading the league in mid-range shooting percentage, the Longhorns will have to adjust. Marquette has been one of the most consistent teams in basketball thus far, ranking 11th in the Haslametrics metric. Don’t expect a dud from the Golden Eagles, especially with the bump from playing at home.  

If Texas hopes to keep this game close, there are a few things they must do. The Longhorns must limit Marquette in transition, execute on the low block offensively and defensively, and rebound effectively on the offensive glass to take advantage of second-chance looks. I simply think that’s too high an ask for what I’ve seen from Texas. Any team that plays Louisville to the buzzer I am fading until further notice. 

Play: Marquette -7.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

Memphis at VCU

You know it’s not a great slate of college basketball when this is arguably the second most exciting game on the slate but hey, if you can gamble on it, I’m happy. 

Memphis has provided quite the razzle-dazzle this season with wins over Michigan, Missouri, and Arkansas, followed by tough losses to Villanova and Ole Miss. Who is this team? 

VCU meanwhile hasn’t dazzled, starting the year 4-4 with some concerning losses to McNeese State and Norfolk State. The Rams’ inability to take care of the ball and overall lack of offense has made it difficult for VCU in the early going.

Tonight, I expect Memphis to have significantly more scoring opportunities. This VCU defense is not one of old with a turnover rate of just 15.4 percent after that number was just shy of 24 percent a year ago. The Tigers are middle of the pack in terms of taking care of the ball but greater scoring opportunities usually lead to more scoring. Jahvon Quinerly is a facilitating playmaker while David Jones has been a high-usage sharpshooter for Memphis. They may be one of the most inconsistent teams in the country right now – so feel free to take some teasers either way – but they’ve shown their ability to play away from home already. The Tigers are the better team and I expect it to show this evening.

Play: Memphis -2.5 (-110 via FanDuel)   

Other Plays:

Maryland -6.5 (-120 via FanDuel)
South Carolina/Clemson Over 139.5 (-110 via FanDuel)

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

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