The holidays are in the rearview mirror, and now we're getting into the meat of the college basketball season. College football is almost over and the NFL is nearing the conclusion of its regular season, so that means one thing: We're getting closer and closer to March.
Here's college basketball best bets and our staff's top picks for Tuesday, January 2.
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. | |
  | 9 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. | ||
Iowa vs. Wisconsin
By John Feltman
This to me is an overreaction from the market due to the recent success of the Hawkeyes' offense. They've scored 100 points in back-to-back contests, but this was against UMBC and Northern Illinois.
The Badgers enter this contest 37th in Defensive Efficiency, and they have a massive advantage in the frontcourt in this game. The success of Owen Freeman and Ben Krikke has been impressive, but now they'll have to go up against Tyler Wahl and Steven Crowl.
The rebounding edge for the Badgers in this matchup is truly impeccable, which will be a key reason why they should win this game.
I’m also not sold on this Hawkeyes offense — they enter this game 321st in Rim-and-3 Rate.
The lack of turnovers from the Hawkeyes' offense should help us here, since there won't be as many easy transition buckets from the Badgers. As we all know, the Badgers are a snail on offense, which means I expect them to control the tempo from the opening tip.
I’m a bit weary about the Badgers' offense blowing the Hawkeyes out of the gym, especially since the unit has been much better this season. However, I think the Badgers' defense will step up a bit to help this total, and we could see a similar performance to the Marquette game earlier this season.
It’s not that the Badgers have been overly impressive defensively, it’s a simple fade of this recent Hawkeyes surge. Fran McCaffery’s team is also 313th in 3PA, and it's shooting 33%.
I’d be surprised to see an offensive outburst from the Hawkeyes, which leads me to believe this total will stay under the number.
Pick: Under 153.5 (Play to 152)
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UAB vs. UTSA
By Kevin Rogers
UAB and UTSA play their first conference games as part of the AAC tonight in San Antonio, but the two teams are very familiar with each other from their days in Conference USA.
Last season, the Blazers swept the Roadrunners and have won four straight meetings since 2022. In the two victories in 2023, UAB was favored by 23 and 14.5 points. Tonight, UAB is only a 6.5-point favorite, as it tries to get its season on track.
Andy Kennedy’s team has several good wins in non-conference play (beating Maryland and Drake in close games), but it also owns questionable losses to Southern Miss and Arkansas State. Three of the Blazers' five losses have come by three points or fewer, though.
The Roadrunners are currently the lowest-rated team in the American by far, according to KenPom (291st), and were the lowest-rated squad in Conference USA last season.
UTSA’s best win came in its season opener against Western Illinois, and it's lost to Lamar, Little Rock and Army, all teams ranked 260th or lower in KenPom.
UAB does a great job of getting to the foul line, as the Blazers produce 25% of their points on free throws, which is 13th in the country.
It’s been a roller coaster ride for UAB, but the Blazers can improve to 2-0 in AAC play out of the gate.
UAB hasn’t been great covering numbers as a favorite, but it's won four straight games and should be able to take care of business tonight.
Pick: UAB -6.5 (Play to -7.5)
Syracuse vs. Duke
By Sean Paul
ACC play is in full swing, and the Cameron Crazies will fill the stands in Cameron Indoor Stadium with blue. The Duke Blue Devils, winners of four consecutive games, play host to the Syracuse Orange, who have won five straight.
There's some major stylistic advantages in Duke's favor in this one.
This feels like a nightmare matchup for Syracuse's big man, as Kyle Filipowski, Jeremy Roach and Jared McCain will drag plodding 7-foot-4 big-man Naheem McLeod onto the perimeter. Then Duke will drive right past McLeod if he gets switched onto the guards.
To counter, maybe Red Autry goes small.
Syracuse is good enough offensively and defensively to avoid getting embarrassed, though. Although Duke is clearly the better team, 14.5 points is too many.
Remember, Judah Mintz is one of the top guards in college hoops, and I expect a huge performance from him in a difficult environment.
The Orange plus the points feels like a safe bet in this one.
Pick: Syracuse +14.5
Ready to get in on the Duke betting action in North Carolina? You’ll soon be able to join in on NC sports betting, as the state is expected to come online in 2024.
