College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Saturday, March 15.
Check out Greg’s Daily College Basketball Lines and his Coast 2 Coast Hoops Podcast. Also, check out our College Basketball Betting Splits.
11:00 AM Eastern
Princeton vs. Yale
Princeton ranks just 159th in points per possession, scoring only 57 points the last time they played against Yale in February. Yale ranks 80th in points per possession allowed and limits opponents to rebounding just 23.8% of their missed shots, which ranks 32nd in the nation. Yale is also 22nd in the country in opponent 2-point shooting percentage.
Pick: Princeton vs. Yale Under 146.5** (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 142.5)
Maine vs. Bryant
Bryant plays at one of the fastest paces in the country, ranking seventh in total possessions per game. They will have plenty of opportunities to score, rebounding 36.9% of their missed shots at home, which ranks 17th in the country. Maine, however, is 306th in defensive rebound percentage, allowing teams to grab 30.6% of their missed shots. On offense, Maine is 69th in 3-point shooting percentage at 35.9%.
Pick: Maine vs. Bryant Over 143.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 146.5)
12:00 PM Eastern
VCU vs. Loyola Chicago
VCU entered Friday ranked 263rd in total possessions per game and fifth in points per possession allowed. Loyola Chicago entered Friday 166th in points per possession on offense, but they’ve done a solid job limiting second-chance opportunities, allowing opponents to grab only 24.9% of their missed shots as offensive rebounds, which ranks 57th nationally.
Pick: VCU vs. Loyola Chicago Under 139.5** (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 136)
1:00 PM Eastern
Wisconsin vs. Michigan State
Michigan State entered Friday ranked 338th in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage at 30.2%, but they’ve excelled defensively, ranking third in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 28% and 19th in defensive rebound percentage, with opponents grabbing just 23% of their missed shots as offensive rebounds.
Pick: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State Under 144.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 141.5)
South Carolina State vs. Norfolk State
South Carolina State ranks 37th in the country in total possessions per game and 35th in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing 33.3% of their missed shots as an offensive rebound, but are 238th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage. They face a Norfolk State team that attempts 72% of their field goals from 2-point range, which is the sixth-highest percentage in the country. South Carolina State also shoots 36.1% from a 3-point range away from home, ranking 51st in the country.
Pick: South Carolina State vs. Norfolk State Over 143 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 147)
2:00 PM Eastern
Cornell vs. Dartmouth
Both teams are playing at a fast pace, with Cornell ranked 26th and Dartmouth 33rd in total possessions per game. Dartmouth’s defense has been stingy, allowing teams to make only 29.4% of their 3-point shots, which ranks fifth in the country. Cornell attempts 49.9% of their field goal attempts from beyond the arc in away games, ranking eighth in the country. Dartmouth allows teams to rebound 21.7% of their missed shots, which ranks fifth in the country. Cornell scored an average of 62.5 points per game in their two matchups against Dartmouth this season, significantly lower than their average of 85 points per game.
Pick: Cornell vs. Dartmouth Under 159 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 153.5)
3:30 PM Eastern
Alabama vs. Florida
Florida’s defense has been one of the most dominating in the country in nearly every aspect, ranking in the top 10 in both opponent 2-point and 3-point shooting percentages, all while grabbing an offensive rebound on 37% of their missed shots on offense, ranking seventh in the country.
Picks: Florida -3 And Under 174.5 (Greg’s Handicap Florida -5.5 & Total 171.5)
Maryland vs. Michigan
Maryland has one of the most stout defenses in the country, ranking seventh in points per possession allowed. They are good at generating turnovers, which is amplified by Michigan entering Saturday 336th in turnovers per possession committed on offense. Maryland is 43rd in turnovers per possession created on defense.
Pick: Maryland vs. Michigan Under 152 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 148.5)
8:30 PM Eastern
Liberty vs. Jacksonville State
Liberty leads the country in 3-point shooting percentage defense, entering Friday with opponents making just 27.4% of their 3-point shots against them. However, Liberty has struggled with the little things, ranking 345th in free throw shooting percentage away from home at 64.3%, and rebounding only 17.9% of their missed shots, which ranks 358th in the country. On the other hand, Jacksonville State is 17th in the nation in road rebound percentage and 72nd in points per possession away from home, averaging more points per possession on the road than at home.
Pick: Jacksonville State +6.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Jacksonville State +4.5)
Louisville vs. Duke
Most of the attention is on Duke missing Cooper Flagg, who was injured on Friday, but Louisville has been without Reyne Smith the past two games due to injury, who is fourth in the country in made 3-point shots per game. While Duke leads the country in points per possession, they are also 274th in possessions per game and third in points per possession allowed on defense.
Pick: Louisville vs. Duke Under 146.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 143.5)
9:30 PM Eastern
Alabama State vs. Jackson State
Jackson State has played a bit slower in SWAC than they did at the beginning of the season. They still rank 58th in total possessions per game, which will lead to Alabama State getting plenty of clean possessions. Alabama State leads the country in lowest turnover percentage in games away from home, committing a turnover on only 10.9% of their possessions. Jackson State’s 78.6 points per game in conference play leads the SWAC.
Pick: Alabama State vs. Jackson State Over 140.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 146.5)
11:30 PM Eastern
UC Irvine vs. UC San Diego
Entering the Big West, UC Irvine ranked second in the nation in the fewest points per possession allowed in games played away from home. UC San Diego is fourth in this category, but UC Irvine owns the edge on the boards, ranking 21st in road rebound percentage. UC San Diego ranks 254th in overall rebound percentage. Also in a tight spot, UC Irvine’s 81.6% free throw shooting away from home ranks third in the nation.
Pick: UC Irvine +5.5 (Greg’s Handicap UC Irvine +3.5)
