The college hoops season rolls into another Wednesday slate. The Wednesday schedules are always interesting because we get a little bit of everything. You want low-majors duking it out? We have that. Mid-majors looking to make a name for themselves? Those guys are there, too. Power programs in conference play? Sure enough. In fact, we have over 50 games on the schedule for January 21st, and we’ve found three college basketball picks you’ll want to take before the games start.
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College Basketball Preview, Picks, and Best Bets for January 21
Matt Dewoskin ATS College Basketball Picks Record (Est 11/3/2025)
All Selections: 117-105-3
Perfect 3-0 Cards: 12-63
Rhode Island at Richmond
Start Time: 7:00 PM EST
Rhode Island enters this game with a 10-8 overall record and a 2-2 mark on the road. The Rams are 7-11 against the spread overall and 2-2 ATS on the road.
Richmond comes into this matchup with a 13-6 overall record and a 9-3 mark at home. The Spiders are 9-9 ATS overall and 6-5 ATS at home.
Richmond is 7-3 overall in the last 10 matchups in this series, but only 5-5 ATS. Rhode Island won at Richmond in overtime as an underdog last year. The Rams have lost four of their last five, with a road loss at George Mason. Richmond is 3-2 over its last five games with a home loss against St. Joseph’s.
The Spiders catch Rhode Island in Richmond, and the Spiders are the much better offensive team. Richmond is 13th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage, and the Rams are 266th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage against. The Rams have an advantage in the paint, but they can shoot themselves out of games. Given the fact that this is in an unfamiliar gym, Richmond should find space on the perimeter and do enough on the defensive end to disrupt the Rams’ offense. The Spiders are also the better free-throw shooting team and are better at protecting the ball.
Richmond is simply the better side, playing at home, and is in a spot that they lost last season. The Spiders win and cover the 2.5 points. Lock up Richmond.
Best Bet: Richmond -2.5
Tarleton State at UT-Arlington
Start Time: 8:00 PM EST
Tarleton State enters this matchup with an 11-8 overall record and a 3-6 road mark. The Texans are 10-5 ATS overall and 6-3 ATS on the road.
UT-Arlington comes into this game with a 12-6 overall record and a 6-1 mark at home. The Mavericks are 10-6 ATS overall and 4-1 ATS at home.
These two teams have played once this year at Tarleton State. The Texans won outright as a 2.5-point underdog. These two teams split last year’s series, with each team winning and covering at home. Tarleton State is on a three-game losing streak, including back-to-back road losses to Southern Utah and Dixie State. UT-Arlington just had a four-game winning streak snapped with a road loss at Utah Valley.
Tarleton State is still the better team on offense, and they’ve already played 40 minutes against UT-Arlington’s defense. The previous matchup was only a two-possession game because Tarleton State was awful from the free-throw line. The Texans are the better free-throw shooting team in this game, but shot terribly at home against UT-Arlington.
Tarleton State isn’t amazing on the defensive end, but UT-Arlington can go on offensive droughts and fall behind. The Texans are the best team in the nation when it comes to turning over the opposition. They also hand the ball back at times, but the Texans are really good at picking their opponent’s pocket. This is likely a one-possession game, but Tarleton State is catching one-possession. Let’s lock up the Texans to keep this one close, and it’s worth a moneyline sprinkle.
Best Bet: Tarleton State +3.5
Loyola Marymount at Seattle
Start Time: 10:00 PM EST
Loyola Marymount comes into this game with an 11-10 overall record and a 2-4 road mark. The Lions are 11-9 ATS overall and 3-3 ATS on the road.
Seattle enters this matchup with a 13-7 overall record and a 9-3 mark at home. The Redhawks are 7-11 ATS overall and 4-6 ATS at home.
These two teams are playing for the first time in 15 years. Loyola Marymount is on a three-game losing streak that includes road losses at Santa Clara and Oregon State. Seattle has lost four of its last five games and is off a home loss against Gonzaga. The Redhawks need this game to get their season back on track and are historically really tough to beat at home.
Neither team in this matchup is amazing on offense, but Seattle is by far the superior defensive team. They also have a slight advantage in shooting from the field and at the free-throw line. The Redhawks are also the better team in terms of generating blocks, steals, and turnovers on defense.
Look for Seattle to turn over Loyola Marymount, take advantage of extra opportunities, and grind their way to a home win and cover in The Crack House. Lock up the Redhawks to win and cover the 3.5 points.
Best Bet: Seattle -3.5
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!
