After a deep slate in college basketball on Tuesday, we're back again with juicy matchups on Wednesday.
I'm targeting three specific games, including two Atlantic 10 showdowns and a massive SEC duel.
So, here's my NCAAB best bets, odds and top three picks and predictions for Wednesday, January 8.
Top 3 College Basketball Predictions
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. | |
  | 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. | ||
Loyola Chicago vs. La Salle
Loyola Chicago has fallen back down to earth after an otherworldly start to the season. An 8-0 record quickly became 9-5 as the Ramblers have struggled to stay healthy.
Head coach Drew Valentine got one of his key pieces back last game in Jayden Dawson, one of Loyola’s most prolific offensive weapons, which should help tilt the squad’s fortune back in the right direction.
At 0-1 in the league, Loyola will look to get back to .500 against a La Salle squad that — while admittedly better than expected this season — is still among the worst teams in the A-10.
Fran Dunphy is a fantastic coach, but he lacks the NIL and other luxuries to attract and maintain top talent. His top two guards from last season now play for Villanova and Oklahoma State.
Look for Loyola to bully La Salle inside the paint. The Ramblers rank top-15 nationally in field goal attempt rate at the rim and 81st in 2-point field goal percentage made; the Explorers are 279th in field goal attempt rate allowed at the rim and 309th in 2-point field goal percentage allowed.
Big man Miles Rubin should have a field day, while the sizable Rambler guards should find consistent paths to the bucket against the smaller La Salle backcourt.
La Salle’s complete and utter lack of shooting is bad news against a Rambler squad that can wall off the paint and sit Rubin in the middle to block shots at will.
Loyola should have a size and strength edge at nearly every position, and the Explorers don’t have the firepower to beat the Ramblers’ tough-minded defense.
A bounce back is in store for Loyola Chicago.
Pick: Loyola Chicago -1.5 (Play to -3)
Ole Miss vs. Arkansas
This year’s SEC could be the best conference of all-time – yes, seriously.
And when you play in the best conference on planet earth, no game is a gimme. That means protecting home court is an absolute must in order to make the NCAA Tournament.
Through the early going, SEC home teams have been ravaging visiting foes. That trend should continue on Wednesday with Arkansas hosting Ole Miss at Bud Walton Arena.
Arkansas has all the talent in the world, with former five-stars and big-name transfers filling out its roster, and yet the Hogs have underachieved a bit to kick off the year. An 11-3 overall mark isn’t bad, but a 4-10 ATS record is an eyesore and a clear indication of underperformance.
To beat the physical Rebels, Arkansas’ guards need to be at their best. Ole Miss forces the seventh-highest turnover rate in the country and packs the arc, forcing opponents to beat it over the top with shooting versus inside the paint.
The Razorbacks have dynamite guards, but they’ve been inconsistent. Freshman Boogie Fland has been a pleasant surprise, but hyped transfer Johnell Davis has been a shell of himself. Perhaps being at home in front of a raucous crowd and being back in the lineup for the second straight game will help him rediscover his form.
Ole Miss is versatile offensively, but it isn’t a juggernaut and relies heavily on physicality. If Arkansas can stay tough, protect the glass and read the scouting report to deny the best Rebel shooters, it should come away with a win.
The “motivation” angle can be an impossible one to shoot in college basketball, but an 0-1 SEC squad with tourney hopes hosting a 1-0 foe should move that needle squarely on the side of the home squad.
Pick: Arkansas -3.5 (Play to -4)
Saint Joe's vs. Duquesne
Saint Joe’s is quite possibly the most frustrating team in the country – at least in the mid-major realm.
Billy Lange’s team is uber-talented and has shown the ability to beat any opponent in the country – like it did against Texas Tech and Villanova earlier this year.
But the Hawks are also great at playing down to competition and can lose some real head scratchers – like a battle with Central Connecticut State back in November.
Saint Joe's will look to get back on the right track against Duquesne, a team that's suddenly been significantly better after a horrible start to the season.
The Dukes can win ugly – they’ve recently struck down physical squads like Towson, Rhode Island and UC Irvine. But the Dukes can also struggle with teams with high-powered offenses.
And Saint Joe’s has a high-powered offense.
The Hawks' guard duo of Erik Reynolds II and Xzayvier Brown is as good as you’ll find outside of the power-conference level – and Brown just came back from an injury a couple of games ago.
With two weapons who can create their own shot and score every time down the floor, the Hawks have offensive cheat codes. Duquesne’s overall defensive product has been good this season, but it's struggled to consistently guard the 3-point arc and bother star guards.
On the other end, Duquesne has little to no path to scoring. It relies on tough shot-making from average shooters and second chance points. Finishing inside the paint is a weak point, and the Dukes are among the worst free throw shooting teams in the nation.
Saint Joe's also has a lockdown defender in Rasheer Fleming, who Lange can stick on several opposing players and shut off the water to the Dukes' offense.
The talent disparity is considerable in this game, and Saint Joe's should be eager to get off the mat after an embarrassing loss to Saint Louis last time out.
A healthier Brown should help jumpstart the Hawks' offense, and Duquesne doesn’t have the capabilities to outscore Lange’s potent attack.
Pick: Saint Joe's -2.5 (Play to -3)
