With matchups like Xavier vs. UConn, Memphis vs. Virginia, Butler vs. Marquette and Oklahoma vs. Michigan, college basketball has a strong slate on Wednesday.
But I'm looking for betting value, and that doesn't always come in the biggest of games.
So, here's college basketball best bets, including three predictions and picks for Wednesday, December 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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 6 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9 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. | ||
Stonehill vs. UMass Lowell
UMass Lowell has a golden opportunity to capture the America East crown this season. Vermont is limping into conference play, and the Riverhawks are starting to hit their stride.
Rich in experience and continuity, UMass Lowell is among the best mid-majors nobody is talking about.
In fairness to Stonehill, it has looked leaps and bounds better than last season, posting some truly impressive wins and scrapping with power foes. But UMass Lowell won’t take the Skyhawks lightly.
The key to beating Stonehill is shutting off the water to its 3-point faucet. The Skyhawks rank fifth nationally in percentage of points scored from downtown, living and dying by the long ball.
UMass Lowell takes away the 3 at a fantastic rate, a coach Pat Duquette staple. The Riverhawks rank 15th nationally in 3-point attempt rate allowed.
UMass Lowell is also due for some shooting regression, as opponents have hit nearly 36% of their outside shots, far higher than the national average.
Stonehill’s defense is nothing to write home about, a unit that ranks 288th nationally, per KenPom. The Skyhawks are overmatched athletically and physically and should get thoroughly dominated on the interior.
Lay doubles with River and fade the Sky in the Battle of the Hawks.
Pick: UMass Lowell -13.5 (Play to -15)
Northeastern vs. UMass
This is a pride game for UMass, which has looked downright awful this season following a bounce-back 2023-24 campaign.
A Boston rival comes to Mullins Center, one that has looked far better than the Minutemen thus far.
UMass is due to start shooting at least marginally better — it can’t get much worse. The Minutemen rank next-to-last in the country in 3-point percentage, hitting a putrid 24.9% from deep. Star guard Rahsool Diggins has been one of the primary brick culprits, shooting just 24.4% — a far cry from his 36.8% clip last year.
Perhaps a bit of positive regression helps the Minutemen on Wednesday.
To stop Northeastern, you have to shut off the paint. The Huskies score by pounding the ball to the rim, ranking in the 85th percentile nationally in both field goal attempt percentage at the rim and in-paint 2s (CBB Analytics).
UMass walls off the paint, disallowing paint 2s at one of the best rates in the country — and though the Minutemen have allowed a high rim rate, they rank in the 81st percentile in field goal percentage allowed at the cup. A Frank Martin team is a physical team, one that does not give an inch inside.
UMass has talented guards who take care of the rock, and it has athletic bigs that hit the glass and get to the line. The Minutemen have the tools to win this game.
Consistency has been lacking this season, but when playing at its peak, UMass can hang with almost any team in the country and can certainly put the Huskies down in a game that would have had a spread closer to seven or eight points in the preseason.
Pick: UMass -2.5
Alabama vs. North Dakota
Yes, this one is terrifying. And really there’s only two reasons to back North Dakota on Wednesday: 1) the spread is insanely high for a home team — like one of the highest of all-time — and 2) there is just no way in hell Alabama is as up for this game as the Fighting Hawks.
Bama is playing this game for Grant Nelson, its star forward who hails from the Peace Garden State. Nelson, of course, went to North Dakota State, but North Dakota is close enough. Bama gets to do a favor for its player, and the Hawks get an unprecedented home game against a national title contender — a win-win for all.
Alabama will score at will, that’s just a fact. The Tide have the nation’s sixth-best offense, and the Hawks have the nation’s 18th-worst defense. NoDak will hold its own on the defensive glass with its size and it won’t give the Tide a ton at the charity stripe, but it should be a layup line inside the paint for Alabama.
North Dakota’s only hope is for Alabama to be cold from deep and that Nate Oats will show an ounce of mercy by not running up the score.
North Dakota is not totally inept offensively. The Hawks’ activity on the glass should earn them some second chances, and perhaps a huge advantage in motivation/energy will result in some cheap buckets around the cup.
There is some talent on the roster, led by Treysen Eaglestaff, North Dakota’s star guard who needs to be hitting from distance for the Hawks to keep this game reasonable.
Motivation is a big factor in college basketball. These are 18-22 year-old kids. And while Nelson might be pumped to play in front of family, the facts are this is not his alma mater, and the other side will be far more excited for this opportunity.
Bet North Dakota and hold on for dear life.
Pick: North Dakota +26.5 (Play to +25)
