College Basketball Best Bets for Today, January 25th

A 3-0 Monday night got the best bets column off to a hot start this week, but short term memory. We have a flush slate of Top 25 matchups, headlined by the likes of Arizona vs. UCLA and Michigan State vs. Illinois.

Here are my best bets for Tuesday's college basketball card. Some bets I placed are no longer available due to swift line movement, so I advise that you check out my betstamp for my plays in real time. As well, I may add some more as the betting market moves throughout the day, which will be added there.

Odds courtesy of WynnBET Sportsbook.

Column Record: 24-29-3 (-6.02 Units)

Michigan State (+5) vs. Illinois

I bet this at +5.5 last night, expecting some line movement towards Sparty with Kofi Cockburn's status in doubt. If the Illini big man is available for this matchup after missing the team's Friday night loss at Maryland to a concussion, the line will move away from Michigan State. Fair warning. Either way, I like this matchup for Tom Izzo's club.

The Spartans have the size to compete with Cockburn and the Illini frontcourt, but also to give some issues to the undersized Illinois backcourt. Trent Frazier and Alfonso Plummer are two of the most potent perimeter shooters in the country, but Sparty does a good job of shutting off opponent's from beyond the arc, allowing them to shoot just 30%.

While Cockburn's status looms large, I believe the size of Michigan State and the speed at which they play (44th shortest average possession length on offense) can pose some issues for the Illini defense that struggles to force turnovers.

PICK: Michigan State +5, play to +4.5

Duke (-11.5) vs. Clemson

I wrote about this game here, which you can check out, but in short I believe Duke is in line for another big performance against an undersized Clemson team.

Yes, the Blue Devils will likely be down Trevor Keels again, but the size of Paolo Banchero, A.J. Griffin and Mark Williams should generate a ton of second chances and also limit Clemson's ability to fire from the perimeter, their best source of offense.

PICK: Duke -11.5

Parlay: Rutgers/Oregon (+109)

Two of my favorite favorites on the board with Rutgers catching a fat and happy Maryland team at home after the Terps beat a banged up Illinois team on Friday. The Scarlett Knights are elite at home (10-1 this season) and should be motivated after losing on the road to Minnesota on Saturday afternoon. My game preview for this one is here.

Meanwhile, one of my favorite preseason teams, Oregon, is starting to look like what I had envisioned, beating the likes of UCLA and USC on the road last week. Now, they are home for Colorado as big favorites and I believe their emerging offense continues with a big win. The Ducks have the second best effective field goal percentage in PAC-12 play at 53% while also turning opponents over at a top 3 rate.

PICK: Rutgers/Oregon ML (+109)