NCAAB Pick: Alabama -19.5 (-110) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
With this the third Saturday of February, we have just two weeks left in the regular season before the conference tournaments start for the major or larger conferences. With that in mind, we worked over the odds and came up with three college basketball picks in nighttime action.
Georgia Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Saturday, February 18, 2023 – 06:00 PM EST at Coleman Coliseum
On Wednesday night, Alabama committed 19 turnovers against Tennessee’s nasty defense and they fell 68-59, becoming the eighth team that has been ranked No. 1 this season (in the AP Poll) to falter, which tied the 1992-93 season for the most ever, dating back 74 years.
That loss also handed the Crimson Tide (22-4, 16-10 ATS) its first SEC setback this season and they now stand at 12-1, one game ahead of Texas A&M, who they will face in their final contest of the regular season.
Georgia (16-10, 11-15 ATS) had a stunningly good start to their season. After a 3-1 and 4-0 ATS opening salvo in the SEC, catching others off guard, conference foes began to take the Bulldogs more seriously and they went 1-6 and 0-7 ATS. Instead of rolling over, these Dawgs in the last week upset Kentucky by seven as a touchdown home underdog and didn’t falter in their next outing, beating LSU.
If Alabama had beaten Tennessee, one could make the case for taking all the points with Georgia. However, the last time the Tide lost after playing poorly, they won by 57 at Tuscaloosa. It won’t be that bad, but the Tide will roll.
Make sure to check out the Alabama betting sites if you're located in the area.
Score Prediction: Alabama 87 - Georgia 65
NCAAB Pick: Alabama -19.5 (-110) at Bovada
Colorado Buffalos vs. Arizona Wildcats
Saturday, February 18, 2023 – 08:00 PM EST at McKale Center
Colorado (15-12, 11-16 ATS) as expected has not performed well in Pac-12 play and has a losing record that finds them at 7-9 and 6-10 ATS. The Buffalos have returned to their strong home/road dichotomy and are a miserable 2-8 and 3-7 ATS in true away games.
After being blasted 87-66 as four-point road favorites at Eugene, Oregon in mid-January, Arizona (23-4, 13-12-2 ATS) players started listening to their coach Tommy Lloyd and began to play defense. Over their next seven Pac-12 contests, the Wildcats surrendered just 62.5 PPG and were 7-0 and 6-0-1 ATS. Unfortunately, they returned to their old ways last Saturday and were upset at Stanford 88-79.
The Buffalos got off to a good start in their trip to the desert, upsetting Arizona State 67-59 as four-point road underdogs Thursday. Nonetheless, it is hard seeing them playing well twice given their road woes this season against the college basketball odds, especially in Tucson.
Arizona got back on track with a sharp effort, pounding Utah 88-62 giving -11.5 points Thursday evening to bounce back. Look for the Wildcats to give more of a workman-like performance and rely on their defense to improve to 15-1 and 9-6-1 ATS at the McKale Center over Colorado.
Score Prediction: Arizona 79 - Colorado 65
NCAAB Pick: Arizona -12 (-110) at Bovada
California Golden Bears vs. UCLA Bruins
Saturday, February 18, 2023 – 10:30 PM EST at Pauley Pavilion
What a lamentable year it’s been for California basketball. The less-than Golden Bears (3-23, 11-15 ATS) are in last place in the Pac-12 at 2-13, though their spread record is 7-8 ATS. However, that is deceiving because in 12 of those 15 contests Cal has been listed as an underdog of +9.5 points or higher.
UCLA (22-4, 15-11 ATS) leads the Pac-12 and holds a two-game cushion over Arizona for the top spot. The Bruins are regarded as a true Final Four contender. UCLA is a strong defensive squad, with their main weakness having off-shooting nights or lacking patience versus better competition.
UCLA was fooling around with a motivated Stanford club two nights ago and was down four points in the second half before turning it on to win 73-64, never threatening to cover the -14 points. If the Bruins were taking the Cardinal for granted, it will be far worse against the Golden Bears. Cal played like they want this season to end at USC, being thumped 97-60 by USC.
Though not a betting term, this is a – Want To – for UCLA. If the Bruins want to, they cover the spread. Otherwise, they get up 15 to 20 points on the Bears, empty the bench early and come up short of beating the point spread.
Score Prediction: UCLA 78 - California 58
NCAAB Pick: UCLA -24.5 (-110) at Bovada
*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.
