College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Monday, December 22.
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11:00 AM Eastern
New Haven Chargers vs. Fordham Rams
New Haven is playing slowly but inefficiently on offense, ranking 352nd in points per possession and 359th in possessions per game. Fordham is also slow at 347th in possessions per game, but has been dominant on the glass, ranking 30th in rebound percentage while New Haven ranks 279th. Defensively, Fordham has been strong, ranking 51st in points per possession allowed.
Pick: Fordham -11.5 and Under 130 (Greg’s Handicap: Fordham -17.5 and Total 125.5)
2:00 PM Eastern
Sacred Heart Pioneers vs. Towson Tigers
Towson is playing at one of the slowest paces in the country, ranking 363rd in possessions per game, and while they rank 193rd overall in points per possession allowed, they have been far better at home, allowing 19.7 fewer points per 100 possessions than on the road. Sacred Heart ranks 102nd in 3-point shooting percentage at 35.7% and takes 51.1% of its shots from beyond the arc, the 12th-highest rate in the nation, but now faces a Towson defense ranking 65th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 30.5%.
Pick: Towson -9.5 and Under 145.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Towson -12.5 and Total 138.5)
West Georgia Wolves vs. Georgia Bulldogs
West Georgia has been stronger defensively away from home than at home, ranking 22nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage on the road and 135th in points per possession allowed away from home. Georgia is playing at a rapid pace, ranking third in possessions per game, but is struggling from deep, ranking 280th in 3-point shooting percentage at 31.3%, and is just 185th in defensive rebound percentage.
Pick: West Georgia +36.5 (Greg’s Handicap: West Georgia +28.5)
5:00 PM Eastern
Abilene Christian Wildcats vs. Texas Southern Tigers
Abilene Christian ranks 77th in defensive rebound percentage, allowing opponents to grab just 25.5% of missed shots as offensive rebounds, while also generating turnovers at a high rate, ranking 25th overall and 14th away from home. Texas Southern has struggled mightily on offense, ranking 312th in turnovers per possession and 332nd in 3-point shooting percentage at 28.5%.
Pick: Abilene Christian -4 (Greg’s Handicap: Abilene Christian -9)
6:00 PM Eastern
Siena Saints vs. Indiana Hoosiers
Siena plays at one of the slowest paces in the country, ranking 351st in possessions per game, and is shooting just 29% from 3-point range overall, which drops to 24.3% away from home, ranking 357th nationally. Indiana plays at a mid-tempo pace, ranking 157th in possessions per game, and is strong defensively at 27th in points per possession allowed, while Siena’s defense ranks 37th overall and improves to 14th in road and neutral games.
Pick: Siena vs. Indiana Under 143 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 135.5)
7:00 PM Eastern
Prairie View Panthers vs. LSU Tigers
LSU has been one of the most efficient offenses in the country, ranking 16th in points per possession overall and 10th in home games, and faces an uptempo Prairie View team ranking 29th in possessions per game. Prairie View gambles defensively, ranking 47th in turnovers forced per possession, but when they do not generate turnovers they are vulnerable, ranking 327th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and 348th in defensive rebound percentage, allowing opponents to rebound 36.3% of missed shots.
Pick: Prairie View vs. LSU Over 153 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 165.5)
Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Wright State Raiders
Wright State has improved defensively from past seasons, ranking 152nd in points per possession allowed after ranking 330th last year, while also ranking 57th in turnovers forced per possession. Eastern Michigan has struggled offensively, ranking 255th in points per possession, and is unlikely to get many second chances with Wright State allowing opponents to rebound just 21.9% of missed shots at home, ranking 61st nationally.
Pick: Wright State -6.5 and Under 141 (Greg’s Handicap: Wright State -9 and Total 135)
8:00 PM Eastern
UT Arlington Mavericks vs. Oral Roberts Eagles
Both teams have struggled to take care of the ball, with UT Arlington ranking 356th and Oral Roberts 313th in turnovers per possession. While UT Arlington ranks 72nd in points per possession allowed overall, that number worsens significantly away from home, where they allow 22.8 more points per 100 possessions. Oral Roberts ranks 134th in 3-point shooting percentage, and UT Arlington should have opportunities for second chances as Oral Roberts ranks 349th in defensive rebound percentage.
Pick: Oral Roberts +2.5 and Over 139 (Greg’s Handicap: Oral Roberts -2 and Total 148)
Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin is playing at its fastest pace this millennium, ranking 87th in possessions per game, and ranks 74th in points per possession overall, but has been far more efficient offensively at home, improving to 27th and scoring 29.6 more points per 100 possessions than away from home. Central Michigan’s defense ranks 335th in points per possession allowed and is near the bottom nationally in both opponent 3-point and 2-point shooting percentages, though Wisconsin’s defense ranks just 256th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.
Pick: Central Michigan vs. Wisconsin Over 155.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 159.5)
9:00 PM Eastern
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona has strong balance, ranking 22nd in points per possession on offense and 10th on defense, and should generate quality looks against a Bethune-Cookman defense ranking 345th in points per possession allowed. Bethune-Cookman has been respectable from deep, ranking 180th in 3-point shooting percentage, while Arizona is making 40.7% of its 3-point shots at home.
Pick: Bethune-Cookman +39.5 and Over 150.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Bethune-Cookman +35 and Total 155)
10:00 PM Eastern
Sacramento State Hornets vs. CS Northridge Matadors
CS Northridge has struggled with turnovers, ranking 253rd in turnovers per possession, but should find success against a Sacramento State defense ranking 284th in points per possession allowed and 318th in defensive rebound percentage. Sacramento State has also been without top shot blocker and starting big man Jeremiah Cherry for the past five games, going 1–4 in that span, with the lone win coming against non–Division I San Francisco State.
Pick: CS Northridge -9.5 (Greg’s Handicap: CS Northridge -11.5)
