College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Saturday, November 22.
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2:00 PM Eastern
UMass Lowell River Hawks vs. St. Peter’s Peacocks
St. Peter’s is a traditionally slow and defense-oriented group, ranking in the top 65 in points per possession allowed the past two seasons. Their current ranking of 311th in points per possession allowed should improve against a UMass Lowell offense that sits 296th in points per possession after losing nearly their entire roster last season. UMass Lowell is also 356th in rebound percentage and even less efficient on defense, ranking 360th in points per possession allowed.
Picks: St. Peter’s -6.5 and Under 153.5 (Greg’s Handicap St. Peter’s -10.5 and Total 142.5)
Nicholls Colonels vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Nicholls has struggled mightily on offense to begin the season after losing last year’s top three scorers, ranking 334th in points per possession. Oklahoma State’s offense has had trouble generating clean looks as well, ranking 208th in turnovers per possession. Nicholls has been strong at generating turnovers (77th in turnovers forced per possession), while Oklahoma State is 31st nationally in points per possession allowed.
Pick: Under 163.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 152)
Cleveland State Vikings vs. Kent State Golden Flashes
Both teams look to adjust after last week’s 102–95 shootout on a neutral floor, a game in which Cleveland State went 15-of-36 from 3-point range—a number that should regress, given they are shooting 34.1% from deep in their other games. Kent State was 311th in 3-point shooting percentage last season but is currently shooting 36.8% from outside with largely the same core. They are also unlikely to get their usual volume of free throws, ranking 49th in percentage of points from made free throws, while Cleveland State is passive defensively, ranking 341st in turnovers forced per possession.
Pick: Under 174.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 167)
3:00 PM Eastern
Binghamton Bearcats vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks
Maryland Eastern Shore is last in the nation in points per possession, scoring 6.1 points per 100 possessions fewer than the next-least efficient offense in Division I. Binghamton has had offensive issues as well, ranking 310th in points per possession, but should win inside as UMES ranks 271st in rebound percentage compared to Binghamton’s 220th.
Pick: Binghamton -3 (Greg’s Handicap Binghamton -9.5)
5:00 PM Eastern
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos vs. Nevada Wolf Pack
Both teams may return to their slower styles from last season, when UC Santa Barbara ranked 272nd in possessions per game and Nevada 335th. Both have played at a more mid-tempo pace to start this season, and both should see defensive regression in opponent 3-point shooting—UCSB is allowing 39.3% and Nevada 36.6% from deep. Nevada is limiting second-chance scoring opportunities well, ranking 48th in defensive rebound percentage.
Picks: UC Santa Barbara +6 and Under 149.5 (Greg’s Handicap UC Santa Barbara +3 and Total 143)
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros vs. Missouri State Bears
Missouri State should see positive regression from their current 24.3% 3-point shooting, especially given they brought back much of last year’s roster that shot 36% (64th nationally). Rio Grande Valley, meanwhile, is shooting an unsustainable 45.7% from deep after ranking 273rd in 3-point shooting percentage last season. They may also struggle against a Missouri State defense ranked 72nd in turnovers forced per possession. Both teams are between 295th and 300th in rebound percentage.
Picks: Missouri State -1.5 and Over 149.5 (Greg’s Handicap Missouri State -7 and Total 153)
5:30 PM Eastern
CS Fullerton Titans vs. St. Thomas Tommies
St. Thomas entered Friday last in the country in offensive rebound percentage, but they face a Fullerton squad that ranks 348th in that same category. Fullerton is also struggling to generate clean offense, ranking 321st in points per possession, and may have trouble taking care of the ball against a St. Thomas defense that is 137th in turnovers forced per possession, while Fullerton ranks 265th in turnovers committed per possession.
Picks: St. Thomas -10 and Under 155.5 (Greg’s Handicap St. Thomas -14 and Total 150)
7:00 PM Eastern
UW Milwaukee Panthers vs. Wichita State Shockers
UW Milwaukee has taken a major step back from last season’s dominant rebounding, dropping from fourth in rebound percentage to 242nd this year, but they still have enough forward depth to hang with a Wichita State team that ranks 45th in rebound percentage. Wichita State should also see defensive regression as opponents are shooting 41.2% from deep against them. Offensively, the Shockers have jumped from 339th in 3-point shooting last season to 39.5% this season.
Picks: UW Milwaukee +11 and Under 161.5 (Greg’s Handicap UW Milwaukee +9.5 and Total 157.5)
Ball State Cardinals vs. Indiana State Sycamores
Ball State brought in several guards from systems that forced high turnover rates, and it has paid off—Ball State ranks seventh in turnovers forced per possession. Indiana State ranks 253rd in turnovers per possession on offense after being outside the top 300 last season. The Sycamores also bring back a core that struggled guarding the perimeter last year, ranking 311th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.
Picks: Ball State +8.5 and Over 146.5 (Greg’s Handicap Ball State +4.5 and Total 156.5)
Gardner Webb Bulldogs vs. Richmond Spiders
Richmond is having similar 3-point issues as last season, when they ranked 314th in 3-point percentage. They’re hitting only 30.4% from deep through four games but have a golden opportunity to improve against a Gardner Webb team that has allowed at least 87 points in all five games this season. Richmond may also ramp the tempo back down to last season’s pace (335th in possessions per game) after playing much faster this year. Gardner Webb should find success inside against a Richmond defense ranked 329th in blocked-shot percentage.
Picks: Gardner Webb +21 and Under 155 (Greg’s Handicap Gardner Webb +16 and Total 146)
9:00 PM Eastern
UT Arlington Mavericks vs. Weber State Wildcats
UT Arlington is playing for the second time in two days and now faces a Weber State team that has been relentless guarding the arc. Their opponent 3-point percentage of 16.7% will definitely regress, but Weber State still holds the edge in the turnover battle against a UT Arlington team that lost nine of its top 10 scorers from last season and entered Friday ranked 264th in points per possession on offense and 364th in turnovers committed per possession.
Pick: Weber State -1.5 (Greg’s Handicap Weber State -6)
