Tonight’s college basketball action is highlighted by a Pac-12-heavy slate. At the top, Colorado faces Arizona in a battle of two top-25 teams, at least per KenPom. Without further ado, let’s get right into today’s best college basketball picks and player props, for today, January 4. Make sure to check out our other college basketball articles and our college basketball betting tools!
Best College Basketball Picks & Player Props Today
Best College Basketball Side & Total Picks Today
Oregon-Washington Odds
Odds via bet365
Oregon: +160 | Washington: -190
Oregon +4.5: -110 | Washington -4.5: -110
Over 153: -110 | Under 153: -110
Oregon-Washington Pick
Tonight’s Oregon-Washington game is a tale of teams heading in different directions. Oregon takes on Washington as a 4.5-point underdog, but while Oregon holds a slight advantage in offensive and defensive efficiency, they still have a few concerns.
The first concern for Oregon: health. This team lost Nate Bittle and N’Faly Dante early in the year, along with Jesse Zarzuela recently. The Bittle and Dante absences leave Oregon thin in the frontcourt, where they will battle a slew of Washington big men in Braxton Meah, Moses Wood, and Keion Brooks. Overall, Washington ranks 45th in effective height, while Oregon checks in at 269.
Washington also benefits from playing the 16th-ranked strength of schedule, while Oregon played the 110th-ranked schedule. With the overall superior roster, Washington should take this one.
Best College Basketball Pick: Washington -4.5 -110 at bet365
Youngstown State-Northern Kentucky Odds
Odds via Bet365
Youngstown State: -110 | Northern Kentucky: -110
Youngstown State +1: -110 | Northern Kentucky -1: -110
Over 145.5: | Under 145.5: -110
Youngstown State-Northern Kentucky Pick
Digging into Horizon League play, Youngstown State travels to Northern Kentucky as a one-point underdog. Northern Kentucky just lost their second-leading scorer Sam Vinson to a torn ACL, vacating 32.9 minutes per game.
Meanwhile, Youngstown State will enter this game fully healthy, with edges in a few key metrics. Youngstown State ranks 176 in offensive efficiency, while Northern Kentucky ranks 230th. The Penguins also edge the Norse 154-205 in defensive efficiency. Aside from that, they hold advantages in rebounding, effective height, and strength of schedule. Beyond the home-court advantage, Youngstown State boasts most major edges as well.
Best College Basketball Pick: Youngstown State +1 -110 bet365
Looking for more college basketball action? OddsShopper has identified this Stony Brook-Northeastern bet as the highest-value one on today’s slate due to the market disparity between ESPNBet, where you’ll find this wager priced at -180, and the rest of the market. Our true odds say this should be priced at -190 or worse, so take advantage of the misprice while you can!
Best College Basketball Player Prop Bets Today
North Texas-Wichita State Odds
Odds via bet365
North Texas: +100 | Wichita State: -120
North Texas +1: -110 | Wichita State -1: -110
Over 132: -110 | Under 132: -110
North Texas-Wichita State Player Prop
After averaging 29.5 minutes per game, Harlond Beverly has seen a recent minute reduction with Bijan Cortes beginning to play. At 6-foot-5, Beverly has spent almost all of his time at the point guard position this year, where Cortes also plays.
While Beverly projects to start any minute reduction will influence his overall statistical production. Beverly has minute counts of 20 and 25 over the last two games.
Lastly, Wichita State faces North Texas, who plays at one of the slowest paces in the entire country, leading to some systemic risk for Wichita State as a team. Xavier Bell‘s PRA under could also be worth a look for similar reasons.
Best College Basketball Player Prop: Harlond Beverly Under 17.5 PRA -110 at DraftKings
Utah-Arizona State Odds
Odds via bet365
Utah: -275 | Arizona State: +225
Utah -6.5: -110 | Arizona State +6.5: -110
Over 161: | Under 161: -110
Utah-Arizona State Player Prop
Arizona State takes on Utah as a 5.5-point underdog in a game with a total of 149.5 points. Arizona State had a two-time waiver resolved recently with Adam Miller ruled eligible. That should lead them to reduce the minutes of other players.
Jose Perez averages 31.5 minutes per game on the year, but he hasn’t reached that mark in any of Arizona State’s last three games. To be specific, he has played 25, 29, and 26 minutes in that span. While Perez and Miller don’t play the same position, Miller’s insertion into the offense has influenced the minutes of all of Arizona State’s guards and muddled the rotation.
Best College Basketball Player Prop: Jose Perez Under 22.5 PRA -110 at DraftKings
OddsShopper’s College Basketball Betting Tools & Tips
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