Top College Basketball Picks and Predictions Today (Back West Virginia, Boston College and More on Monday)
Looking to make some picks on the college basketball action on Monday night?
BetSided's Peter Dewey, Donnavan Smoot, Matt De Saro and Joe Summers have broke down a bunch of tonight's games, and here are some of their top picks with all odds via WynnBET Sportsbook:
San Francisco vs. Pacific Prediction and Pick
This is a pretty easy spot to back the Dons, and I’ll sell high on Pacific’s three-game winning streak at home in this matchup.
San Francisco has really played well in the WCC against anyone not named Gonzaga or Saint Mary’s, and we know those two teams are the class of the conference.
I broke down on Bet & Breakfast why the Dons are a much better team, but the long and short of it is this:
San Francisco is in the top 55 offensively in points per game and effective field goal percentage while ranking 81st and 30th in those categories defensively. Meanwhile Pacific has the No. 310 scoring offense in the country and 316th in opponent effective field goal percentage.
This line is exactly where it should be, and considering that Pacific has covered the spread just five times this season, I expect the Dons to come away with a blowout win on Monday.
Pick: San Francisco -13.5 (-110) -- Peter Dewey
Find Peter Dewey’s full betting record here.
West Virginia vs. TCU Prediction and Pick
Both of these teams are on serious slumps coming into tonight's game. The Horned Frogs have lost three straight and the Mountaineers have lost 10 of their last 11. However, West Virginia will pick up a rare win today. West Virginia doesn't have the greatest offense, and it surely does have issues, but TCU is at the bottom of several categories.
The Horned Frogs are last in the conference in offensive efficiency, turnover percentage, free throw percentage, steal percentage and non-steal turnover percentage. They have too many flaws for me to see them as a far superior team -- especially with three straight losses on their record.
West Virginia will have to find a way to score on the inside, especially with its dead-last 2-point percentage. With both teams struggling the way they are, I like the value with West Virginia in this spot. The Horned Frogs are 2-3 in their last five home games, giving me hope they won't be 100% ready to defend home court tonight.
Lean: West Virginia ML (+135) -- Donnavan Smoot
You can find Donnavan Smoot’s full betting record here.
The Citadel vs. Samford Prediction and Pick
While The Citadel has been busy losing games straight up, it is also failing to cover those outright losses. It is just 2-6 ATS in their last eight games and the last time they covered a game at home that was not against Samford was Jan. 13 against NC Greensboro.
As an away team The Citadel is 5-6-1 ATS and things only go downhill from there. As underdogs on the road, it is 4-6-1 and just 5-10 ATS against conference opponents.
When looking over their stats, it is easy to see why The Citadel struggles. The Bulldogs have one of the worst defenses in the entire nation. The Citadel ranks 345th in the country in scoring defense and allows opposing teams to score nearly 80 points per game. Its offense is above average but that matters very little when you can’t stop even the most mediocre of offenses.
Samford's defense isn’t anything special to be clear. But its offense is good enough that it should be able to outpace The Citadel tonight and cover as 6.5 point favorites at home.
Lean: The Citadel +6.5 (-110) -- Matt De Saro
Follow all of Matt De Saro’s betting picks HERE.
Florida State vs. Boston College Prediction and Pick
You ever open the fridge hoping for a tasty late night snack only to realize that all you have is week-old tuna and some questionably-soggy bread? I mean, you're hungry, but you don't feel great about your choices?
That's where I'm at with this game today. These teams are terrible. Every time I watch Florida State I feel like I forget how to shoot a basketball and Boston College has won just three times in their last 16 games. But someone has to win, so who's it going to be?
The Eagles are 8-6 against the spread at home this year and have covered three of their last four, so they've got that going for them against a Seminoles squad that's just 2-8 against the spread (ATS) on the road.
Florida State theoretically should be better, with the 104th-best adjusted offensive efficiency and the 99th-ranked defensive efficiency, but the Seminoles are prone to long scoring draughts and can't seem to put it together for a full 40 minutes. As a favorite, they're a pitiful 4-13 ATS and on an 0-7 stretch.
I don't want to trust Boston College, but under no circumstances can I ever trust the Seminoles as a favorite. They've been disgustingly bad and as a rule, I don't like to put my dollars on teams that make my face look like I just ate a box full of Warheads.
I'll be taking Boston College today, but I'll also be taking the under 136. The under has hit in three straight Eagles home games and is 5-2 in their last seven overall. With Florida State's offense in dire straights, I like those trends to continue. Plug your nose and take the Eagles and the under in this one.
Pick: Boston College +1 (-110) and under 136 (-110) -- Joe Summers