As usual, we have a rather thin college basketball slate on Friday, as just one ranked team (No. 10 Purdue) is in action.
But that doesn't mean there's no betting value to be had. In fact, I'm targeting three specific games on the Friday schedule.
So, here's college basketball best bets and odds, including three picks and predictions for Friday, January 31.
(You can also parlay these bets if you so choose.)
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 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. | ||
Dayton vs. Saint Louis
A crucial showdown in the Atlantic 10 pitches arch rivals Dayton and Saint Louis against each other in the Gateway City.
Dayton’s at-large hopes are on life support, and the Flyers desperately need a road victory to stay in the mix.
The host Billikens are happy to play spoiler, though. They took down conference favorite VCU on Tuesday, and they're clearly trending up in Josh Schertz’s first season. The Bills have won seven of their last nine games, and they've risen 58 spots in KenPom over that span.
The Flyers, on the other hand, are coming off a beatdown at the hands of St. Bonaventure on Tuesday. They couldn't get a stop, surrendering a scorching 1.32 points per possession to the Bonnies on the road.
That defense could be an issue again in St. Louis.
Notably, key Flyer transfers Posh Alexander and Zed Key didn't seem healthy. Alexander didn't score in 15 ineffectual minutes, and Key tallied just one point while logging eight minutes.
With that duo not at full strength, the market smartly bet Saint Louis to a favorite after it opened Dayton -1.5.
Admittedly, shooting regression is a concern. Saint Louis opponents are converting on an unfathomable 21.3% of their 3-pointers in A-10 play, a laughably unsustainable rate.
However, the matchup edges and home spot are still enough for me to back the Billikens.
Pick: Saint Louis -1.5 (Play to -2)
Saint Peter's vs. Rider
Two slow, defense-first squads clash in the MAAC on Friday night. The total is unsurprisingly low, but I don't think it's low enough considering the pace of each squad.
Both teams are in the bottom 25 of average offensive possession length, per KenPom, indicating their preferences for keeping the game in the half-court. Pitting them against each other should have a compounding effect, and this game could sail under the projected possession count of 61.
Saint Peter’s unbalanced efficiency also will contribute. The Peacocks sit 350th in KenPom’s offensive rankings, a severe divergence from their 95th ranking on the defensive end. That egregious split indicates how difficult it is to score for both the Peacocks and their opponents.
Rider has more of an even divide between both sides of the ball, but the Broncs’ inability to shoot – 29.3% from deep, 343rd nationally – displays their lack of explosion offensively.
Both squads have been under teams all season. Per Team Rankings, Saint Peter’s is 6-9 on the total this year (nine unders), while Rider is 7-13.
The market hasn't fully caught up on both teams’ crawling tempo, leaving some value on this game.
Pick: Under 123.5 (Play to 121)
Indiana vs. Purdue
Seeing a 12-point spread in a rivalry game comes with some sticker shock. But given the trajectory of Purdue and Indiana, that stark contrast makes sense.
Indiana has lost four of its last five games, with the only win coming by one in overtime at Ohio State. The outcry for coach Mike Woodson’s job has reached a fever pitch, especially considering the disastrous final 30 seconds in Sunday’s home loss to Maryland.
Purdue, on the other hand, has won eight of its last nine. Matt Painter’s lineup shuffle at the start of that stretch has worked wonders: with C.J. Cox and Caleb Furst in the opening group, the Boilermakers have been nearly unbeatable.
They've relied heavily on Braden Smith and Trey Kaufman-Renn, both of whom have performed like All-Americans. Smith’s expertise against drop coverage should shine in this matchup, as Indiana defends pick-and-rolls almost exclusively that way with towering big man Oumar Ballo.
Another edge for Purdue is that Malik Reneau’s return to the lineup hasn't gone smoothly. The Hoosiers had a better lineup flow while playing small ball without him, and he hasn't looked fully healthy yet (just 5-of-20 from the field in two games back).
Purdue won last year’s two matchups by 20 and 21 points. I envision another blowout here at Mackey Arena.
Pick: Purdue -12 (Play to -13)
