Top College Basketball Picks and Predictions Today (Back Dayton, Florida on March 1)
We're coming down the stretch of the regular season in college basketball, and we've got you covered with predictions for tons of games on March 1.
BetSided's Reed Wallach, Matt De Saro and Joe Summers have some of their top picks in college basketball, using the odds at WynnBET, for Tuesday's action:
Florida vs. Vanderbilt Prediction and Pick
This game is being lined as a toss up, but I see some edges for Florida that makes me believe the Gators are the right side. Of course there should be more motivation on Mike White's sideline given they need the win to stay in the bubble conversation, but on the court, the team has a leg up on the Commodores.
It starts inside where Collin Castleton provides a ton of resistance at the rim. He is top 35 in the country in block rate, and the Gators are top 100 in defensive field goal percentage at the rim. In the first meeting, UF won 61-42 despite Castleton missing the game.
While Vandy may be in line to score more after a dismal 12-of-23 performance from the free throw line in that game, I still give the nod to Florida on the interior. The Gators take a ton of 3-pointers (first in the SEC in 3-point rate) but have the best two-point offense in the league. If UF can get inside and convert some easy buckets, it's going to be tough sledding for the 'Dores to keep up given the Gators defensive prowess.
Ultimately, in a must win spot I lean towards the Gators getting the win. I trust Castleton to send shots away from in close and Florida to win another ugly game.
LEAN: Florida PK -- Reed Wallach
All of Reed's college basketball plays can be tracked here, his best bets column for college basketball is 77-74-3 for -1.35 units.
Dayton vs Richmond Prediction and Pick
On the one hand, you've got a team that ranks 30th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 32nd in effective field goal percentage. This team has covered the spread in six of seven, is 5-3 ATS in its last eight road games and is 6-3 outright as an underdog this year.
On the other hand, you've got a team that's 150th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 76th in effective field goal percentage. This team is 2-8-1 ATS over its last 11 home games and has covered as a home favorite just once in their last four tries.
The first team is better, right? Now here's the kicker. The first team is an underdog today. That's right, baby! Give me the Dayton Flyers in one of my favorite bets of the day.
The Flyers, with their 41st-ranked 3-point shooting percentage, should be able to score with ease against a Spiders perimeter defense that's a meager 265th in opposing 3-point shooting. On defense, Dayton's 32nd-best two-point defense will stifle a Richmond team that wants to score inside.
With the 311th-highest offensive rebounding rate, the Spiders won't be able to create second-chance opportunities for themselves either. I'm stunned the Flyers are underdogs and love this spot for them. Give me Dayton to improve to 7-3 outright as an underdog as they cruise by a Richmond squad that has been poor at home the entire season.
Pick: Dayton +112 -- Joe Summers
Follow all of Joe Summers' betting picks here.
Kansas vs. TCU Prediction and Pick
I think that Baylor woke a sleeping dragon over the weekend and Kansas will come out guns blazing in an attempt to beat up on TCU in consecutive games. This before finishing the year at home against No. 21 Texas. But, the Horned Frogs matchup is better than one would think against Kansas and might not be such an easy win. Or two as is the case for this matchup.
Kansas has the No. 13 ranked scoring offense in the nation that averages 79.6 points per game. TCU has the 32nd ranked defense in the nation. The Horned Frogs also pull down the 17th most defensive rebounds in the nation while the Jayhawks are 43rd. So, does this mean I am taking the side of the underdogs here? Not quite. While those two metrics are all well and good, I think that the Jayhawks' overall offense is just too good. And their defense isn’t half bad either.
One thing that I like to see is that the Jayhawks are 11th in the country in second-half scoring. While it didn’t work out that way against Baylor, this is still a team that fights to the closing whistle. One small issue I have with Kansas is their free-throw shooting at 70.7. However, the Horned Frogs fail in this area even harder and rank 337th in the country at 66.2 percent from the charity stripe.
Pick: Kansas -6 (-110) -- Matt De Saro
Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE.