The college basketball regular season coming to a close as there are only a handful of games left. With that being said, these last few games are going to be crucial for some of these teams. Plenty of these conferences are very competitive, so these teams are going to be playing hard. Let’s break down these CBB games and talk about my college basketball best bets for the February 7 slate of games!
College Basketball Picks: College Basketball Best Bets for Tuesday, February 7
College Basketball Picks: Marquette vs UConn
Time: 6:30 P.M. EST
TV: FS1
Spread: UConn -3.5, Over/Under 149.5
We’re starting off hot with this matchup. Marquette sits atop the Big East standings at 11-2 in conference play, while UConn is in the middle of the pack at 7-6. Both of these teams are performing extremely well against the spread, with Marquette being 16-7-1 and UConn being 14-9-1. The Golden Eagles are currently on a five-game winning streak so they are rolling through the Big East.
These two teams have faced off against each other earlier this year where the Huskies were bested 82-76. Adama Sanogo was limited in this game as he was coming off of an injury. However, in the 19 minutes he did play, Sanogo was limited to just three rebounds, which was a contributor to why the Golden Eagles were able to secure the win.
It would be foolish to fade the wagon that Marquette is right now. They are also trying to widen the gap between themselves and Xavier in the Big East standings.
Pick: Marquette +3.5
College Basketball Picks: Rutgers vs Indiana
Time: 6:30 P.M. EST
TV: Big 10 Network
Spread: Indiana -4, Over/Under 135.5
A classic Big 10 gross matchup. While I do not put a lot of stock into Rutgers away from the RAC, Indiana is coming off a huge win taking down the number one seed Purdue.
Rutgers is ranked second in the country in defensive efficiency, which is obviously going to play a big factor. On the other hand, Indiana is also top 60 in defensive efficiency. The Scarlet Knights also play at a slow pace which makes me lean toward the under in this game.
Although Indiana is better than Rutgers in most offensive categories, I believe Rutgers’ defense paired with the hangover from the Purdue win is going to keep Rutgers within the number in this spot.
Pick: Rutgers +4
College Basketball Picks: UNC vs Wake Forest
Time: 7 P.M. EST
TV: ESPN
Spread: UNC -.5, Over/Under 153.5
This ACC matchup screams over to me right off the bat. Both of these teams are offensively gifted, averaging about 78 points per game. On the other side of the ball, the defensive efficiency of these teams is not looking good.
Wake Forest is averaging 24 three-point attempts per game, while UNC is averaging 22. These teams love letting it rip from behind the line, which is going to be a huge factor for the over. Additionally, these teams are both in the top 60 teams in offensive efficiency.
Armando Bacot and Caleb Love for the Tar Heels are going to put up huge numbers with their scoring and ability to rebound the ball. Tyree Appleby is going to do the majority of the scoring for the Demon Deacons. Appleby is averaging 18 PPG and shooting 38 percent from three. This is my favorite college basketball best bet of the night.
Pick: Over 153.5
College Basketball Picks: Arkansas vs Kentucky
Time: 9 P.M. EST
TV: ESPN
Spread: Kentucky -4.5, Over/Under 139.5
I didn’t think I would be putting the Kentucky Wildcats and John Calipari in my best bets this year, but here we are. Kentucky is on a six-game SEC winning streak which is huge considering how competitive this conference is. The Razorbacks are struggling with conference opponents this year, sitting at 5-5.
Over the last five games, Jacob Toppin is quickly becoming a bigger threat for Kentucky. He is averaging nearly 16 points per game while also grabbing six rebounds a game over the last five games. Oscar Tshiebwe is still the dominant force down low for the Wildcats, scoring 16 points and over 13 rebounds a game.
Arkansas is not the same team that we have seen the last couple of years that has made deep runs in March. This squad is 1-5 ATS on the road this year, which is telling. Another key number that jumps out, the Razorbacks are only shooting 30 percent from three this year. Surprisingly, I personally prefer Eric Musselman as a coach, but I think the Wildcats are the play tonight.
Pick: Kentucky -4.5
College Basketball Picks: TCU vs Kansas State
Time: 9 P.M. EST
TV: ESPNU
Spread: Kansas State -3.5, Over/Under 147.5
This game has banger written all over it. The Wildcats and Horned Frogs are tied for third place in the Big 12, so this is a crucial game for these two teams.
The previous matchup between these two teams was back on January 14, and TCU won decisively by 14 points. The Wildcats are coming for their revenge tonight. Kansas State is 16-7 ATS overall this season and 9-4 ATS at home. Keyontae Johnson has been electric for this Kansas State team. He is scoring 18 points per game and is shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3.
If this game comes down to free throws, I am confident that the Wildcats will knock them down in the clutch. As a team, they are shooting 75 percent from the line. However, specific players, such as Markquis Nowell, are shooting over 80 percent from the charity stripe.
Pick: Kansas State -3.5
The 2022-2023 college basketball regular season is wrapping up, but there are some very crucial games ahead of us. Make sure to tune into The College Basketball Experience where the SGPN crew breaks down every game, every single day, and gives you their best college basketball bets.
