College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (2/21)
Welcome back to another day of best bets for the College Basketball slate.
I'll be honest: Last night was weird. Sometimes, you think you have everything figured out, and then the best team in the country goes and gets blown out of the water. It's truly shaping up to be a wild March Madness where anything can happen. I'm not complaining; I'm excited for the calendar to turn, don't get me wrong. Still, man, oh man, has it been a doozy of a season. All that means is we're due for some positive regression and must trust the process.
Here are my best bets for Wednesday's slate. It's not the most exciting docket, but it's still College Basketball, so that's a plus.
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Wednesdayâs College Basketball Best Bets
Last Time: 1-2 | Season: 45-43
#24 Florida @ #13 Alabama
One of the hottest teams in the country right now is the Florida Gators, ranking 51st in the Haslametrics consistency metric. They have been quite consistent overall, but this is not just another game.
Alabama is one of the best teams at home, ranking ninth in the at-home metric. The Crimson Tide depend heavily on their pacing and perimeter shooting, with nearly 40% of their points coming from deep, the 15th highest in the nation. Both teams score in transition and rebound well, so I truly expect this to be an exciting matchup.
The Gators are 7-1 in their last eight games, and with the 11th-highest average height, I trust them to depend on their second-best offensive rebounding. So, even if the shooting is off, they should get plenty of second-chance looks.
Despite this total being already through the roof, I don't think it's high enough. Both teams are top 40 in pace of play, and the offenses should be able to do well against each opposing defense. Even if Florida's scoring is off, their rebounding is right there. Alabama can shoot the lights out and also crashes the offensive boards. Expect plenty of points in this one.
Play: Over 174 (-110 via DraftKings Sportsbook)
#17 Kentucky @ LSU
At first look, Kentucky should dominate here. LSU is ranked 77th in KenPom, losing six of their last eight games. They are fast-paced but rank 87th both offensively and defensively in efficiency.
Kentucky has been one of the more inconsistent teams in all of College Basketball. Their offense is electric, with a ton of height, speed and depth. They take care of the ball and should win the rebound battle simply because of LSU's struggles.
This game has a wide variety of outcomes. The Tigers allow plenty of looks from deep, so it will come down to if Kentucky is making their three-balls. Given the high number of possessions, lack of turnovers and general opportunity, I expect Kentucky to eventually kick it into high gear and take this one down easily.
Play: Kentucky -6.0 (-110 via Caesars Sportsbook)
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