We have a loaded college basketball slate on Saturday — as usual — but we're here to help you narrow down your betting card.
Our staff is targeting three specific matchups for this Saturday schedule.
So, here's college basketball best bets and odds, including three predictions and picks for Saturday, January 18.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 2 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. | ||
Creighton vs. UConn
This point spread is based primarily on history. While it’s not quite ancient history they’re relying upon, oddsmakers are overlooking UConn’s foibles this season and setting this number as though it’s 2023 or 2024.
During the Huskies’ march to back-to-back national titles, they covered 63.6% of the time as a home favorite. That’s an astonishing record when you consider the fact that books were doing everything in their power to convince the public to back 'dogs playing in Storrs or Hartford.
Despite inflated lines, UConn covered by over three points per game across 33 matchups.
Now relics remains from Dan Hurley’s dominant teams of yesteryear. Alex Karaban (16 PPG, 5 RPG) and Hassan Diarra (8.9 PPG, 6.5 APG) made sizable contributions to UConn title teams, but the cast surrounding these familiar faces is nowhere near as talented as it's been in the previous two seasons.
Donovan Clingan, Cam Spencer and Tristen Newton have proven to be indispensable to Hurley and his staff. Clingan’s presence in the paint, Spencer’s relentless effort as a glue guy and Newton’s capacity to score 20+ points on a nightly basis are all sorely missed.
This explains why UConn has struggled, relative to the past two seasons, to handle quality opponents. Evan Miyakawa’s “Opponent Adjust” metric, which measures how teams perform when punching up or down to an opponent, captures how ordinary this UConn team is compared to its previous title teams.
Last season, UConn finished second among power programs in terms of its play improving when facing quality opponents. This season, the needle is pointing in the opposite direction. The Huskies are ninth in the Big East in terms of their play against quality opponents, which explains outright losses to Memphis, Colorado and Dayton. They were favored in all three of those contests.
But this isn’t just a pure fade of UConn. The Bluejays have the best center in the Big East in Ryan Kalkbrenner, a senior big that's averaging close to 20 and 10 across his last five games.
When they’re locked in, Creighton and its “Kalk Drop” defense can give teams fits. With Kalk patrolling the lane, the Bluejays squeeze teams on the perimeter (31.2% 3P, 67th), while never sending opponents to the line (11.6 FTA, 1st).
A pair of scoring droughts recently bit UConn in a loss to Villanova, and Nova is far from elite on the defensive end.
I’ll be sprinkling on the moneyline, while taking advantage of a generous spread that's gifting Creighton three possessions.
Pick: Creighton +8 (Play to +2)
Alabama vs. Kentucky
By Doug Ziefel
All eyes will be on the Rupp Arena as the No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats play host to the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide.
This matchup is set to be a track meet, and the tempo creates value for the total.
Alabama is the fastest team in the country (first in adjusted tempo, via KenPom), but its style also puts a ton of pressure on opposing defenses, as it can score in bunches from beyond the arc.
With the Crimson Tide, it's quantity over quality from beyond the arc, as they're 21st in 3-point rate but 253rd in 3-point percentage.
However, they've also been very efficient inside the arc, ranking third in 2-point percentage.
On the other side, it's more of the same for the Wildcats. Kentucky ranks 21st in adjusted tempo, but it's a more well-rounded team offensively.
The Wildcats are second in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency. They rank 55th in 3-point percentage and 22nd on shots from inside the arc, all while holding one of the lowest offensive turnover rates.
These teams are set to go basket for basket in what could be the highest-scoring game we see this season. What helps is that this should also be a tightly contested game, and if it comes down to the wire, there will be plenty of late-game scoring.
Pick: Over 177.5 (Play to 179.5)
Elon vs. Delaware
The Phoenix have been a great road bet this season (6-2 ATS) and have a calling card to play against the Blue Hens.
Elon is the tallest team in D-I, and that size has translated to a top-10 ranking on the offensive glass. Delaware, meanwhile, struggles on the defensive glass, ranking outside the top 300.
Elon’s Sam Sherry is averaging 17 and 10 in CAA play as a massive stretch four (6-foot-11), and its overall size has consistently bothered teams this season.
The Phoenix rank inside the top 20 in shooting efficiency allowed, and they rarely send teams to the line.
A big reason for this is the presence of Matthew Van Komen, a 7-foot-4 eraser in the lane. He recently had six blocks against Hampton, which was his ninth game of the season with three or more rejections.
Delaware has simply out-shot teams this season, but this will be the best defense it's faced in nearly a month when it lost by 21 at St. John’s.
I like Elon to take this one outright.
Pick: Elon ML -110
