College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Friday, January 9.
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6:00 PM Eastern
Miami OH Redhawks vs. Toledo Rockets
Toledo is not the same 3-point shooting team as in past seasons, ranking 190th in 3-point shooting percentage at 33.5%, which drops to 32.5% at home. The Rockets also rank 281st in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and 322nd in opponent 2-point shooting percentage, facing a Miami OH team that is fourth in the nation in road 3-point shooting percentage at 42.9%. Miami OH ranks 40th in points per possession overall, which improves to 18th in road and neutral court games.
Pick: Miami OH -1 (Greg’s Handicap: Miami OH -5.5)
7:00 PM Eastern
Niagara Purple Eagles vs. Iona Gaels
Niagara has struggled across the board, ranking 327th in points per possession on offense and 318th in points per possession allowed on defense. They will give Iona plenty of open looks from deep, ranking 362nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage away from home at 42.7%. Iona is making 35% of its 3-point attempts on offense, ranks 51st in opponent 3-point shooting percentage on defense, and is pushing tempo at 43rd in possessions per game.
Picks: Iona -12.5 and Over 142 (Greg’s Handicap: Iona -16.5 and Total 144.5)
St. Peter’s Peacocks vs. Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers
Mount St. Mary’s owns the worst turnover differential in the country, ranking 364th in turnovers per possession on offense and 299th in turnovers generated per possession on defense, falling to 349th in turnovers generated at home. St. Peter’s ranks 15th nationally in turnovers forced per possession and plays at a slow pace, ranking 308th in possessions per game. The Peacocks are also getting second chances, ranking 57th in road offensive rebound percentage with 32.7% of missed shots becoming offensive rebounds.
Picks: St. Peter’s +1.5 and Under 137.5 (Greg’s Handicap: St. Peter’s -3.5 and Total 129.5)
Merrimack Warriors vs. Siena Saints
Both teams play at a very slow pace, with Merrimack ranking 345th and Siena 342nd in possessions per game. Neither team shoots well from 3-point range, as Merrimack ranks 294th at 30.7% and Siena 335th at 28.9%. Siena makes up for it on defense, ranking 53rd in points per possession allowed, while Merrimack remains strong in ball pressure, ranking 69th in turnovers forced per possession.
Pick: Merrimack vs. Siena Under 132.5 (Greg’s Handicap Total: 128)
Rider Broncs vs. Fairfield Stags
Rider has struggled in nearly every facet, ranking 355th in turnovers generated per possession on defense and 319th in turnovers per possession on offense, while shooting just 24.9% from 3-point range, worst in the nation. The Broncs also play slowly, ranking 325th in possessions per game. Fairfield has offset poor shooting by executing the fundamentals, ranking 153rd in points per possession despite ranking 298th in 2-point shooting percentage and 172nd in 3-point shooting percentage, thanks to ranking 72nd in offensive rebound percentage and 43rd in fewest turnovers per possession.
Picks: Fairfield -8.5 and Under 143.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Fairfield -15.5 and Total 137.5)
Wright State Raiders vs. Detroit Titans
Wright State has executed well offensively, ranking 129th in points per possession, and should generate extra possessions against a Detroit team ranking 323rd in home defensive rebound percentage, with 33.3% of opponents’ missed shots becoming offensive rebounds. Detroit has struggled on the perimeter offensively, ranking 295th in 3-point shooting percentage at 30.6%. Wright State has also been strong defensively away from home, ranking 61st in turnovers generated per possession and 75th in points per possession allowed in road and neutral games.
Pick: Wright State -4.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Wright State -8.5)
8:30 PM Eastern
USC Trojans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers
USC’s offense has struggled since losing guard Rodney Rice for the season, scoring a combined 117 points in its first two games of 2026 against Michigan and Michigan State. Both of those defenses ranked 17th or better in points per possession allowed entering Thursday. Minnesota ranks seventh in points per possession allowed at home, but their offense is a step down from those opponents, ranking 125th in points per possession and 204th in 3-point shooting percentage at 33.2%. That’s an issue against a USC defense ranking 18th nationally in blocked shot percentage.
Picks: USC +2.5 and Under 146.5 (Greg’s Handicap: USC -4 and Total 143)
10:00 PM Eastern
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels vs. Colorado State Rams
UNLV has struggled from beyond the arc, ranking 325th in 3-point shooting percentage at 29.3%. Colorado State is elite from deep, ranking fifth at 41.1%, and has maximized limited possessions, ranking 363rd in possessions per game while sitting 22nd in points per possession offensively. UNLV ranks 284th in points per possession in road games and plays at a fast pace, ranking 34th in possessions per game.
Picks: Colorado State -6.5 and Over 152.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Colorado State -8.5 and Total 154.5)
