College Basketball Best Bets, Picks
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12:30 p.m. | |
  | 2 p.m. | |
  | 4 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. | ||
We're inching closer to March, but before we transition to the best month of the year, we still have plenty of college basketball betting value on this Saturday's slate.
In fact, our team of experts are diving into three specific matchups that they like.
So, without further ado, read below for college basketball best bets and odds, including three NCAAB expert picks and predictions for Saturday, February 15.
Saint Joe's vs. George Mason Best Bet
Here are two trends to consider when betting Saint Joe’s games: The Hawks fall down early and then they catch fire.
In their past three games, they fell behind in the first half to La Salle by seven, Saint Louis by 10 and Loyola Chicago by 14. They hammered La Salle and Saint Louis in the second half, winning by 12 and 13 points, respectively, and they nearly dug out of their big hole against Loyola, falling by just three.
If Saint Joe's digs a familiar hole against George Mason, it’s curtains. The Patriots have one of the best mid-major defenses in the country (13th in KenPom).
Tony Skinn’s defense never gives up good looks in the half-court (third in PPP), they’re tough as a three-dollar steak on the defensive glass and they successfully slow games way down (323rd in tempo).
If the Hawks spot them an early lead, they’re not giving it back.
I would lay up to six with the class of the A-10.
Pick: George Mason -3.5 (Play to -6)
Houston vs. Arizona Best Bet
If there’s a team that's proven it's not the slightest bit afraid of going into hostile road environments and coming out victorious, it’s the Houston Cougars.
Kelvin Sampson’s group is as seasoned as a unit comes and will be razor focused for this one, given the massive implications in the Big 12 race.
The Cougars rank in the top six nationally in both offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom, and they don’t really have a weakness across the board.
Arizona is a much more volatile team, some nights it looks the part of a top-10 outfit, while others there are inconsistencies and causes for concern.
Part of that is due to the play of veteran point guard Caleb Love, who's run hot and cold throughout his career.
In a game in which the spread currently sits right around a pick'em, I just have far more trust in Houston to play at a high level and execute when it matters most.
The Cougars’ swarming defense should give Zona plenty of trouble and make things difficult for the Wildcats in the half-court.
On the other end, J’Wan Roberts continues to do a little bit of everything in the paint, and LJ Cryer is one of the more dynamic guards in the country.
Emanuel Sharp has proven his ability to knock down big shots time and time again, too.
Ultimately, I believe Houston is the more complete basketball team, and I expect the Coogs to prove it Saturday afternoon in an early tip in Tucson.
Pick: Houston -1.5 (Play to -2.5)
Auburn vs. Alabama Best Bet
No matter how you slice it, this is the biggest regular season game in SEC history. The nation’s top two teams will meet in an SEC game for the first time in the conference’s illustrious 92-year history.
The winner all but assures themselves a top seed in the Big Dance next month, as well as the inside track to the regular season crown.
Despite what the efficiency metrics may tell you, Alabama has a higher ceiling when everything is clicking offensively. The Tide’s reliance on the 3-point shot is a double-edged sword, but when those triples are falling, they’re truly unbeatable.
Look no further than their last game, as they ran Texas off its home floor by burying 17-of-29 shots from downtown.
That 103-point explosion was nothing new for Nate Oats. Believe it or not, that was the Crimson Tide’s 28th 100-point game in Oats' five-and-a-half years in Tuscaloosa.
Now, Auburn is capable of running with Alabama. Bruce Pearl’s squad has knocked off five ranked opponents while scoring 83 or more points this season. So, if Alabama imposes its preferred pace — the Tide are second in adjusted tempo — that’s not a death knell for the Tigers.
If, however, Auburn is successful in slowing things down and grinding this game out in the half-court, that could spell major trouble for Alabama.
Auburn is elite at defending the rim (15th) and rarely allows open looks beyond the arc (30.4%, 30th). Teams can expose the Tigers in transition (1.01 PPP, 162nd), but to generate fast-break opportunities, generally, you need to create turnovers.
Pearl’s team protects the rock better than just about any team in America (9.3, 6th) and they're absolute demons on the offensive glass.
That’s why I’m skeptical that Alabama can push this game into the 90s, where it wants to play.
Oats is also in a tough spot on the personnel front because if he wants to play “five out” and bomb away from long range, that should limit how many minutes he can give to his traditional big Clifford Omoruyi.
The Rutgers transfer gives the Tide valuable rim protection and rebounding support. If he isn’t on the floor, Johni Broome, who can defend out to the 3-point line, could be in line for another monster stat line.
In the end, there are multiple paths to victory for Auburn stylistically, while Alabama has to follow a more narrow, 3-point dependent game script.
For that reason, I’m on the short road 'dogs.
Pick: Auburn +2.5 (Play to PK)
