The second-to-last Saturday slate of the college basketball regular season is here. And can you believe it? It's March!
The best time of the year is here, and we have college basketball best bets, including our staff's four top picks for Saturday, March 2.
College Basketball Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 1 p.m. | |
  | 1 p.m. | |
  | 5:30 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Illinois vs. Wisconsin
I love this spot for the Badgers to right the ship after a string of six losses in their last eight games.
A majority of those losses came on the road in very tight games, where Wisconsin was on the wrong end of some bounces down the stretch.
Meanwhile, Illinois’ defensive metrics have really taken a nosedive in recent weeks.
The Illini have surrendered 80-plus points in each of their last four games against the likes of Maryland, Iowa, Penn State and Minnesota — most of which aren’t exactly offensive juggernauts.
Additionally, Wisconsin has dropped its last six meetings to Illinois, so this veteran-laden group has probably had this matchup circled for some time.
Tyler Wahl should be able to have his way in the post, and look for Chucky Hepburn and Max Klesmit to knock down some big shots from the perimeter.
I think the Badgers get it done as small favorites, and I would back them up to -3.5.
Pick: Wisconsin -2.5 (Play to -3.5)
Kansas vs. Baylor
By Matt Gannon
The masses will be running to bet Kansas catching a few points after its ugly home loss. The Jayhawks are usually a lock to win at Allen Fieldhouse but fell short against a very hungry BYU team.
Baylor has been shaky this season but looks to be getting hot at the right time. It’s coming off a very dramatic loss against the best team in the nation in Houston, which was followed up by an impressive road win at TCU.
Down low, Kansas should have the advantage.
Hunter Dickinson is a force not many teams can stop. This young Baylor team doesn’t have the best presence down low and has struggled with elite centers this season.
Baylor's advantages will come from the guard positions and the wings. RayJ Dennis will be able to get the rim at will in this matchup, which will be a big advantage for Baylor offensively.
The environment in Waco will be the real difference-maker here. Year in and year out, Baylor is a problem at home, and very few teams head down south and leave with a win.
I expect this game to be tight out of the gates and for Baylor to pull away down the stretch to grab the cover.
Pick: Baylor -4.5 (Play to -5)
Iowa vs. Northwestern
By John Feltman
The Hawkeyes are flying under the radar as the calendar turns to March, and they're very much alive for an at-large bid. This will be the most important game of the season, and it’s a terrific matchup for them.
Let’s face it — the Wildcats are depleted since they lost guard Ty Berry. They also may be without fellow guard Ryan Langborg again, which will force them to play a walk-on for the second consecutive game.
The Hawkeyes rank 12th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, and their offense flows inside the arc. The Wildcats are terrible at defending in that area, which should allow the Hawkeyes’ frontcourt to find a ton of great scoring opportunities.
The Hawkeyes protect the basketball extremely well, and the Wildcats don't force turnovers. Iowa isn’t a great 3-point shooting team, but that’s another area Northwestern can’t defend well.
Chris Collins’ team is ultra-aggressive on the defensive end, which is a recipe for disaster against the Hawkeyes. Iowa shoots 78% from the charity stripe, so it should have extra opportunities for some free points.
This is a desperation spot against a depleted rotation, and we’re fortunate enough to be getting points on the road here.
I love the Hawkeyes on Saturday, and I think they can win the game outright.
Pick: Iowa +4 (Play to PK)
UCLA vs. Washington State
After getting thumped by sister school Washington on Thursday, UCLA will continue its journey through the Evergreen State to face Washington State at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman.
UCLA lost, 94-77, Thursday night after being plagued by poor shooting, connecting on just 29 of its 65 field goal attempts and seven of its 22 shots from the 3-point line.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, this wasn’t out of the ordinary but rather symptomatic of the problems that have plagued them from the field this season.
Saturday’s contest against Washington State will present an even tougher matchup, as the Bruins will be facing a Cougar defense that ranks 36th in the nation in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency and second in the Pac-12.
Washington State ranks 28th in the nation in effective field-goal defense (46.7%) and will be a matchup problem for a UCLA team that not only has the worst effective field goal percentage in the Pac-12 but one of the worst in the nation (334th).
The UCLA defense has been a bright spot for the Bruins this year, but Washington State’s offense is quite efficient given its methodical pace. Wazzu’s offense ranks 52nd in the nation in Adjusted Offensive Effiency and shouldn’t have a problem finding its rhythm at home.
Lastly, Washington State has been a force in Pullman this season, going 14-1 on its home court and covering the spread in eight of those matchups.
My model projects Washington State as a 9.5-point favorite. I like the combination of a model advantage and how the Washington State defense matches up against a poor-shooting UCLA squad in this contest.
I recommend laying the chalk at -8 or better as the tough-at-home Cougars look to send UCLA back to California with its tails between its legs.
