NCAAB Pick: Alabama -18 (-105) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
Picks Summary:
- Alabama Crimson Tide -18 (-105)
- Houston Cougars -14 (-110)
- Virginia Cavaliers -7.5 (-110)
Totals normally rule the world, but the Alabama Crimson Tide is one of three heavy favorites in Wednesday’s college basketball picks.
Ah, those sweet, sweet college basketball totals. They’ve been very good to us this year, thanks in no small part to the rapid expansion of sports betting across North America. But as fate would have it, the point spread is the right choice for each of the following high-profile games in our NCAAB picks for Wednesday.
If that weren’t enough of a surprise, what if we told you all three favorites were going into our picks – including two double-digit faves? That’s not normal, but that’s what our trusted projections are telling us to do; it speaks to just how good these three teams actually are, as you’ll see shortly.
Alabama Crimson Tide vs. South Carolina Gamecocks
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 – 09:00 PM EST at Colonial Life Arena
Right off the top, we have No. 2 Alabama (23-4 SU, 16-10-1 ATS) visiting South Carolina (10-17 SU, 14-13 ATS) in an epic SEC mismatch. The Tide is favored by 18 points on the NCAAB odds board at Bookmaker as we go to press; the projections have them winning by around 18.5 points, so that’s worth a fun-sized bet despite all that chalk.
Didn’t You Fade Alabama Last Time?
Yes, we did; we had Tennessee at -2.5 in our college basketball picks last week, and the Volunteers beat Alabama 68-59. But the Vols are another Top 10 team - or at least they were at the time. According to Kem Pomeroy's efficiency charts, the Gamecocks rank No. 224 overall, No. 215 on offense, and No. 240 on defense.
That’s atypically bad for a Big Six program. Indeed, South Carolina has struggled in their first year under head coach Lamont Paris, posting a minus-2.90 on the Simple Rating System at Sports Reference. That’s their worst rating since Frank McGuire came in and started cleaning up this mess back in 1964. We’ll fade that for a dollar.
NCAAB Pick: Alabama -18 (-105) at Bookmaker
Tulane Green Wave vs. Houston Cougars
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 - 09:00 PM EST at Fertitta Center
Alabama’s loss to Tennessee allowed the Cougars (25-2 SU, 16-11 ATS) to retake the No. 1 spot in the polls, and they’ll probably stay there after hosting Tulane (17-7 SU, 12-12 ATS) this Wednesday as 14-point home faves at Bookmaker.
Isn’t Tulane Too Good to Fade?
They might be second to Houston in the AAC standings, but the Green Wave is only No. 80 overall (No. 61 offense, No. 100 defense) on the Pomeroy charts. That’s how big the gap in talent is between the Cougs and the rest of The American.
This game isn’t a slight lean like Alabama-South Carolina, either. The computers have Houston winning by over 16 points, giving us the requisite old-school two points between the projections and the college basketball odds for a proper single-unit wager.
For Cougars fans looking to bet on this game, you can do it at our top Texas betting sites.
NCAAB Pick: Houston -14 (-110) at Bookmaker
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Boston College Eagles
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 - 07:00 PM EST at Silvio O. Conte Forum
The No. 6 Cavaliers (21-4 SU, 10-14-1 ATS) might “only” be 7.5-point favorites in this ACC battle, but they’re projected to beat Boston College (13-15 SU, 12-16 ATS) by eight, so chalk is still the way to go - even if we’re back down to a suitably recreational bet size.
Is Virginia Really the Best Team in the ACC?
That’s what Pomeroy says. He’s got the first-place Cavs ranked No. 25 overall (No. 51 offense, No. 26 defense), so they’re clearly over-rated at sixth in the polls, but that just shows you how awful this once-proud conference has performed this year.
That includes Boston College at No. 198 overall (No. 248 offense, No. 121 defense). While it’s not unusual to see the Eagles struggle, they’ve clearly taken a step back in Year Two under head coach Earl Grant, so bet accordingly, and may the sphere be with you.
NCAAB Pick: Virginia -7.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*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.
