Best NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions for Thursday

Rick Pitino and the Red Storm are getting ready for the Players Era Festival against Bucknell tonight - NCAA Basketball Picks

We are incredibly close to another wonderful weekend of college hoops, but we’ve still got a decent amount of NCAA Basketball games for our betting pleasure on Thursday. Let’s waste no time and get right into our favorite picks for tonight on the college hardwood.

We have had a very successful CBB betting season so far, let’s keep it going.

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Best NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions November 20

Bucknell Bison vs. #14 St. John’s Red Storm Picks NCAA Basketball Picks

Zuby Ejiofer leads St. John’s with 18.3 points per game and seven boards as well

Best Bet: Bucknell/St. John’s Under 159 (-110) BetOnline

Be sure to line shop because there are some 159.5s out there. We’ve see this total get bought up from the 154.5 opener, and five points seems like a little too many for me. Sure, the Johnnies love to score, but I could see them backing off in the second half. Let’s discuss.

St. John’s ranks top 40 in the nation in possessions per game, seeing at least 80 in all three contests so far this year. But they have a HUGE look ahead game against the No. 16 ranked Iowa State Cyclones on Monday in Las Vegas as part of the Players Era Festival. Do I think that means the Bison could cover? Possibly, but I like the narrative more that the Johnnies will take their foot off the gas in the second half, and coast to victory, saving their legs.

As for Bucknell, they play slow. They rank No. 200 in pace this year, and are horrendous offensively. Bucknell is north of 300 in adjusted offensive efficiency and north of 270 in offensive rebounds. This team won’t have any second chance opportunities tonight, and I’m not sure they cover their own team total over 64.5 (which could certainly be a look). The Bison average just 68.8. possessions per game, and that number drops to just 66 when they are on the road, since all three road contests have stayed under 70 possessions.

I envision us seeing closer to 73-75 possessions in this game, but I don’t think it will be enough for the teams to combine for this many points. Give me the under.

Troy Trojans vs. USC Trojans NCAA Basketball Picks

Eric Musselman is in his second year as the head coach of the Trojans

Best Bet: USC -18.5 (-110) BetOnline

My good friend, Colby Marchio, is crafting up a full game write up as the Trojans host the Trojans tonight. Troy is on quite the road trip at the moment. The visitors are playing their fourth straight road game in just six days, as they have been out west since last Friday. Troy lost to Loyola Marymount on Friday and to CS-Northridge on Sunday, but followed it up with a double overtime upset win over San Diego State on the road on Tuesday. This team is running on fumes, using only their momentum from last games’ win in order to carry them into this contest.

They have been living out of hotels, playing a ton of basketball, and I think they will show up very tired for tonight’s game. The Trojans (USC) rank No. 53 in pace so far this season, so expect them to speed things up, forcing their visitors to run and keep up with them, especially knowing their previous schedule and the fact that they are coming off a double overtime contest. I do not think the visitors are capable of keeping up.

USC has covered every spread so far this season by at least five points. Tonight I see them taking it to their visitors, playing aggressive, fast basketball like they normally do, and leaving Troy in the dust.

Be sure to check out Colby’s Marchio’s full thoughts on Troy vs. USC here, or click the button below.