College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Friday, January 30.
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6:00 PM Eastern
Princeton Tigers vs. Cornell Big Red
Cornell games often set up for offensive slugfests, as the Big Red rank 16th in total possessions per game and 40th in points per possession on offense, while checking in at 351st in points per possession allowed on defense. Princeton is 266th in points per possession allowed away from home, and while the Tigers rank 43rd in opponent three-point shooting percentage overall, there are notable home/road splits, with opponents shooting 24.1% from three at home compared to 33.8% away from home. Cornell ranks 12th in the nation in three-point shooting percentage at 39.1% while also sitting 361st in three-point shooting defense, and Princeton takes 49.3% of its field goal attempts away from home from three-point range, the 24th-highest percentage in the country.
Picks: Cornell -5.5 and Over 161 (Greg’s Handicap Cornell -9.5 and Total 165.5)
6:30 PM Eastern
IU Indianapolis Jaguars vs. Youngstown State Penguins
IU Indianapolis has been slowed down in conference play, yet still plays at one of the fastest paces in the country, ranking 11th in possessions per game. The Jaguars have struggled defensively, gambling for turnovers with a full-court press that ranks 41st in turnovers generated per possession, but also 342nd in opponent two-point shooting percentage and 362nd in opponent three-point shooting percentage. Youngstown State, which ranks 98th nationally in offensive rebound percentage, should get plenty of second chances against an IU Indianapolis team that is 360th in defensive rebound percentage, with opponents grabbing 37.8% of missed shots as offensive rebounds.
Pick: IU Indianapolis vs. Youngstown State Over 157.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 169)
7:00 PM Eastern
Northern Kentucky Norse vs. Detroit Titans
Both teams play at a similar, moderately fast pace, with Detroit ranking 91st in total possessions per game and Northern Kentucky 88th. Northern Kentucky limits clean possessions, ranking 14th in turnovers per possession in road games. Detroit is just 202nd in points per possession overall, but offsets a 243rd ranking in three-point shooting percentage by creating second chances on the glass, ranking 52nd in offensive rebound percentage. If the game comes down to free throws, Northern Kentucky shoots 70.8% at the line away from home, while Detroit ranks ninth nationally in free-throw shooting percentage at home at 82.1%.
Picks: Detroit +5.5 and Under 162.5 (Greg’s Handicap Detroit +2.5 and Total 154.5)
Rider Broncos vs. Manhattan Jaspers
Manhattan’s defense has been one of the worst in the country, ranking 340th in points per possession allowed, but it faces a Rider team that is nearly its equal defensively, ranking 327th in points per possession allowed and 359th in turnovers per possession generated on defense. Offensively, Rider has struggled to execute in a limited-possession environment, ranking 332nd in total possessions per game, 357th in points per possession, and dead last among Division I teams in three-point shooting percentage at 26.7%. Manhattan is a more respectable offensive group, ranking 247th in points per possession.
Pick: Manhattan -6 (Greg’s Handicap Manhattan -12.5)
Dartmouth Big Green vs. Yale Bulldogs
Yale leads the nation in three-point shooting percentage at 41.4% and ranks third in points per possession on offense, but could be slowed by a Dartmouth defense that is 21st in opponent three-point shooting percentage away from home at 29.3%. Dartmouth should also be able to execute from the perimeter, making 42% of its three-point shots away from home, which ranks third nationally, while the Yale defense is 325th in points per possession allowed at home.
Pick: Dartmouth +15.5 (Greg’s Handicap Dartmouth +12.5)
Siena Saints vs. Niagara Purple Eagles
Both teams play at a snail’s pace, with Siena ranking 361st and Niagara 362nd in total possessions per game. Three-point shooting has started to improve for both sides, as Siena ranks 294th overall at 31.3% for the season but is shooting 37.1% in conference play. Niagara ranks 270th overall at 31.9%, but that number jumps to 37.1% at home. Defensively, Niagara has struggled, ranking 294th in points per possession allowed and 304th in opponent three-point shooting percentage.
Picks: Siena -8.5 and Over 128.5 (Greg’s Handicap Siena -10.5 and Total 132.5)
Providence Friars vs. Villanova Wildcats
Providence looks to push tempo, ranking fifth in possessions per game, while Villanova prefers to slow things down, ranking 312th. Villanova has allowed a high number of clean three-point looks at home, ranking 328th in home opponent three-point shooting percentage defense at 38.3%, while Providence ranks 343rd overall in three-point shooting percentage defense at 37.7%. Offensively, Villanova ranks 35th nationally in home three-point shooting percentage at 39.2%.
Pick: Providence vs. Villanova Over 156.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 163.5)
7:30 PM Eastern
Georgia Southern Eagles vs. UL Monroe Warhawks
Both teams look to push a fast pace, with Georgia Southern ranking 20th and UL Monroe 68th in total possessions per game. UL Monroe’s defense has been among the shakiest in the country, ranking 344th in points per possession allowed, but the Warhawks have been respectable from three-point range, ranking 178th at 34% despite shooting just 23.1% from deep over their past three games. Georgia Southern should carve up a defense that ranks 285th in opponent three-point shooting percentage and 349th in opponent two-point shooting percentage.
Pick: Georgia Southern vs. UL Monroe Over 161.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 167.5)
8:00 PM Eastern
Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers vs. St. Peter’s Peacocks
Mount St. Mary’s is at a significant disadvantage in turnovers, leading the country in turnovers per possession on offense in road games, while St. Peter’s ranks 20th in turnovers per possession generated on defense. Mount St. Mary’s also ranks just 293rd in turnovers per possession generated on defense. While St. Peter’s is 307th in defensive rebound percentage, it is 29th in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing 35.3% of missed shots as offensive rebounds. In a game that should feature plenty of free throws, St. Peter’s commits the fifth-most fouls per possession in the country, while Mount St. Mary’s ranks 328th in free-throw shooting percentage at 67.4%.
Picks: St. Peter’s -6.5 and Under 138.5 (Greg’s Handicap St. Peter’s -8.5 and Total 133.5)
9:00 PM Eastern
Boise State Broncos vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes
Second-chance opportunities should be limited, as Boise State ranks eighth nationally in defensive rebound percentage and Grand Canyon 56th. Grand Canyon has been the stronger interior defense, ranking 44th in opponent two-point shooting percentage, while Boise State ranks 183rd. Boise State also shoots just 30.7% from three-point range away from home compared to 37% at home.
Picks: Grand Canyon -1.5 and Under 140.5 (Greg’s Handicap Grand Canyon -4.5 and Total 136.5)
10:00 PM Eastern
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels vs. Nevada Wolf Pack
Nevada has excelled on the perimeter, ranking 17th in three-point shooting percentage at 38.6% and 17th in fewest turnovers per possession. The Wolf Pack should find plenty of scoring chances against a UNLV team that looks to push tempo, ranking 49th in total possessions per game, but sits 340th in defensive rebound percentage away from home, allowing opponents to grab 36.4% of missed shots as offensive rebounds.
Picks: Nevada -7.5 and Over 149.5 (Greg’s Handicap Nevada -10.5 and Total 154.5)
