NCAAB Best Bets for Saturday’s Early Games With Ranked Teams: This Will Be Fun! (Archive)
Score Prediction: Alabama 80 – Oklahoma 67
NCAAB Pick: Alabama -6 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
It is the last Saturday of the month in college basketball and the slate is stuffed with compelling matchups. If looking at around 150 betting odds on the college hoops board is not your thing, we are here to help.
We’ve isolated three contests for college basketball picks that are in early afternoon action.
Xavier Musketeers vs. Creighton Bluejays
Saturday, January 28, 2023 – 12:15 PM EST at CHI Health Center Omaha
After losing last week at DePaul 73-72, as eight-point favorites, this week had a potentially ominous feel to it for Xavier (17-4, 12-7-2 ATS). Yes, the 13th-ranked Musketeers were still in first in the Big East but had to overcome two huge road challenges.
Xavier passed the first one Wednesday, upsetting Connecticut, who was in a great revenge spot. The Musketeers made 53.8 percent of their shot attempts and half their three-pointers (10 of 20) and held on to knock off the Huskies 82-79 as six-digit dogs.
Next up for the X-Men is a trip to Creighton (12-8, 10-10 ATS), which most believe is better than their record. The Bluejays started 6-0, then suffered a rash of injuries that wiped on any continuity. Creighton would go on to lose six straight, albeit versus quality competition.
Since, the Bluejays have won five of seven, with two respectable road setbacks at Xavier and UConn and they look for their pound of revenge.
Xavier Beats the Number Again
Creighton certainly has the talent to beat Xavier and they are comfortable playing at a faster pace as the Musketeers prefer under coach Sean Miller.
Nonetheless, you can really tell Xavier is a connected team and they play for each other. That can be the difference in a close contest of team play versus individual hero ball. The X-Men are 5-1 SU on the road and 4-1-1 ATS winning by 5.3 PPG and cover the spread and just might win.
Score Prediction: Xavier 83 – Creighton 82
NCAAB Pick: Xavier +4.5 (-105) at BetOnline
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Saturday, January 28, 2023 – 02:00 PM EST at Lloyd Noble Center
Saturday is the Big-12-SEC Challenge and in the second time frame of games is No. 2 Alabama visiting Oklahoma.
You won’t get many arguments from those who set the college basketball odds that Alabama (18-2, 13-7 ATS) is the best team in the country and if they faced No.1 Purdue on a neutral floor, they would be favored.
The Crimson Tide are expertly coached by Nate Oats who likes three-point shooters, tall players who can chase down errant shots, and score in the paint. He also prefers those with long arms who can defend and make steals that turn into points. If you have seen Bama, those two sentences explain who they are.
Oklahoma (11-9, 10-10 ATS) is having a rough go in the best conference in college basketball, which is not unexpected. The Sooners are 2-6 in league play in Porter Moser’s second year in Norman. Moser is working on recruiting a more athletic version of the players he had at Loyola-Chicago, who are still willing to have the proper discipline needed to play in his system.
Alabama Has Too Much Power
If you have seen the Crimson Tide, they pass the eye test and their only two losses were against Gonzaga and Connecticut (back when they were playing very well).
Oklahoma figures to play with desperation needing a big upset for the March Madness hopes. In the end, too much size and athleticism from the Crimson Tide who is 4-0 and 3-1 ATS as road favorites at Alabama betting sites, winning by 13.5 PPG.
Score Prediction: Alabama 80 – Oklahoma 67
NCAAB Pick: Alabama -6 (-110) at BetOnline
Iowa State Cyclones vs. Missouri Tigers
Saturday, January 28, 2023 – 02:00 PM EST at Mizzou Arena
It is hard to fathom it is already a decade since Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC. The university’s relevance in the conference and national scale is diminished, however, the Missouri president and hierarchy love those SEC checks.
Missouri is having a solid season at 15-5 (11-9 ATS) and has wins over Kentucky, Illinois, and Arkansas. The Tigers like to play at a faster pace and get up and down the floor before the defense settles in on the halfcourt and they are No. 15 in true field goal percentage at 55.4%.
Mizzou is hosting No.12 Iowa State (15-4, 12-7 ATS), who is tied for the lead in the rough-and-tumble Big 12. The Cyclones are mentally tough and don’t do many things wrong, consistently taking good shots in close or from distance, making 46.8% of them.
On the defensive side, Iowa State limits opposing teams to a mere 47 shot attempts, where they convert just 41% because they generate 18.6 turnovers a contest which is 5th in the country.
Iowa State Dictates Tempo
Missouri is at its best when playing 94 feet at a rapid pace. The Tigers can put together small runs and build a lead that way while playing just even most of the game.
Iowa State is more versatile and can play fast or slow because of their tenacious defense and creating turnovers that lead to a lot of cheap points. The Cyclones are a solid 9-5 ATS after a SU win and take this encounter.
Score Prediction: Iowa State 73 – Missouri 66
NCAAB Pick: Iowa State -1.5 (-115) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.