College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Thursday, February 26.
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6:00 PM Eastern
Bryant Bulldogs vs. UMBC Retrievers
Bryant is a slow-tempo team that is not efficient on offense, ranking 336th in total possessions per game and averaging the fewest points per possession in the nation in games played away from home out of 365 Division I teams. UMBC is playing significantly slower than in past seasons, ranking 288th in possessions per game, and is allowing teams to grab just 23.2% of their missed shots as an offensive rebound, the 13th-best defensive rebound percentage in the nation.
Pick: Bryant vs. UMBC Under 139.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 132)
6:30 PM Eastern
Maine Black Bears vs. Albany Great Danes
Maine has been respectable on defense, ranking 116th in points per possession allowed, and has created low-possession games by ranking 56th in turnovers per possession generated on defense while sitting 343rd in total possessions per game. Albany is not playing much more uptempo at 310th in possessions per game, and both offenses have struggled, with Albany 279th in points per possession and Maine 360th.
Pick: Maine vs. Albany Under 136 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 125.5)
7:00 PM Eastern
New Haven Chargers vs. Wagner Seahawks
Out of 365 Division I teams, New Haven averages the fewest possessions per game in the country and ranks 346th in points per possession. Defensively, they are allowing teams to shoot 34.8% from three-point range, ranking 230th. Wagner ranks 38th in three-point shooting percentage at 36.9% and, at home, allows opponents to rebound just 20.1% of their missed shots as offensive rebounds, the 11th-best mark nationally.
Picks: Wagner -1.5 and Under 129.5 (Greg’s Handicap Wagner -6.5 and Total 124.5)
Stetson Hatters vs. Jacksonville Dolphins
Both teams have struggled defensively, with Stetson 353rd and Jacksonville 319th in points per possession allowed. Jacksonville has been especially poor defending the perimeter at home, allowing 39.9% from three-point range, which ranks 356th nationally. Offensively, the teams are nearly equal, with Stetson 273rd and Jacksonville 275th in points per possession, and Jacksonville ranks 246th in free throw shooting percentage at 70.6%.
Pick: Stetson +6.5 (Greg’s Handicap Stetson +2.5)
Delaware Blue Hens vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Despite ranking 48th in three-point shooting percentage at 36.6%, Delaware is 248th in points per possession overall and ranks 362nd in offensive rebound percentage at 18.9%. They also play at one of the slowest paces in the nation, ranking 355th in possessions per game. Jacksonville State ranks 307th in possessions per game and 259th in points per possession on offense, while ranking 309th in free throw shooting percentage at 68.4%.
Picks: Delaware +7.5 and Under 134.5 (Greg’s Handicap Delaware +3.5 and Total 129.5)
Elon Phoenix vs. Towson Tigers
Towson has struggled offensively at home, ranking 324th in points per possession and 361st in three-point shooting percentage at 28.1%. Elon ranks 74th overall in points per possession on offense, improving to 54th away from home. While Elon ranks 324th in points per possession allowed overall, that improves to 192nd away from home.
Pick: Elon +6.5 (Greg’s Handicap Elon +1.5)
New Mexico State Aggies vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky plays fast at 51st in possessions per game but ranks 356th in two-point shooting percentage and 205th in points per possession overall. New Mexico State ranks 143rd in points per possession on offense while playing at a slower pace (268th in possessions per game) and ranks 92nd in opponent three-point shooting percentage at 32.3%, while sitting 99th in points per possession allowed away from home.
Picks: New Mexico State +5.5 and Under 151.5 (Greg’s Handicap New Mexico State +3.5 and Total 145.5)
7:30 PM Eastern
Missouri State Bears vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Louisiana Tech ranks 313th in possessions per game while Missouri State ranks 206th. Offensively, Missouri State ranks 226th in points per possession and Louisiana Tech 323rd. Louisiana Tech ranks 54th in points per possession allowed on defense and 34th in opponent two-point shooting percentage. Both teams struggle from three-point range, with Missouri State at 32.3% (264th) and Louisiana Tech last in the nation at 27.3%.
Pick: Missouri State vs. Louisiana Tech Under 136.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 131)
UTEP Miners vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
UTEP ranks 325th in possessions per game and 306th in points per possession on offense. Middle Tennessee ranks 242nd in points per possession at home. Neither team generates many second chances, with Middle Tennessee 218th and UTEP 263rd in offensive rebound percentage.
Pick: UTEP vs. Middle Tennessee Under 140.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 133.5)
8:00 PM Eastern
Michigan State Spartans vs. Purdue Boilermakers
Michigan State ranks 15th in points per possession allowed away from home and leads the nation by allowing just 17.6% of opponents’ missed shots to become offensive rebounds in road games. Purdue ranks second nationally in points per possession on offense. Michigan State ranks 51st overall in points per possession, improving to 36th away from home, and shoots 38.8% from three-point range away from home, which ranks 13th nationally.
Pick: Michigan State +7.5 (Greg’s Handicap Michigan State +2)
8:30 PM Eastern
Tennessee State Tigers vs. SE Missouri State Redhawks
Tennessee State rebounds 33.1% of their missed shots as offensive rebounds away from home, ranking 33rd nationally, and ranks 21st in turnovers per possession generated away from home. SE Missouri State ranks 275th in turnovers per possession at home and 236th in points per possession on offense. Free throw shooting could loom large, with Tennessee State ranking 54th in road free throw shooting percentage at 76.4% compared to SE Missouri State at 312th at 68.3%.
Pick: Tennessee State +4.5 (Greg’s Handicap Tennessee State -1)
9:00 PM Eastern
North Dakota State Bison vs. St. Thomas Tommies
North Dakota State ranks 36th in turnovers per possession generated away from home, while St. Thomas ranks seventh in fewest turnovers per possession. St. Thomas ranks 42nd in three-point shooting percentage at 36.7% and leads the nation in two-point shooting percentage. Defensively, St. Thomas ranks 93rd in opponent three-point shooting percentage at 32.4%, while North Dakota State ranks 211th at 34.5%.
Pick: St. Thomas -3 (Greg’s Handicap St. Thomas -8)
Sacramento State Hornets vs. Montana Grizzlies
Sacramento State ranks 27th in possessions per game but 212th in points per possession overall, falling to 297th away from home. Their three-point shooting drops from 41.4% at home to 28.8% away. Montana ranks 341st in turnovers per possession and 359th in offensive rebound percentage at 19.4%.
Pick: Sacramento State vs. Montana Under 162.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 157.5)
UC Riverside Highlanders vs. UC Santa Barbara Gauchos
UC Santa Barbara ranks 230th in possessions per game, while UC Riverside ranks 96th. UC Santa Barbara ranks 13th in three-point shooting percentage at home at 40.4% and 283rd in opponent three-point shooting percentage at 35.8%. UC Riverside allows 36.8% from three-point range in road and neutral court games and ranks 260th in points per possession allowed. Both teams struggle with turnovers, with UC Santa Barbara 273rd and UC Riverside 261st in turnovers per possession.
Pick: UC Riverside vs. UC Santa Barbara Over 143.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 150.5)
