College Basketball Picks for Tuesday, Jan. 28
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:30 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 9 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. | ||
Monday in college basketball featured another big game from Cooper Flagg and Arizona's overtime victory over No. 3 Iowa State. But now we transition to Tuesday's slate, and there's plenty of betting value to be had.
Our staff is targeting four games for their best bets.
So, here's college basketball best bets, including four picks and predictions for Tuesday, January 28.
St. John's vs. Georgetown Pick
By John Feltman
This is a great situational spot to back the Hoyas at home.
Ed Cooley's team is coming off a tough loss in Providence, but now it can right the ship against a highly talented St. John's team.
The Johnnies are one of the hottest teams in the country, and Rick Pitino's squad gets better as each week passes.
Kadary Richmond has heated up quickly over the last few contests, getting the job done on both ends of the floor.
But tonight, I envision a much more valiant effort from the Hoyas, as this is a significant opportunity to earn a Quad 1 victory.
The Hoyas are on the cusp of earning an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, but they'll need to keep compiling these victories to secure a spot.
Defensively, Georgetown should be able to contain St. John’s throughout the evening. It enters the matchup in the top 40 in adjusted defensive efficiency, and the Johnnies are also 323rd in Rim-and-3 Rate.
Pitino's team has offensive regression looming. They haven't been a good 3-point shooting team all season, hitting 30% from deep. The Hoyas rank fifth nationally in opposing 2-point percentage and are highly disciplined on the defensive end.
That spells trouble for the Johnnies' offense, which is riding high entering the contest. However, they struggle to get to the free throw line consistently, and the Hoyas don’t foul often.
I'm concerned with the Hoyas’ tendency to turn the ball over too often and their inconsistencies. They shoot 33% from deep, but luckily for them, the Johnnies' defense has been vulnerable in that area.
I think Georgetown’s defense will step up and keep this a close contest at home. Cooley knows how important tonight is for his team's NCAA Tournament hopes, so I expect a fiery effort.
Pick: Georgetown +5.5 (Play to +3)
South Carolina vs. Georgia Pick
By Doug Ziefel
Both of these teams come into this matchup on quite a skid. The Georgia Bulldogs have dropped four straight, while the South Carolina Gamecocks have lost seven straight.
While someone's streak has to end here, the strengths of these teams create value from another angle.
The Bulldogs have been tremendous defensively, ranking 13th in effective field goal percentage allowed, excelling at contesting perimeter shots with the seventh-lowest 3-point field goal percentage against.
On the other side, the Gamecocks have been nearly as good, ranking 42nd in adjusted defensive efficiency.
It's clear the issue has been on the offensive end for both clubs. Georgia sits 14th in adjusted offensive efficiency against the SEC, and South Carolina is even worse at 16th.
All signs point to this matchup being a low-scoring affair, and we have yet to mention the tempo, which will be slow. These teams rank outside the top 200 in tempo.
That will only aid two defenses that can be stifling in a half-court set.
Pick: Under 132.5 (Play to 130.5)
Baylor vs. BYU Pick
By Sean Paul
I love this spot for the BYU Cougars at home in Provo.
Their offense has operated like a well-oiled machine in three of the past four games, tallying 1.23 PPP or more in wins over Cincinnati, Oklahoma State and Colorado.
The key to their offensive success has been shooting and ball movement.
It’s no surprise that Kevin Young is a modern offensive mind since he’s from the NBA ranks. He’s brought the same thing to BYU, as the Cougars attempt 3s on 47% of their offensive possessions and assist on 59% of their field goals.
Conversely, Baylor regularly gets shredded by good shooting teams, allowing opponents to shoot 37% from downtown.
Scott Drew will mix defenses up, but you don’t want to go zone versus a team like BYU due to its shooting.
With how much Baylor struggles in man defense, it should lead to a barrage of 3s from the home team.
Pick: BYU -3.5 (Play to -5)
Oklahoma vs Texas A&M Pick
I really like this spot for the Sooners, who have gained some momentum recently after an 0-4 start to SEC play. Oklahoma handled South Carolina at home and then won at Arkansas on Saturday in a back-and-forth affair.
Meanwhile, Texas A&M heads home after squandering a 20-point lead to in-state rival Texas. Could there be a bit of a letdown here for the Aggies after blowing a game they had no business losing?
This is also a massive revenge opportunity for Oklahoma, which led Texas A&M by 18 points in Norman in their Jan. 8 meeting before squandering away that one.
On the court, even after taking into account the Reed Arena home-court advantage, I don’t believe eight-plus points separate these two teams.
Oklahoma is a top-30 offense nationally, per KenPom, and the Sooners more than held their own in the rebounding battle against the Aggies in the first meeting, which finished 28-26 in favor of A&M.
So much of Buzz Williams’ offense is predicated on feasting on the boards, allowing the Aggies to beat up teams on the backboards.
Oklahoma has the formula to limit that with players like Sam Godwin, Jalon Moore and Mohamed Wague all serving as capable rebounders.
Additionally, this is a matchup of two elite point guards, and Jeremiah Fears has the goods to step up to the challenge against veteran Wade Taylor IV.
I don’t know if the Sooners have enough firepower to pull off the outright upset in College Station, but I like Oklahoma to cover this number on the road.
Pick: Oklahoma +8.5 (Play to +7.5)
