College Basketball Picks Today:

Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Saturday, December 21.

Check out Greg’s Daily College Basketball Lines and his Coast 2 Coast Hoops Podcast. Also, check out our College Basketball Betting Splits.

 

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Note: Lines are current at time of posting; consider Greg’s line on the game and his explanation before making any bet.

Syracuse vs. Maryland

12:00 PM Eastern

Maryland has not faced the toughest schedule so far, but the team entered Friday ranked in the top five nationally in both points scored and points allowed per possession. Meanwhile, Syracuse’s star guard JJ Starling continues to deal with a hand injury, which hampers a team that ranks 121st in points per possession on offense. Maryland, in games played away from home, operates at a bottom-75 pace in possessions per game.

Pick: Syracuse vs. Maryland Under 156.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 151)

Duke vs. Georgia Tech

12:00 PM Eastern

Duke’s defense has been one of the most stout in the country, ranking fifth in points allowed per possession. The team plays at a slow tempo, entering Friday ranked 263rd in possessions per game. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, ranks 177th in points per possession and is dealing with an injury to guard Kowacie Reeves.

Pick: Duke vs. Georgia Tech Under 145.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 138.5)

Connecticut vs. Butler

12:00 PM Eastern

Connecticut ranks 80th nationally in points allowed per possession but has struggled on the road, allowing 35.5 more points per 100 possessions away from home than at home. Meanwhile, Butler is 19th in the country in 3-point shooting at 39.4%.

Pick: Butler +8 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: Butler +4.5)

Fairfield vs. Monmouth

1:00 PM Eastern

Both teams have significant offensive struggles, ranking 225th or worse in points per possession. Monmouth has exceeded 67 points against only two Division I opponents this season, while Fairfield is making just 28.4% of its 3-point attempts and ranks 289th in possessions per game.

Pick: Fairfield vs. Monmouth Under 146 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 139.5)

Quinnipiac vs. Central Connecticut 

1:00 PM Eastern

Central Connecticut has already defeated St. Joseph’s on the road and played Providence to within four points, thanks to a defense ranked in the top 100 in points allowed per possession. Quinnipiac has dealt with an injury to point guard Savion Lewis, who may play in this game but is unlikely to be at full strength. Additionally, Quinnipiac ranks 300th in defensive rebound percentage, allowing opponents to rebound 33.9% of missed shots in road games.

Pick: Central Connecticut -2 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: Central Connecticut -5.5)

Lehigh vs. Long Island 

1:00 PM Eastern

Lehigh is 358th in the country in offensive rebound percentage and has just one player averaging at least four rebounds per game. The team’s 60.9% free-throw shooting in road games ranks 341st nationally, which is problematic against Long Island, whose opponents score 27.5% of their points from free throws—the fourth-highest percentage in the country.

Pick: Long Island +5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: Long Island -1.5)

Old Dominion vs. UL Monroe

3:00 PM Eastern

Neither team has shown the ability to shoot effectively. Both entered Friday ranked 315th or worse in 3-point shooting percentage and 305th or worse in points scored per possession. Both teams play at a mid-tempo pace, with Old Dominion ranked 152nd in possessions per game and UL Monroe 178th.

Pick: Old Dominion vs. UL Monroe Under 146 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 137.5)

UCLA vs. North Carolina

3:00 PM Eastern

This is the first time I’ve ever given out a first-half play, and it’s for good reason. North Carolina is being outscored by an average of 9.3 points in the first half of games played on the road or at neutral sites, while outscoring opponents by 8.8 points in the second half of those same games. For some reason, North Carolina consistently starts slow. They now face a UCLA team that leads the country in turnovers forced per possession and ranks second in points allowed per possession.

Pick: UCLA First Half (Current Full Game Line: UCLA -1.5, Greg’s Handicapped Full Game Line: UCLA -4.5)

Georgia Southern vs. Texas State

3:30 PM Eastern

The Georgia Southern offense has struggled in the absence of points-per-game leader Adante’ Holloman, who has missed the past five games. The team ranks 322nd in turnovers per possession. Texas State is 10th in the country in home 3-point shooting percentage (45.2%) and 51st in overall rebound percentage.

Pick: Texas State -5.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: Texas State -9.5)

Tennessee State vs. Morehead State

3:30 PM Eastern

Tennessee State is an aggressive team that fouls frequently, ranking 306th in fouls per defensive play. However, Morehead State’s poor free-throw shooting (62.6%, ranking 350th nationally) negates the advantage of getting to the free-throw line more often.

Pick: Tennessee State +4 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: Tennessee State -3.5)

DePaul vs. Northwestern

4:00 PM Eastern

DePaul entered Saturday ranked 17th in the country in 3-point shooting (39.8%) and 58th in points per possession. Defensively, they rank 42nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage (29.8%). Northwestern’s offense has struggled inside the arc, ranking 252nd in 2-point shooting percentage.

Pick: DePaul +7.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: DePaul +4)

Purdue vs. Auburn

4:30 PM Eastern

The status of Auburn’s Player of the Year candidate Johni Broome remains unclear after he was limited to less than three minutes in the team’s game against Georgia State earlier in the week. Even if he plays, he might not be at 100%. Purdue, ranked 47th in points per possession, thrives from beyond the arc with a 40.1% 3-point shooting percentage (13th in the nation).

Pick: Purdue +8 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: Purdue +7)

Oregon vs. Stanford

8:00 PM Eastern

Oregon’s defense entered Friday ranked 42nd in points allowed per possession. Stanford plays at a controlled pace, ranking 209th in possessions per game. Both defenses are in the top 110 in turnovers generated per possession.

Pick: Oregon vs. Stanford Under 150 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 144)

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