College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Monday, March 31.
Note that these games are in the inaugural College Basketball Crown in Las Vegas. Check out Adam Burke’s tournament preview.
Check out Greg’s Daily College Basketball Lines and his Coast 2 Coast Hoops Podcast. Also, check out our College Basketball Betting Splits.
3:00 PM Eastern
Utah vs. Butler
Utah’s offense sees a significant drop in production away from home, ranking 342nd in 3-point shooting on the road at 28.7%, compared to 35.4% at home. The Utes also rank 357th in free throw shooting at just 63.9%. Butler, meanwhile, ranks 234th in possessions per game and struggles on the offensive glass, grabbing only 23.6% of their missed shots, which ranks 301st in the country.
Picks: Butler PK and Under 155.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Butler -2.5, Total 150.5)
5:30 PM Eastern
George Washington vs. Boise State
Both teams boast strong defenses outside of a power conference, with George Washington ranking 42nd in points per possession allowed and Boise State ranking 53rd. However, both struggle with 3-point shooting—Boise State ranks 320th at 31%, while George Washington ranks 299th at 31.3%. Boise State leads the nation in defensive rebounding percentage, allowing opponents to grab an offensive rebound on only 20.1% of missed shots. George Washington is also solid in 3-point defense away from home, limiting opponents to 31.1% shooting from beyond the arc.
Pick: George Washington +8.5 and Under 141.5 (Greg’s Handicap: George Washington +6.5, Total 136.5)
8:30 PM Eastern
Nebraska vs. Arizona State
Arizona State battled numerous injuries late in Big 12 play, making them more accustomed to playing without key starters than any other team in the Crown Tournament. While the Sun Devils will be without three of their top six scorers from the regular season, Nebraska struggles defensively, ranking 346th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage on the road. Additionally, Nebraska assistant coach Adam Howard has left the program and will not be on the sidelines for this event.
Picks: Arizona State +6.5 and Under 155 (Greg’s Handicap: Arizona State +3.5, Total 149.5)
11:00 PM Eastern
Georgetown vs. Washington State
Georgetown’s defense has suffered in the absence of Thomas Sorber, who will miss the tournament after declaring for the NBA Draft. However, they may benefit from Washington State’s struggles with ball security, as the Cougars rank 339th in turnovers per possession. Offensively, Georgetown ranks just 274th in 3-point shooting percentage. Washington State, an uptempo team ranking 34th in possessions per game, sees a notable offensive drop-off of 13.5 points per 100 possessions in road games compared to home contests.
Pick: Under 159.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 152)
