College Basketball Best Bets for Today, February 4th

2-1 Thursday with the bigger play on Arizona came home as we get warmed up for the weekend with a condensed Friday slate, but there's still betting value on the board.

The marquee matchup, for my money, is in the Mountain West, who is rolling out high level games almost nightly now, between Colorado State and San Diego State.

I have a play on that one as well as two other ones on Friday, so let's get to it.

Odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook

Column Record: 43-38-3 for +3.43 units.

Yale vs. Dartmouth OVER 136.5

Check out the full game preview for more nuggets, but both offenses should lead the dance in this affair. Neither defense generates a ton of turnovers and the heavily favored Bulldogs play at a top 100 tempo in the country, typically getting their offense from inside the arc and the free throw line.

Meanwhile, Dartmouth hoists from deep at a high rate, second highest in Ivy League play and are shooting nearly 80% from the charity stripe in conference play. Yale has scored 80 or more points in three of their four conference wins this season, and I expect they flirt with that high total yet again.

With more possessions than the norm and an underdog that can get hot from three, I'll take a stab on the over.

PICK: OVER 136.5, play to 137.5

Richmond (-4) vs. St. Bonaventure

I was able to bet this at -3.5, but still would play this at -4. I am much more bullish on the Richmond side overall than the Bonnies, who appear to be running out of gas around their veteran five man rotation.

The Spiders are a top 30 offense, per ShotQuality, but are hitting on less than 30% of their three-point tries on a 41% 3PAr. So, the team is getting good looks from deep, but they aren't going in. A zone defense at home on a Friday night in a resume building situation can remedy that as the Bonnies allow a top 10 three-point rate this season with their compact zone D.

Richmond plays a perimeter style game around big man Grant Golden (who is a fantastic passer) and the Spiders can limit their exposure to St. Bonaventure rim protector Osun Osunniyi, who is an elite shot blocker.

The Bonnies continue to be overvalued in the market and I'll keep fading them, especially against a desperate Richmond squad.

Read more about this game HERE!

PICK: Richmond -4

Colorado State (-3.5) vs. San Diego State

I wrote about this game at length here, but I do like Rams to get back on track and get out of a two game losing streak. I faded this team against Wyoming on Tuesday in a tough road environment, but the team will head home to play in front of their own frenzied crowd.

Colorado State has a great home court at altitude in Colorado Springs, but also has the shot making to outpace a San Diego State that is 200th in KenPom's offensive efficiency and outside the top 300 in offensive efficiency since the start of January, per Barttorvik.com.

David Roddy and the Rams offense are a top 20 three-point shooting team, but hitting on less than 33% of them in conference play. I'll bank on some positive regression for an elite offensive team in this spot. Yes, San Diego State has the No. 2 defense in the country, but they are 1-3 away from home this season.

The Aztecs beat Colorado State by 30 in early January, and I expect a Colorado State team that needs a win over a quality opponent in Mountain West play gets it done at home.

I was able to bet this at -3, but recommend playing this to -4.

PICK: Colorado State -3.5

All of Reed's college basketball plays can be tracked here, his best bets column for college basketball is 43-38-3 for +3.43 units.