Best NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions (12/3): Hump Day College Hoops

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Mick Cronin and the Bruins will have their hands full with the Zags on Saturday - UCLA Gonzaga Picks

The College Hoops season is in full swing, and this week we are given the ACC/SEC Challenge to keep us entertained, as well as some Big Ten conference ball being played. Let’s take a look at our favorite NCAA Basketball picks for Wednesday’s slate.

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

  • NCAA Basketball YTD
  • 47-38 (55.3%)
  • +5.59u
  • Average Odds: -109

NCAA Basketball Conference Previews

Go check out what else I’ve got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.

Best NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions December 3

Mississippi State Bulldogs vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Picks NCAA Basketball Picks

Josh Hubbard leads the Bulldogs in points and assists this season - NCAA Basketball Picks

Josh Hubbard leads the Bulldogs in points and assists this season

Best Bet: Mississippi State -3 (-105) BetOnline

I jumped the gun and took -3.5 with the Bulldogs so get a better number than I did as they head into Atlanta to face a Georgia Tech team that isn’t all that great. Now, this will be Mississippi State’s first true road game, but they have traveled and played somewhere besides their home gym. The Bulldogs offense will be enough to beat the Yellow Jackets on the road, and I have faith in Josh Hubbard being able to do it by himself. He leads the team in points and assists, scoring over a quarter of the Bulldogs’ points with 23.3 per game and adding 4.3 assists as well.

They’ve played four teams in the top 100 already this year, and despite not winning any of them, they are due to come through. Georgia Tech is a team that plays fast, but is all defense. They cannot shoot to save their lives, especially from deep or the free throw line. You need those points in order to keep up with an offense led by Hubbard. The Yellow Jackets also turn the ball over a ton, leading me to think their speed is a little too fast for their own feet.

Ultimately, the Bulldogs can give the ball to one guy and pull off this victory.

Vermont Catamounts vs. Oregon State Beavers NCAA Basketball Picks

Josiah Lake II and the Beavers host the Vermont Catamounts in Corvallis tonight - NCAA Basketball Picks

Josiah Lake II and the Beavers host the Vermont Catamounts in Corvallis tonight

Best Bet: Vermont/Oregon State Under 144 (-105) BetOnline

This game will be played at a snail’s pace. Oregon State is No. 336 (bottom 30) in pace this year, and have had just one game see 70 possessions this year. It needed double overtime to do so. The Catamounts aren’t any faster at No. 327. They’ve had two games on the road see 70 possessions but their last four have averaged just 64.3 trips up and down the floor.

Vermont doesn’t have much defense, but are one of the best at cleaning up the glass, ranking top 30 in offensive rebounds allowed. They also light it up from deep and do so often, but Oregon State is in the top 120 in terms of 3P% defense. Neither team likes to get up and down the floor quickly, and I’m not convinced the Beavers’ offense is good enough to totally overpower Vermont.

They’ll want to keep this game low scoring, and I’m not sure either team touches 70.

UCLA Bruins vs. Washington Huskies NCAA Basketball Picks

Donovan Dent and UCLA take on Washington on the road tonight - NCAA Basketball Picks

Donovan Dent and UCLA take on Washington on the road tonight

Best Bet: UCLA/Washington Under 141.5 (-110) BetOnline

One more under to close things out. I booked this at 142.5 but like it down to 140, as neither team should touch 70. Both defenses are much better than their offenses overall this year, and the Bruins play painfully slow. UCLA averages just 66.4 possessions per game, and only three have seen more than 70 up and downs (all three had 71). Mick Cronin’s team is very sound defensively, ranking top 15 in overall efficiency, but offensively they have a lot of room to improve. The Bruins refuse to shoot from deep, ranking north of 300 in 3P Rate.

Washington also refuses to shoot the three (No. 320 in 3P Rate) and are close to No. 200 in pace. In terms of eFG%, the Huskies are north of 225 on offense but are in the top 60 defensively. Like I said, better defenses than offenses. The hosts also have a tough one against USC on the horizon, so the look ahead narrative could feed into their offense underperforming tonight at home.

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