College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Monday, January 26.
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7:00 PM Eastern
Le Moyne Dolphins vs. Fairleigh Dickinson Knights
Both defenses are allowing clean looks from beyond the arc as Le Moyne ranks 352nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage overall and allows teams to shoot 39.6% from deep away from home, while Fairleigh Dickinson ranks 346th overall and allows 39.4% from 3-point range at home. Both teams should also have cleaner possessions than normal with Fairleigh Dickinson ranking 271st in turnovers per possession on offense and Le Moyne 302nd, while neither defense excels at forcing turnovers. Le Moyne holds a major shooting edge, ranking 120th nationally in 3-point shooting percentage at 35% compared to Fairleigh Dickinson’s 28.1% at home.
Pick: Le Moyne -2.5 and Over 140.5 (Greg’s Handicap Le Moyne -4.5 and Total 148.5)
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
Penn State is playing at its slowest tempo under coach Mike Rhoades, ranking 279th in possessions per game, while Ohio State is also below average in tempo at 213th. Penn State limits clean possessions well, ranking 78th nationally in turnovers per possession generated on defense, while Ohio State excels at defending the perimeter, ranking 17th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage with teams shooting just 29.4% against them.
Pick: Penn State vs. Ohio State Under 154.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 150.5)
Central Connecticut State Blue Demons vs. Stonehill Skyhawks
Central Connecticut State ranks 35th in the nation in 3-point shooting percentage at 36.9% and has a massive advantage in the turnover battle. Stonehill ranks last among all 365 Division I teams in turnovers per possession generated on defense and 357th in turnovers per possession on offense, while Central Connecticut ranks 54th in fewest turnovers per possession on offense away from home. Stonehill has also struggled to score inside, ranking 338th in 2-point shooting percentage.
Pick: Central Connecticut -2.5 and Over 133.5 (Greg’s Handicap Central Connecticut -8 and Total 138)
Abilene Christian Wildcats vs. Tarleton State Texans
Both teams rely heavily on generating turnovers, with Tarleton State ranking second nationally in turnovers per possession generated on defense and Abilene Christian ranking 10th. However, both offenses also turn the ball over at alarming rates, with Abilene Christian ranking 346th in turnovers per possession and Tarleton State 321st. Tarleton State has a sizable offensive edge, ranking 206th in points per possession compared to Abilene Christian’s 324th, and matches up well against an Abilene Christian defense that ranks 289th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage. Tarleton State leads the nation in the percentage of field goal attempts that come from 2-point range.
Pick: Tarleton State -4 and Under 148 (Greg’s Handicap Tarleton State -7.5 and Total 145.5)
Alcorn State Braves vs. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
Both teams have been brutal defensively, with Alcorn State ranking 356th in points per possession allowed and Bethune-Cookman 291st. Alcorn State has shot the ball well from deep away from home, ranking 65th nationally at 36%, and plays at a brisk pace, ranking 115th in possessions per game. Bethune-Cookman is even faster at 73rd and has scored at least 74 points in all seven games since Christmas. The return of Doctor Bradley, who led the nation in free throw attempts per game last season, further boosts scoring potential.
Pick: Alcorn State vs. Bethune-Cookman Over 145.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 153)
Morgan State Bears vs. Norfolk State Spartans
Neither team is looking to push tempo, with Norfolk State ranking 201st in possessions per game and Morgan State 114th. Offensively, Morgan State ranks 343rd in 3-point shooting percentage at 29.3% and 341st in points per possession, while Norfolk State ranks 312th in points per possession. Both teams also struggle to maximize possessions, with Morgan State ranking 289th in turnovers per possession and Norfolk State 312th.
Pick: Morgan State vs. Norfolk State Under 154.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 147.5)
7:30 PM Eastern
Delaware State Hornets vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs
Both offenses have been dreadful this season, with South Carolina State ranking 352nd in points per possession and Delaware State 364th. Delaware State has been the better defensive team overall, ranking 185th in points per possession allowed compared to South Carolina State’s 357th, but South Carolina State is finally healthy after having three of its top six scorers miss time earlier in the season. Since getting healthy, South Carolina State has allowed 72 points or fewer in three of its first four MEAC games while shooting 37.5% from 3-point range in conference play. Delaware State has topped 65 points in regulation against only two Division I opponents all season.
Pick: South Carolina State +1.5 (Greg’s Handicap South Carolina State -4.5)
8:00 PM Eastern
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi Islanders
UT Rio Grande Valley has extreme home-and-road shooting splits, ranking sixth nationally in 3-point shooting percentage away from home at 40.9% while making just 30.8% at home. Texas A&M Corpus Christi relies heavily on forcing turnovers, ranking 41st nationally in turnovers per possession generated on defense, but also has unusual defensive splits, allowing teams to shoot 36.1% from 3-point range at home compared to 30.6% away. UT Rio Grande Valley also plays nearly four possessions per game faster away from home, which could push the pace.
Pick: UT Rio Grande Valley vs. Texas A&M Corpus Christi Over 132.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 136.5)
9:00 PM Eastern
Arizona Wildcats vs. BYU Cougars
Arizona is one of just three remaining undefeated teams in college basketball, but this sets up as a stiff test against a balanced BYU team that ranks 20th in points per possession on offense and 23rd in points per possession allowed on defense. Arizona holds the edge on the glass, ranking third nationally in rebound percentage compared to BYU’s 25th, but Arizona has struggled from the perimeter away from home, shooting just 32.6% from 3-point range. In pressure spots, Arizona has also been shaky at the free throw line, ranking 140th nationally at 73.4%, while BYU shoots 77.4% at home.
Pick: BYU +3.5 and Under 165.5 (Greg’s Handicap BYU -2 and Total 162)
