Champ Week rolls on with even more action on Wednesday evening.
Three Man Weave's Ky McKeon and Action Network's Tanner McGrath came through with three best bets for tonight's evening slate, including two power conference plays and a championship game wager.
Let's dive into our college basketball best bets and NCAAB picks for the evening games on Wednesday, March 12.
Below, we've thrown our three evening best bets together for a parlay if you choose to go that route, though that's not our official recommendation with these picks.
College Basketball Best Bets for Wednesday Evening
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from Wednesday evening's slate of conference tournament 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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 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. | ||
Cal vs. Stanford Pick
By Ky McKeon
This game might get bet up due to Cal coming off a thrilling double-overtime win in which it tried to give away the game multiple times (and, yes, that is a factor in liking Stanford), but the Cardinal have also just had the number of their in-state rival this season.
Though both contests ended within double digits (both Stanford wins), the Cardinal led by as many as 20 in Game 1 (never trailed) and 17 in Game 2.
Cal simply cannot score over the Trees’… well… trees.
The Bears have shot 44% and 37% from 2 in two contests against Stanford and rank dead last in the ACC in 2-point field-goal percentage.
Cal ranks 297th in rim field-goal percentage this year, and Stanford defends the paint well with 7-foot-1 Maxime Raynaud and backup big man Chisom Okpara. Raynaud has racked up eight blocks against Cal this season.
Cal’s only hope is to earn trips to the foul line, something it does very well. But if the game against Virginia Tech is any indication, Stanford doesn’t need to be overly worried about Cal converting those charity-stripe chances.
Offensively, Stanford can play through Raynaud all game. In two games against Cal, Raynaud has averaged 20 points on efficient shooting.
Cal has some bodies up front — Mady Sissoko is very athletic, and Rytis Petraitis is an all-out hustler — but the Bear defense can be undisciplined as a whole and is simply too small to handle Raynaud and Co.
Stanford should frustrate Cal with its size, disallow the Bears to score easy buckets, live in the paint offensively, and use its athleticism to its advantage to slowly pull away from Cal and cover the two-possession spread.
Pick: Stanford -6.5
Navy vs. American Pick
By Ky McKeon
The Patriot Championship tips off in D.C. on Wednesday night, a home game for the American Eagles and a short 45-ish minute drive for the Navy Midshipmen from Annapolis.
This game is unique in that the underdog — Navy — is a perfect 2-0 over the favored Eagles.
Game 1 was a beatdown of epic proportions, as the Mids took care of business by 23 points and led from the opening tip to the final buzzer.
Game 2 was closer but still resulted in an eight-point Navy win on the very same floor it visits tonight.
Navy’s offense is a balanced drive-and-kick attack that looks for clean spot-ups from deep and open lanes through the paint.
It should come as no surprise that the Mids are tough as hell, and their best player, 5-foot-10 point guard Austin Benigni, is a certifiable warrior.
He single-handedly put away both conference tourney foes from the stripe the past week, averaging 26 points per game while going an absurd 34-for-38 from the line over two contests.
American contained Benigni in both meetings this season, but the other Mids stepped up in his place and handily won the rebounding battle in both contests.
The Mids should find plenty of success on the glass and get to the foul line — they rank second in the Patriot League in both categories, while the Eagles rank eighth and 10th in defensive rebounding rate and free-throw attempt rate, respectively.
Offensively, American lives and dies by the almighty jumper. The Eagles lead the Patriot in 3-point attempt rate and rarely manufacture shots near the bucket, though forward Matt Rogers is a master on the block, and his Eagles will play through him nearly every possession.
Navy is the best defensive team in the league, but it’s also the shortest team in the country and has struggled to defend the post.
Stopping Rogers will be priority No. 1, but sending automatic doubles is a dangerous proposition given how well the Eagles can shoot.
Ultimately, the Mids’ hustle and ability to close out should help them prevail.
Join the Navy! The Midshipmen are on the hunt for their first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998.
Pick: Navy +4.5 (Play to +2)
LSU vs. Mississippi State Pick
Mississippi State hung around in the top 25 of the AP Poll for much of the season and was 7-6 in SEC play after taking down Texas A&M on February 17.
The Bulldogs have since lost four of five to end the regular season, dropping an overtime game to Texas and a one-point game to Arkansas in the final week.
It was a brutal way to end the year, but it could represent a good buy-low spot for Mississippi State in the league tournament against a Tigers squad that the Bulldogs beat by double digits less than two weeks ago.
Mississippi State won that first matchup by protecting the rim (seven blocks) and dominating in transition (18 fast-break points).
