It's a rather thin college basketball slate on Friday, with no ranked teams in action.
However, there's still plenty of betting value, as I'm targeting three spots.
Read below for college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB picks, predictions and odds for Friday, January 9.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 10 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Akron vs. Bowling Green
Akron is powerful and mighty, and Bowling Green is a bit overrated in the market. That's the thesis of this handicap.
The Zips have a top-20 offense and are one of the most potent shooting and finishing teams in the country. They can beat teams in multiple ways, whether that be in transition, on the glass or from beyond the arc.
Under mid-major guru John Groce, their half-court offense is a symphony of motion and cutting. Good teams have multiple ways to win, and that’s Akron in a nutshell.
The Zips won’t be flustered by Bowling Green’s pressure, and they should destroy the Falcons inside. Per CBB Analytics, the Zips are the nation’s ninth best rim-finishing team and rank in the top 50 in field goal attempt rate near the cup. Bowling Green is outside the top 175 in both metrics defensively.
Bowling Green’s offense thrives when it’s in transition, but playing an up-tempo game is a bad idea against a team that can score like Akron. The Zips want this game to push 80 possessions, and they should be able to extend over that span.
In the half-court, Bowling Green is jump-shot reliant, and possessions often come down to Javontae Campbell creating and making tough shots. The Zips aren’t the biggest team, but they pressure the perimeter and compete in the lane.
Bowling Green is no pushover, but this Zips team is on a different level. The overwhelming firepower should play out over 40 minutes, allowing Akron to pull away and win by a few possessions.
Pick: Akron -2.5 (Play to -4)
Northern Kentucky vs. Milwaukee
Milwaukee, among the favorites to take home the Horizon League crown this preseason, is looking to get off the schneid. A 3-0 league start has quickly devolved into a 3-2 record, and the Panthers have lost three straight.
Turns out playing four games in seven days isn’t great for winning ball games.
After a three-game road stint and three merciful days off, Milwaukee is back home and ready to get back on track.
Northern Kentucky has been solid this season, but it's more than beatable – and its best ball falls short of Milwaukee’s best ball.
The Panthers’ guards lead the way for a ball-screen-heavy attack. The Norse's zone defense can be tricky for squads with ball security issues, but fortunately for the Panthers, they’re among the nation’s best in turnover rate.
Also, Milwaukee can take advantage of the zone’s biggest weak point: the offensive glass. While the Panthers will need to shift their ball-screen style against the zone, they should find plenty of second chances off the boards against a weak rebounding Norse defense.
Northern Kentucky’s offense revolves around getting out in transition, but if it can't force turnovers — nor push off the defensive glass — open floor opportunities will be few and far between.
If Milwaukee can force Northern Kentucky to play in the half-court, the Norse's offense will stagnate.
The Panthers will bounce back and stay near the top of the Horizon standings.
Pick: Milwaukee -3.5 (Play to -4)
UNLV vs. Colorado State
Colorado State has struggled without star big man Kyle Jorgensen. The Rams’ fulcrum has missed the last four games, and the team is just 1-3 overall and against the spread over that span.
Save for an impressive win at Grand Canyon, Colorado State has been downright awful without Jorgensen in the fold.
Expect UNLV and forward Kimani Hamilton to take advantage of Jorgensen’s absence on Friday. The Rebels attack the rim and paint at one of the highest rates in the country, and Colorado State ranks 346th nationally in field goal percentage allowed at the rim.
Colorado State’s perimeter can’t take advantage of UNLV’s sometimes-shaky ball handling, and it doesn’t have the interior fortitude to stand up to the Rebels' rim barrage.
Jorgensen’s absence also hurts Colorado State’s offensive rebounding and its ability to manufacture points from the charity stripe. The Rams will be heavily reliant on jump shooting, turning them more into a one-dimensional offense.
Colorado State is a blazing 41.1% from deep this season (fifth-best nationally), but that's swiftly fallen back to Earth over the past four games as defenses hone more into stopping its perimeter.
UNLV is coming off a stinker, losing by 32 at Wyoming. The Rebels will no doubt be looking for a strong bounce back after what was likely an unenjoyable couple of days in the practice gym under Josh Pastner’s direction.
Pick: UNLV +7.5 (Play to +6)
