No. 2 Alabama vs. No. 13 Purdue is the marquee game of the night in college basketball, but there's still betting value elsewhere as part of a deep Friday slate.
I, Jim Root of Three Man Weave, have three games I'm targeting for my top picks for Friday.
So, here's college basketball best bets and three picks and predictions for Friday's games, including TCU vs. Michigan and SMU vs. Butler.
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 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. | ||
TCU vs. Michigan
By Jim Root
TCU gets its first real test on Friday night after winning three buy games in Fort Worth.
Michigan, on the other hand, challenged itself last Sunday by playing Wake Forest in Charlotte. The Wolverines fell late in a seesaw battle, but now they can redeem themselves at home.
From a spot lens, that scenario tilts slightly towards Michigan. The Wolverines are coming off a loss, and TCU will be entering its first hostile environment.
However, these teams simply are not this far apart. Even giving Michigan a generous home bump (four points?), this line indicates the new-look Wolverines are significantly better than the Horned Frogs.
TCU’s biggest edge here will be on the offensive glass. Jamie Dixon’s teams bombard the boards every year, and Michigan has been vulnerable there so far. The Wolverines rank just 323rd nationally in defensive rebound rate – concerning for a team that starts two 7-footers.
An additional angle: TCU’s Frankie Collins is returning back to where his college career started in 2021-22. That added incentive should amp up Collins, who is already a demon of an on-ball defender.
This line is too high. The aggressive Horned Frogs have the talent and coaching to keep this game close, even in their first game away from home.
Pick: TCU +8 (Play to +7)
SMU vs. Butler
By Jim Root
Butler needs a key win in the worst way. Like the Big East as a whole, the Bulldogs have struggled early, dropping a buy game to Austin Peay and only leading Western Michigan by two at halftime (they did go on a big second half run, though).
Meanwhile, Andy Enfield’s revitalized SMU roster has taken care of business in its three buy games.
I am expecting a track meet at Hinkle Fieldhouse tonight. The Mustangs currently have the shortest average possession length in the country, per KenPom, pushing the ball at every opportunity. That’s despite playing three underdogs that strongly prefer to grind the game in the half-court.
Now SMU has a willing dance partner.
Butler is not necessarily a team with turbo pace, but Thad Matta will allow his team to run in the right context.
This year, he has multiple wings that can grab-and-go off the defensive glass in Jahmyl Telfort and Patrick McCaffery, and speedster Kolby King always provides a jolt of pace off the bench.
Pair that with SMU’s “cement block on the gas pedal” approach so far, and this game should see plenty of possessions.
From an efficiency standpoint, Butler’s inability to force turnovers or defensive rebound – and SMU’s strengths in those departments – should give the Mustangs a solid scoring baseline.
Butler, meanwhile, should live at the free throw line, as long as it doesn't succumb to SMU’s pressure too often.
Pace is the biggest asset here, but both teams have routes to points, as well.
Pick: Over 155 (Play to 158)
Army vs. Marist
By Jim Root
From a track meet at Butler to a slog at Marist.
Army and Marist are two mid-to-low-major squads that vastly prefer to play at a snail’s pace. Army’s Kevin Kuwik only has a one-year track record of that approach, but Marist’s John Dunne has been mucking games up for almost two decades at this point.
I initially thought Army might run more after losing three centers to graduation and adding back dynamo point guard Jalen Rucker, who sat out last season. But early indications are more of last year’s crawling speed, slowing transition-heavy Albany to a 67-possession game and trying (in vain) to keep Duke in the half-court.
Against a team of similar ability, Army should be more able to control the pace, especially against a foe that is also happy to walk it up.
The concern will be getting enough stops. Both teams are fairly balanced in terms of offensive vs. defensive ability, but each squad has a Swiss Army knife defender who can hopefully influence the proceedings (Army’s Josh Scovens and Marist’s Jaden Daughtry).
A little regression from Marist’s scalding shooting (45.8% from beyond the arc so far) would certainly help matters.
I’ll take the under in what should be a low-possession game in Poughkeepsie.
Pick: Under 133.5 (Play to 131)
