Tuesday features five Top 20 teams on the road in conference play. This is the heart of the season when we have enough data to truly identify who these teams are. Non-conference play is long gone as these teams battle to defend their home courts in their respective leagues. Here are the College Basketball picks for January 23rd.
College Basketball Picks January 23rd
Kentucky at South Carolina (+5) (O/U 155.5)
Immediately stepping in it. Backing a road favorite in conference play. We have been waiting for Kentucky to show their age, but this team is for real. They match up with the Gamecocks on the defensive end. Kentucky continues to be a top-five team in protecting the ball offensively and can score in a plethora of ways.
Meechie Johnson should be able to score against this Kentucky team, given the Wildcats allow the Gamecocks to fire away from deep. South Carolina’s real chance here is limiting the possessions, but Kentucky’s offensive pace and ability to protect the ball will make even limiting possessions tough as well.
The X-Factor in this game is Myles Stute for South Carolina. He has scored 5 or fewer points on four occasions this season. The Gamecocks are 1-3 in those games. It’s important for South Carolina to recognize their well-rounded game against this Wildcats team and defend the driving lanes.
I can’t fade the Wildcats on this short number despite them being on the road. Kentucky’s schedule isn’t doing them any favors in the coming weeks. There’s no trap spot here for Calipari.
The Pick: Kentucky -5
Houston at BYU (+2) (O/U 135)
This is a Big 12 conference game despite both teams in their inaugural year in the conference. Neither team is finding life easy in their new conference. Houston entered the league play undefeated, 13-0, and finds themselves 16-2 with a 3-2 conference record.
BYU was a comfortable 12-1; however, losing three of their last five has them 8th in the Big 12. These teams are, without a doubt, in the top 25 teams in the country, but league play is where your money is made.
The styles of play should be interesting here as Houston doesn’t mind playing at a snail’s pace and daring you to score. UCF scored their 20th point of the game with 10 minutes left in the 2nd half on Saturday against Houston.
Just another defensive clinic for Kelvin Sampson’s team. Houston might have the Big 12 defensive player of the year in Jamal Shead. The senior guard has a steal in every game this season and 4+ in multiple games.
Houston’s losses came on the road. They tend to be in the Big 12. This is a bounce-back spot for the BYU Cougars, coming into the game as home underdogs. BYU is comfortable on their home court. BYU plays at a much faster tempo, and their defense still ranks in the top 20.
They shot 28% from 3 against Cincinnati on their home court in their lone loss in Provo. That led to Cincinnati outrebounding them and eventually winning by double digits.
Houston will need to force BYU to miss from deep and slow down the pace. Houston is a great team, but I don’t trust them laying points on the road in their new conference.
The Pick: BYU +2
