College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Sunday, December 14.
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12:00 PM Eastern
Maryland Eastern Shore Eagles vs. Virginia Tech Hokies
Maryland Eastern Shore is committing the most turnovers per possession on offense of any team in the country while playing at a very slow pace, ranking 333rd in total possessions per game. But they have been respectable on defense, ranking 150th in points per possession allowed away from home. They face a Hokies team that is unlikely to have forward Toibu Lawal, who has missed the past five games due to injury. Their interior play has had issues since, ranking 148th in 2-point shooting percentage and 145th in offensive rebound percentage.
Picks: Maryland Eastern Shore +28.5 and Under 137.5 (Greg’s Handicap Maryland Eastern Shore +25 and Total 131)
2:00 PM Eastern
Merrimack Warriors vs. Vermont Catamounts
Merrimack prior to this season never finished outside the top 41 in turnovers forced per possession since joining the Division I, and that has dropped off this season as the Warriors currently rank 62nd in this department. They are still rough in all other departments, ranking 363rd in rebound percentage and 279th in 3-point shooting percentage. Vermont is playing very slowly, ranking just 316th in possessions per game, but is making the most of them with being 100th in points per possession while also allowing a lot of clean looks from 3-point range, checking in at 290th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage.
Picks: Vermont -5 and Over 135 (Greg’s Handicap Vermont -8.5 and Total 138.5
Monmouth Hawks vs. Fairfield Stags
Fairfield is doing a good job of taking care of the ball, ranking 77th in turnovers per possession, which improves to 22nd in home games. Monmouth isn’t executing with their offense inside, ranking 298th in 2-point shooting percentage, and is playing at a slow pace, ranking 261st in possessions per game. They are unlikely to get many second chances to score, with Fairfield ranking 57th in defensive rebound percentage.
Picks: Fairfield +2.5 and Under 147.5 (Greg’s Handicap Fairfield -2 and Total 140)
3:00 PM Eastern
Western Michigan Broncos vs. Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa is playing at one of the slowest paces in the nation, ranking 361st in total possessions per game with many of those being dead possession. Their defense is seventh in turnovers per possession generated on defense. They face a Western Michigan team that has struggled to keep possessions clean, ranking 284th in turnovers per possession and 193rd in points per possession.
Pick: Western Michigan vs. Iowa Under 145.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 141.5)
Troy Trojans vs. UAB Blazers
The Blazers have struggled from the outside, ranking 357th in 3-point shooting percentage at 25.7%, yet are 124th in points per possession thanks to limiting dead possessions. They rank 35th in fewest turnovers per possession and 36th in percentage of missed shots that become an offensive rebound at 36.1%. Troy is 85th in road offensive rebound percentage and are pretty solid with their 2-point shooting defense, ranking 128th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage while playing very fast, ranking third in possessions per game.
Picks: Troy +6.5 and Over 148.5 (Greg’s Handicap Troy +3.5 and Total 151.5)
4:00 PM Eastern
Charlotte 49ers vs. Charleston Cougars
Both teams have been near equals on offense with Charleston 164th in points per possession and Charlotte 173rd with Charleston slowing down to 259th in possessions per game. Charlotte continues to be one of the slowest teams in America at 357th in possessions per game. Charlotte takes control of the boards, ranking 59th in offensive rebound percentage, grabbing 34.2% of their missed shots as an offensive rebound and should be unbothered in getting the game on their terms, with Charleston 344th in turnovers per possession generated on defense.
Picks: Charlotte +5 and Under 143 (Greg’s Handicap Charlotte -1.5 and Total 139.5)
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico is overall 40th in the country in turnovers forced per possession on defense, which goes up to 12th at home. Florida Gulf Coast has boosted their tempo up to 26th in possessions per game this season. While they have been shooting 34.9% from 3-point range this season, that goes down to 30% away from home, but they have been solid on the glass, ranking 100th in rebound percentage.
Pick: Florida Gulf Coast vs. New Mexico Under 161.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 153.5)
5:00 PM Eastern
Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Portland Pilots
Kent State has totally changed their style, cranking up their tempo to ninth in possessions per game after being traditionally a mid-tempo team. They might see regression with their current 39.3% 3-point shooting, which ranks 18th in the country after being 313th in 3-point shooting percentage a season ago, but are shooting a poultry 23.9% from the outside in games played away from home. Portland is having big-time ball security issues, ranking 348th in turnover per possession, but is 33rd in 2-point shooting percentage.
Picks: Portland +7.5 and Under 166.5 (Greg’s Handicap Portland +4.5 and Total 162.5)
Queens NC Royals vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Wake Forest is much improved on offense from a season ago, ranking 86th in points per possession and should get plenty of second chances and clean possessions to score against a Queens team that is allowing opponents to grab 37.7% of their missed shots as an offensive rebound. Queens ranks 312th overall in defensive rebound percentage, and are 352nd in turnovers forced per possession, while Wake Forest is 16th in turnovers per possession on defense and playing at a fast pace of 45th in possessions per game.
Pick: Wake Forest -16.5 (Greg’s Handicap Wake Forest -21.5)
5:30 PM Eastern
North Texas Mean Green vs. South Alabama Jaguars
The North Texas offense is struggling, ranking 236th in points per possession overall with the real struggles coming away from home, having yet to exceed 64 points away from home. They are 330th in points per possession in road and neutral-court games, as a season-ending injury to Will McClendon is weighing the team down. Both teams are playing at a slow tempo. North Texas is 331st in total possessions per game while South Alabama is 319th.
Pick: South Alabama -1.5 (Greg’s Handicap South Alabama -5.5)
6:00 PM Eastern
St. Mary’s Gaels vs. Boise State Broncos
Boise State and St. Mary’s are both dominant on the glass. Boise State is second in the country in defensive rebound percentage with teams grabbing only 20.2% of their missed shots as an offensive rebound, while St. Mary’s is 12th in overall rebound percentage. St. Mary’s is still playing at a slow pace, ranking 282nd in possessions per game and both teams are defending the 3-point shot well. St. Mary’s 49th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 29.4% while Boise State is 95th at 30.9%.
Picks: St. Mary’s -1.5 and Under 138 (Greg’s Handicap St. Mary’s -4 and Total 134)
