College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Sunday, January 18.
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1:00 PM Eastern
American Eagles vs. Army Black Knights
American has slowed games down considerably, ranking 279th in total possessions per game, and further limits scoring chances by forcing turnovers at a high rate, ranking 61st in turnovers generated per possession. Army has struggled badly on offense at home, ranking 324th in points per possession, and plays a live-and-die style from the perimeter, taking 56.5% of their field goal attempts at home from 3-point range, the second-highest rate in the country.
Pick: American vs. Army Under 145.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 140.5)
2:00 PM Eastern
UW Milwaukee Panthers vs. Fort Wayne Mastodons
UW Milwaukee has held the edge on the glass for the season, ranking 134th in rebound percentage compared to Fort Wayne’s 362nd, but the Panthers have been without their leading rebounder Danilo Jovanovich in each of the past two games. That absence benefits a Fort Wayne team that has won the turnover battle, ranking 51st in fewest turnovers per possession on offense and 38th in turnovers forced per possession on defense, and should be able to exploit a UW Milwaukee defense that ranks 300th in points per possession allowed.
Pick: Fort Wayne -3.5 and Over 148.5 (Greg’s Handicap Fort Wayne -6.5 and Total 152.5)
Charlotte 49ers vs. East Carolina Pirates
Charlotte plays at one of the slowest tempos in the country, ranking 336th in possessions per game, while East Carolina has been unable to execute offensively, ranking 332nd in points per possession and 362nd in 3-point shooting percentage at 26.8%. Charlotte’s interior defense away from home has been solid, ranking 66th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage in road and neutral-court games.
Pick: Charlotte -1.5 and Under 143.5 (Greg’s Handicap Charlotte -3 and Total 139)
Wichita State Shockers vs. South Florida Bulls
Wichita State has a significant edge on the glass, ranking 27th in rebound percentage overall and second nationally in offensive rebound percentage away from home, grabbing 38.9% of their missed shots. South Florida ranks 269th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 35.5%, while Wichita State is much stronger on the perimeter defensively, ranking 51st at 30.6%. South Florida also leans heavily on the 3-point shot, taking 45% of their field goal attempts from beyond the arc.
Pick: Wichita State +7.5 (Greg’s Handicap Wichita State +1.5)
6:00 PM Eastern
UT San Antonio Roadrunners vs. Memphis Tigers
Memphis has struggled offensively this season, ranking 267th in points per possession, but the Tigers are finally getting healthier after three of their top seven scorers each missed at least five games. They face a UT San Antonio team that plays at a relatively fast pace, ranking 117th in possessions per game, but ranks 361st in points per possession on offense and 314th in points per possession allowed on defense. Memphis has been boom-or-bust offensively of late, scoring at least 76 points in three of their past five games while being held to 57 and 55 in the other two, and continues to play fast, ranking 83rd in possessions per game.
Pick: UT San Antonio vs. Memphis Over 143.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 146.5)
6:30 PM Eastern
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Houston Cougars
Houston remains built around defense and tempo control, ranking second nationally in points per possession allowed and 328th in possessions per game. Arizona State has been one of the few teams in the country more efficient offensively away from home than at home, ranking 119th overall in points per possession but improving to 33rd away from home. The Sun Devils have made just 27.7% of their 3-point shots at home compared to 38.8% on the road, a number that is likely to regress against a Houston defense that ranks 39th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 30.1%.
Pick: Houston -16.5 and Under 146.5 (Greg’s Handicap Houston -19.5 and Total 135.5)
7:00 PM Eastern
Washington State Cougars vs. San Francisco Dons
Washington State has struggled badly with ball security away from home, ranking 341st in turnovers per possession, and has been shaky defensively, ranking 240th in points per possession allowed and 275th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage. San Francisco leans heavily on the perimeter, taking 47% of their field goal attempts from 3-point range, the 38th-highest rate in the country. Washington State’s biggest strength is rebounding, ranking eighth in defensive rebound percentage, but San Francisco is not far behind, ranking 39th in that category.
Pick: San Francisco -5.5 (Greg’s Handicap San Francisco -8)
