Top College Basketball Picks Today (Best Bets for Michigan State-Penn State, Trust Total in Dayton-Virginia Tech)

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry calls out an assignment from the sidelines.
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Micah Shrewsberry calls out an assignment from the sidelines. / Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
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On Tuesday, BetSided's Reed Wallach went a perfect 3-0 ATS, including a nailbiter on the cover for St. Joseph's vs. Temple, as the Owls won 70-60, but failed to cover the 11-point spread.

Let's see if we can keep the hot streak going with our two best bets on the college basketball slate for Wednesday, December 7!

You can find the best available odds for every game on the board HERE, along with even more previews, predictions and plays on our BetSided college basketball picks page.

Top College Basketball Picks and Predictions Today

  • Penn State -3.5 (-110) vs. Michigan State
  • Dayton vs. Virginia Tech OVER 125.5 (-110)

Michigan State vs. Penn State Odds, Prediction and Pick

Penn State has been a terrific shooting team this year, and I like them to cover the 3.5 at home vs. an up-and-down Michigan State team.

Penn State is 11th in effective field goal percentage (EFG%), and have been lights out shooting the 3-ball at 40.4% on the season. Normally, we think of the Spartans as a top tier defensive team, but so far in 2022, they rank just 153rd in opponent EFG%. They also won't be able to take advantage of fast break opportunities on bad passes and mistakes, as the Nittany Lions are top 12 in turnover percentage this year.

Sure, Michigan State has played a tough schedule, but they're still 240th in offensive rebounding and 208th in defensive efficiency. Against a sharp-shooting team like Penn State? That's cause for concern.

Read Iain's full betting preview HERE!

You can track Iain's bets on Betstamp here.

Dayton vs. Virginia Tech Odds, Prediction and Pick

Since watching that 43-42 absolute stinker of an excuse for a basketball game in the Battle 4 Atlantis between Dayton and Wisconsin back in late November, it's difficult to want to consider an over play involving the Flyers.

However, this line is simply too low for how good of an offense the Hokies have put out this year.

Virginia Tech has the 17th-best adjusted offensive efficiency numbers in the game this year according to KenPom rankings. They rank in the top 20 in effective field goal percentage, 19th in 2-point percentage, and don't turn the ball over, coming in top 5 in turnover percentage on the offensive end.

Sure, Dayton's defense is very good. They're just inside the top 40 in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency, but teams have also put points on them and forced them to play up-tempo throughout the season. They're a good shooting team inside the 3-point line at 54.4%, and since that brutal game during Feast Week when they put up 42, the Flyers have scored a minimum of 64 over their last four games.

Virginia Tech will do their part to keep this game moving and grooving offensively. It won't be a shootout, but this number is far too low to consider the under. - Ben Heisler

Read Ben's full betting preview HERE!

Follow all of Ben's betting plays in real-time HERE!


Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.