We are halfway through the week! Here are out College Hoops best bets for Wednesday!
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Listed below are my College Hoops best bets for today, but be sure to get all of my picks on my Twitter (@Shaggy_Bets)
NCAA Basketball Best Bets – February 19th, 2025
American vs Army Predictions
Rucker leads the Black Knights in points, minutes and steals this year
Best Bets: Army -1 (-110) BetOnline
Pay a little more juice on the ML if you’d like, but I’m fine with a push if the Black Knights win this thing by a point. For starters, we have a revenge spot at home for Army, and they are coming off a loss against Navy on Saturday. Last time these teams played, Army lost as 4.5 point underdogs on the road, but covered the spread, losing 71-68. The hosts take great care of the basketball and keep their hands to themselves, ranking 22nd in TO Rate and 62nd in FT Rate Defense.
Army will likely speed things up as they are a Top 200 paced team while American ranks 353rd on the road. Both teams take care of the basketball on offense and don’t play much defense. American is north of 300 in adjusted defensive efficiency, eFG% Defense, Offensive Rebounds, FT Rate and also 283rd in FT Rate defense. I like Army’s offense a little bit more in this game, and given they are seeking revenge at home, I see them taking down their visitors.
Cincinnati vs West Virginia Predictions
Back the Mountaineers tonight at home
Best Bets: West Virginia -3.5 (-110) BetOnline
Tonight we back the Mountaineers at home. They already beat this Bearcats team in Cincinnati, holding them to just 50 total points, winning by 15. West Virginia is 10-4 at home this season and their advanced analytic defensive stats are incredible. This team is 5th in defensive efficiency, 13th in eFG Defense while also ranking Top 50 in turnovers forced and FT Rate defense. The Mountaineers also guard the perimeter extremely well, ranking 84th in 3P Rate Defense while ranking Top 20 in 3P% Defense.
Cincinnati’s offense is nothing special. They’ve been playing better, but they do take a big hit on the road, and I don’t know if they can slow down the home team. The Bearcats are bottom 10 in FT Rate and Bottom 20 in FT%, but with West Virginia’s stellar defense, Cincy won’t be at the charity stripe very often anyways. Ultimately, this Mountaineers team has much more to lose as they could realistically find themselves on the bubble if they win some games down the stretch.
I like West Virginia to handle business so much, I took them on the short spread and also paired their ML with Longwood for a two teamer.
Two Team Parlay: West Virginia/Longwood ML Parlay (+159)
Longwood is also in a revenge spot at home against Gardner Webb, and the Lancers are on a five game losing streak as well. Why on Earth are they favored in this ball game?
Longwood is a Top 100 team in terms of possessions per game. Defensively they are 43rd in forcing turnovers, and they are addicted to getting to the free throw line. The Lancers are 2nd in the nation at getting to the stripe at home, and they will take full advantage against a Bulldogs defense that is 289th in FT Rate Defense.
G-Webb also plays fast, but they are north of 290 in turnover rate on both sides of the ball. Longwood was a one point favorite on the road, losing outright by 5. Now they are 3.5 point favorites (and climbing) which makes me believe they end their losing streak at home. Give me the Lancers and Mountaineers to both win at home for +159.
Vanderbilt vs #17 Kentucky Predictions
Despite the injuries, I like the Wildcats at home tonight
Best Bets: Kentucky -5 (-112) BetOnline
The Wildcats are dealing with injuries. They are without Lamont Butler and Jaxson Robinson tonight against Vanderbilt. However, they are a completely different team at home, and I don’t trust the Commodores to keep up.
For starters, this is another revenge spot at home, as Vandy beat Kentucky by 5 in Nashville at the end of January. Kentucky is also coming off loss, where they are 5-2 ATS in their next game this year. The Wildcats rank 2nd in overall offensive efficiency, 7th in eFG% and 12th in TO Rate all at home, while also boasting a Top 80 defense that is 37th in offensive rebounds allowed. The Wildcats play fast, just like Vanderbilt, but giving Kentucky extra possessions won’t go well for the Commodores. Vandy struggles to guard the perimeter, ranking 361st in eFG% on the road (Bottom 4), 301st in FT Rate Defense, 344th 3P% Defense (Bottom 20) and 226th in 3P Rate Defense.
Kentucky shoots tons of threes and does so at a high clip at home. Even without Butler and Robinson, Kentucky has multiple scoring options from all over the court, and I trust them to cover tonight.
Furman vs Samford Predictions
Rylan Jones and the Bulldogs are looking win tonight
Best Bets: Furman/Samford Over 153 (-115) BetOnline
Check out why Colby Marchio is backing points in this game tonight.
Bradley vs Illinois State Predictions
Back the Redbirds at home
Best Bets: Illinois State ML (-110) BetOnline
Read below as to why Colby thinks Illinois State gets the best of Bradley at home!
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