Hope everyone is having a happy and healthy holiday season. The holiday break signifies the beginning of conference play around college hoops. Let’s check out the action for the last Thursday of 2023. Here are the College Basketball Picks for December 28th.
College Basketball Picks December 28th
UCLA at Oregon State (+6) (O/U 127.5)
The Bruins come into the game at 5-6 and laying points against an 8-3 Oregon State team. There’s no doubt in my mind that this line indicates everything you need to know about this game. There is no advantage in this matchup for the Beavers aside from being on their home floor.
I’m a big advocate of throwing the records away when it comes to conference play as it is. This is the prime example. UCLA is on a four-game losing streak coming into this game. Their offense is struggling to score despite the year of freshman Sebastian Mack. Siding with the more talented Bruins team over the Beavers, even with the matchup in Oregon State.
Remember, it is still the holiday break. UCLA should be aggressive in the lane with their noted 3-point troubles and get to the line enough to win and cover the number. The Bruins aren’t threatening for a conference title or making a run in March, but they are much better than their record indicates. Lay it on the road.
The Pick: UCLA -6
Central Arkansas at Oklahoma (-29.5) (O/U 147)
Oklahoma jumps on bad teams and does it quickly. They are fast starters at home. We learned that the very first game of the season, and the Sooner haven’t disproved it since. They’ve played 4 of their first 11 games on neutral courts, with their first true road game on January 10th.
Expect to see a score similar to the first four games of the season rather than their previous seven. They averaged a 33-point margin of victory in those first four games against similar competition. This line will creep up closer to game time, so get it while it’s the lowest. This 3-10 Central Arkansas team doesn’t have any favors coming their way as they find themselves at Missouri on Saturday.
The Pick: Oklahoma -29.5
