Two ranked vs. ranked matchups highlight a loaded Saturday college basketball slate. Read on for our college basketball best bets for Saturday based on the top NCAAB odds.
It went largely under the radar after tipping off so late on Thursday night, but Loyola Marymount completed its second stunning upset of the season. Three weeks after ending Gonzaga's 75-game home winning streak, the Lions knocked off the Saint Mary's Gaels, who were previously unbeaten in league play.
Now the Gaels hold a slim one-game lead over the Bulldogs in the West Coast Conference, one of several tight races entering the final month of the season.
Here are our college basketball best bets for Saturday (odds via BetMGM, DraftKings Sportsbook, and FanDuel Sportsbook; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Check out our top college basketball picks and our best March Madness betting sites.
Saturday's college basketball schedule and odds
- UConn vs. Creighton (-4.5)
- Alabama (-2.5) vs. Auburn
- Baylor (-1) vs. TCU
- West Virginia vs. Texas (-6.5)
Check out our best March Madness odds and Wooden Award odds.
College basketball best bets for Saturday
- Spread: Georgia +8.5 vs. Kentucky (-115 via BetMGM) ????
- Moneyline: Creighton ML vs. UConn (-190 via DraftKings) ????
- Total: Alabama-Auburn Over 152.5 (-110 via BetMGM) ???
- Upset: Nebraska vs. Wisconsin (+130 via Caesars) ???
College basketball top picks
Kentucky had won six of its last seven games (6-0 in the SEC) entering the te am's last contest. The Wildcats ranked fourth in the SEC during that span in points per game (72.6), second in field-goal percentage (45.3%), tied for third in 3-point field-goal percentage (33.9%), and first in rebound margin (8.6).
However, offense and rebounding weren't the problems during Kentucky's 88-73 home loss to Arkansas in its previous contest, which featured the Wildcats outrebounding the Razorbacks 31-26 and shooting 46.7% (29 of 62) from the floor. But issues could arise in those areas on Saturday, as CJ Fredrick, the team's sharpshooter and leader from the free-throw line, is out with cracked ribs, making this a four-star play.
It's worth paying the slight extra juice at BetMGM, as it's the only sportsbook offering a line of +8.5.
UConn and Creighton were among the top favorites to win the Big East regular season title, but the schools hav e gone in opposite directions after showing well in non-conference play. Creighton is amid a seven-game winning streak versus Big East opponents, its longest since 2011-12. Meanwhile, UConn is 5-6 since starting the season 14-0 and has beaten just one top-four Big East team (Marquette) in the last month.
The Huskies' nine-point home win over the Bluejays earlier in February came largely due to their ability to limit Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner to single digits for just the third time. However, Kalkbrenner is averaging 17.5 points in the four home games since then, and he got the better of UConn forward Adama Sanogo in last year's home meeting, posting a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Kalkbrenner's ability to ignite Creighton's offense makes this a solid four-star play.
There's still value in this line at DraftKings, though it's up from the opening number of -175. Think about switching to an ATS play if the line reaches -200 or higher.
Auburn plays at the SEC's sixth-fastest pace, but the Tigers tend to play faster and with more urgency offensively at home in the “Jungle.” The Over has cashed in two of Auburn's three games as an underdog. Additionally, the Tigers being on a two-game losing streak and dropping four of their last five bodes well for the Over, as it's cashed in five of Auburn's six games following a loss.
Meanwhile, Alabama's offense has been sizzling, averaging 92.3 points per game over the last three contests. The Crimson Tide have made 13-plus 3-pointers in each matchup during that stretch (47-for-104, 45.2%). Even an Auburn defense that ranks fourth nationally defending the perimeter (27.2% allowed) will struggle to stop that onslaught.
Currently, 70% of the action is on the Over, but this is one of the r are times when I don't mind siding with the public.
Optimists will say Wisconsin is back on track after winning consecutive road games against Ohio State and Penn State. However, the Badgers are just 5-8 against the spread after a victory, and they've covered in four of 13 Big Ten games.
Meanwhile, Nebraska is 4-2 ATS as a home underdog. The Cornhuskers split two meetings with Wisconsin in 2021-22, despite getting outrebounded and committing more turnovers in both games, and making just 31.6% of their 3-point attempts.
This line is already as low as +120 at BetRivers, so jump on the best number before it drops.
College basketball best bets made 2/11/2023 at 7:50 a.m. ET.
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