Happy Holidays. Bowl season is heating up. The college basketball slate is about to go on holiday break before ramping up conference play. Let’s check out the action for Christmas Eve Eve. Here are the College Basketball Picks for December 23.
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College Basketball Picks December 23
Arizona vs Florida Atlantic (+6.5) (O/U 163.5)
Let’s start by mentioning that this game is being played in Vegas, but the home crowd favors the Wildcats. However, we have seen in tournament games that once an underdog gets ahead in those environments, then they typically gather the crowd’s momentum.
These two offenses have been putting up spectacular numbers this season as both enter the matchup in the top 10 of KenPom’s rankings. Arizona is coming off a game where the opposing team was dominant offensively. Alabama tried their luck with the Wildcats in a strength vs strength battle.
The Wildcats prevailed by double digits. Florida Atlantic is a fantastic team, but the Wildcats may be the best team in the country. That statement could change by the end of the week or even the day.
The Pick: Arizona -6.5
St. John’s at UConn (-11) (O/U 148.5)
Everyone needed to be reminded how dangerous conference play is in the Big East. Throw away records, trends, and history. If you are going on the road, then you are going to get into a hard-fought game. Adversity will test these teams, and sometimes it is beneficial down the stretch.
There was nearly a month span where UConn really struggled last season, and it came in conference play. The Huskies went 2-6 in the Big East from December 31st until January 25th. The rest of their season last year is history. They ran through March Madness in record fashion.
The Huskies have a home winning streak of 6 games to defend with a St. Johns team that has had their own ups and downs. The Red Storm defense has been their Achilles heel, and that weakness will be matched with UConn as they may be missing Donovan Clingan, who was injured and questionable.
Expecting defenses on both sides to be lazy and the game to turn into a track meet, as the guards will dominate possession offensively.
The Pick: Over 148.5
