We have a juicy college basketball slate on Tuesday, as 12 ranked teams are in action and the Big East and SEC each have an intriguing top-25 matchup.
For this piece, our staff has targeted three games on Tuesday that have betting value.
So, without further ado, here's our college basketball best bets and odds, including three NCAAB expert picks and predictions for Tuesday, February 4.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:30 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
  | 11 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. | ||
Marquette vs. St. John's
My single favorite trend in college hoops is Shaka Smart as a road ‘dog.
He always has his team buttoned up for these big road matchups, and I’m sure he’ll have his squad fired up in a bounce-back spot after Saturday’s rough home loss to UConn.
Meanwhile, we have to be at the peak of the market for the Johnnies, who have won eight consecutive games and have needed a few miracles to do so (e.g., a two-point home win over Providence and a 16-point comeback overtime win over Xavier).
I don’t love the schematic matchup for Marquette, given Rick Pitino’s matchup zone can neutralize many of the ball-screen and handoff actions the Eagles run for Kam Jones.
That said, the Johnnies are uber-aggressive in their dribble-penetration denial, which typically leaves weak-side catch-and-shoot opportunities open. Marquette is an elite spacing and shooting offense that can spread St. John’s out and beat it over the top.
Meanwhile, I have little faith in the Red Storm’s offense, which often looks stale, lifeless and inefficient. That’s especially true if you can keep them out of transition, which Marquette can do (.93 transition PPP allowed, 88th percentile, per Synergy).
They’ll try to work through Kadary Richmond in ball screens and dribble penetration in the half-court. However, Smart’s aggressive on-ball dribble-denial defense will force the ball out of his hands early and often, and the Red Storm don’t have any catch-and-shoot secondary creators to fall back on.
In fact, these two defenses are very similar, but only Marquette can exploit its opponents’ over-aggressive defense with secondary creation — the Johnnies can’t make jump shots.
I’m worried St. John’s will obliterate the boards and beat Marquette on shot volume. But the spot is too good for Smart’s Golden Eagles, especially against a very weak offense.
Pick: Marquette +3
Kansas State vs. Arizona State
By Sean Paul
We have a brilliant spot in Tempe, Arizona.
Fresh off a stunning win over Iowa State in Ames, now is the time to leap off the Kansas State bandwagon — if anyone was ever on it.
The Wildcats have rattled off three consecutive wins, largely thanks to strong showings from Coleman Hawkins and Dug McDaniel. Traveling to Arizona is now a tall task, especially facing a team in the thick of the NCAA Tournament race.
Arizona State needs this win to stay in the NCAA Tournament mix. Otherwise, the path begins to get complicated.
Bobby Hurley’s squad excels on the defensive end. Arizona State holds the nation’s 39th-ranked defense, per KenPom, guided by freshman Jayden Quaintance’s dominant interior defense. Opponents shoot just 48% from inside the arc and 30% from 3 versus Arizona State.
The key is shooting. Arizona State attempts 3s at a healthy 43% clip and connects on 35% of those shots. The Sun Devils need strong showings from freshman Joson Sanon and veterans Adam Miller and Alston Mason to match their season-long percentage.
I can’t justify taking Kansas State, which was the laughing stock of the Big 12 three weeks ago, given its large NIL commitment leading to dreadful results.
I don’t think Kansas State is magically better, so I'm in on Arizona State here.
Pick: Arizona State -2.5 (Play to -3.5)
Arizona vs. BYU
Who’s excited for a little Big 12 after dark on this Tuesday evening?
The two hottest teams in the conference square off in Provo in what should be a raucous atmosphere inside the Marriott Center.
BYU has won four in a row in the league and has an opportunity tonight to further cement itself comfortably inside the cutline for the NCAA Tournament.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats have lost just once since Dec. 15 and currently sit tied with Houston atop the Big 12 standings.
Arizona has won four of its first five conference road games, but I think it could be ripe to get punched in the mouth tonight by the Cougars.
BYU boasts a top-20 offense in the entire country, per KenPom’s efficiency rankings, and this will be the best shooting team that Zona has faced in recent weeks.
The Cougars also tend to shoot it better inside the friendly confines of their own building, and with the way they space the floor, they should create some matchup advantages with bigs for Arizona like Henri Veesaar having to step out onto the perimeter.
The Cougars also do a good job of taking care of the basketball and really value every possession which is important against an athletic Wildcat defense.
Additionally, I think this Arizona team is due for a letdown spot after escaping Iowa State at home in overtime and then winning an emotional road game against in-state rival Arizona State.
I expect to see BYU come out with its hair on fire from the jump in this one, and I don’t think Tommy Lloyd’s team will be able to adjust quickly enough to get back into it.
Give me the Cougars at home to cover this number.
Pick: BYU -2 (Play to -3)
