College Basketball continues to be an agent of chaos. It’s the reason we love it. The top 10 teams aren’t safe. There is a new debate every day about who the number one team is. Resumes are being built and destroyed. Let’s cap off January with some wins. Here are the College Basketball picks for January 31st.
College Basketball Picks January 31st
Providence at Connecticut (-13) (O/U 139)
Let’s visit Providence in Connecticut while on the topic of the nation’s best college basketball team. UConn has to be in that conversation of the number one team in the nation.
They are the defending champions and have returned Donovan Clingan from injury. There is a noticeable difference defensively when Clingan is on the floor which inspires confidence that the Huskies will return to their covering ways.
The Huskies have allowed 56.3 PPG since he has returned compared to the 68.8 PPG they allowed when he was sidelined for five contests.
That is not the only noticeable difference in this matchup. Providence lost Bryce Hopkins for the season in a loss to Seton Hall at the beginning of January. Recency bias will give us the electric crowd and windmill jam from Devin Carter to seal the win against Georgetown.
However, the Friars are 3-3 without Hopkins and now travel to Storrs off an emotional game vs. former coach Ed Cooley’s Hoyas. Backing the Huskies to have control of this one early.
The Pick: Connecticut -13
Baylor at UCF (+3.5) (O/U 139)
Baylor’s record is not indicative of what this team is capable of. The short number is a lot of respect for UCF’s home court and the ‘Big 12’ home conference game. Baylor is on a three-game losing streak in the Big 12.
All games have been within 4 points. Two of those games have been on the road, with the latest being a 3 OT loss to in-state TCU.
Tough goings for the Baylor Bears when looking at the record. However, all losses are deemed completely acceptable at this point. They are very much a solidified tournament team and capable of a huge run.
I’m backing a Baylor offense and a completely justified line at UCF tonight. UCF has hung tough in their Big 12 games, but the Big 12 will sink its teeth into you sooner or later.
The Pick: Baylor -3.5
