Friday slates in college hoops typically serve as an appetizer for the basketball meal we get served on Saturday. We only have 23 bettable games on December 19th, but we still have 23 bettable games on December 19th. The numbers have been crunched and we’ve found a trio of college basketball picks that you’ll want to lock up before games start.
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College Basketball Preview, Picks, and Best Bets for December 19
Matt Dewoskin ATS College Basketball Picks Record (Est 11/3/2025)
All Selections: 82-54-2
Perfect 3-0 Cards: 9-37
Coppin State at Navy
Start Time: 5:00 PM EST
Coppin State comes into this game with a 2-11 overall record and a 1-9 record on the road. The Eagles are 5-7 against the spread and 3-6 ATS on the road.
Navy enters this matchup with a 6-5 overall record and a 3-1 mark at home. The Midshipmen are 4-6 ATS and 0-3 ATS at home.
The handicap on this game is simple. Coppin State is one of the worst programs in the nation. They struggle to score and barely defend. Navy has played a couple of bad teams this year. The Middies beat Gardner-Webb by 23 at home, but they only beat Delaware State by seven on the road. They’ve drilled an equally bad team at home by more than the number they’re laying here.
In 14 games played, Coppin State has only stayed within 20 points of its opponent four times. They won against a lower division program and Rider. They stayed under 20 points against South Alabama and Loyola (MD). Coppin State should be soundly defeated, and Navy should win by more than 20 points. Lock up the Midshipmen and lay the 19.5 points.
Best Bet: Navy -19.5
Mount St. Mary’s at Drexel
Start Time: 7:00 PM EST
Mount St. Mary’s enters this game with a 3-8 overall record and a 2-6 road record. The Mountaineers are 7-4 ATS and 6-2 ATS on the road.
Drexel comes into this matchup with a 4-7 overall record and a 3-2 mark at home. The Dragons are 3-7 ATS and 2-2 ATS at home.
Mount St. Mary’s has been a bit of a spread darling, especially playing away from Frederick County. The Mountaineers have an efficient, unspectacular offense and do a solid job of limiting possessions on defense. They’re coming off a road win at Loyola (MD), but dropped games to Marist and Sacred Heart before the win.
Drexel is on a three-game losing streak. That streak includes a home loss to a Howard team that Mount St. Mary’s beat by four at home. The Dragons aren’t very efficient on offense and have struggled to score in the paint this year. The Mountaineers have been effective down low at times, but they do most of their damage from range. Drexel also isn’t great at defending the perimeter.
These two teams are close in terms of talent, and we’re catching two possessions in a game that should have a one-score outcome. The Mountaineers keep it close and stay within five points, but the money line is playable here.
Best Bet: Mount St. Mary’s +5
Belmont at UC-Irvine
Start Time: 9:00 PM EST
Belmont enters this game with an 11-1 overall record and a 4-0 road record. The Bears are 5-6 ATS overall, but 3-1 ATS on the road.
UC-Irvine comes into this matchup with a 7-4 overall record and a 5-2 mark at home. The Anteaters are 3-6 ATS and 1-4 ATS at home.
UC-Irvine is easily the best team Belmont has faced on the road. The Bears have road wins over Oral Roberts, Charleston, Middle Tennessee, and Evansville. This is the farthest west the Bears have traveled this year.
UC-Irvine started slow this year, but the Anteaters have won four in a row. Their current winning streak saw them defeat South Dakota State, San Jose State, UC-Riverside, and Cal State-Northridge.
The Anteaters have a defense that can hang with Belmont’s potent offense. UCI is second in the nation in effective field goal percentage against. They protect the paint well and get after it on the perimeter. This is easily the toughest defense Belmont has played against to date. The Anteaters do have the better rebounding team. The offensive glass is one of the few areas in which Belmont struggles. UC-Irvine will need to take advantage of second chances on offense to stay in this one.
On offense, UC-Irvine has struggled shooting this year. The Anteaters have looked better recently, but they’ve also played a few rough defenses in their past few games. Their defense will carry the day against Belmont in a weird travel spot. The Anteaters will score enough to stay in this one and get a win in a one- or two-possession game at home. Let’s lock up UC-Irvine and lay the one point.
Best Bet: UC-Irvine -1
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis on every college basketball game for the 2025-26 season, make sure you tune into The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
