College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Thursday, February 5.
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7:00 PM Eastern
Northeastern Huskies vs. Hofstra Pride
Hofstra has done a good job limiting teams inside, ranking 21st in opponent 2-point shooting percentage while Northeastern is 346th, and Northeastern is 275th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage, though opponents are shooting 40% from 3-point range against them at home compared to 32.8% away from home, but will still have difficulty with a Hofstra offense that is 110th overall in points per possession and is 20th in 3-point shooting percentage at 38%, and Hofstra is slowing games down, ranking 287th in possessions per game.
Pick: Hofstra -9 (Greg’s Handicap Hofstra -13)
Mercer Bears vs. Chattanooga Mocs
Chattanooga is playing at a slow pace, ranking 295th in possessions per game and 206th in points per possession, which drops to 312th at home with an offense based around 3-point shooting, ranking 16th in percentage of field goal attempts from 3-point range but just 183rd in 3-point shooting percentage at 33.8%, which dips to 33.2% at home, while Mercer ranks only 255th in points per possession allowed on defense but makes up for it with an offense that is 56th in points per possession and has a big edge on the glass with Chattanooga ranking 362nd in offensive rebound percentage.
Picks: Mercer -4.5 and Under 156 (Greg’s Handicap Mercer -8.5 and Total 152.5)
Rider Broncos vs. Marist Red Foxes
Neither team is pushing a fast tempo with Rider 329th in total possessions per game and Marist 282nd, and Rider has struggled badly on offense, ranking 341st in points per possession while shooting just 26.7% from 3-point range away from home, while Marist has been one of the most lockdown defenses in the nation, ranking seventh in points per possession allowed and 23rd in turnovers generated per possession, while Rider ranks 264th in turnovers per possession on offense.
Picks: Marist -15 and Under 136.5 (Greg’s Handicap Marist -18.5 and Total 126.5)
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati has struggled greatly on offense, ranking 285th in points per possession and 328th in 3-point shooting percentage, while both teams have been strong defensively with Cincinnati 15th and West Virginia 23rd in points per possession allowed, though West Virginia allows 28.6 more points per 100 possessions away from home, ranking 293rd in that split, but still has a more efficient offense than Cincinnati and if the game is close late, Cincinnati ranks 349th in free throw shooting percentage at 66%.
Picks: West Virginia +5.5 and Over 126.5 (Greg’s Handicap West Virginia +1.5 and Total 129.5)
8:00 PM Eastern
Lindenwood Lions vs. Little Rock Trojans
While Lindenwood plays at a fast pace, ranking 16th in total possessions per game, Little Rock will look to slow things down as they rank 260th in possessions per game, and Little Rock has massive issues keeping possessions clean, ranking 343rd in turnovers per possession, while Lindenwood struggles shooting from 3-point range on the road but makes up for it defensively, ranking 25th in points per possession allowed away from home, and both teams are poor at the free throw line in a potential late-foul game.
Picks: Lindenwood -1 and Under 152.5 (Greg’s Handicap Lindenwood -3.5 and Total 145.5)
8:30 PM Eastern
Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Maryland Terrapins
Both teams are playing at a mid-tempo pace with Maryland 163rd and Ohio State 209th in possessions per game, but Maryland has struggled to maximize possessions, ranking 250th in points per possession and 340th in 2-point shooting percentage at home, which is problematic against an Ohio State defense that ranks 29th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage away from home, while both teams are nearly identical on the offensive glass.
Pick: Ohio State vs. Maryland Under 151.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 145.5)
Morehead State Eagles vs. Southeast Missouri State Redhawks
Morehead State has struggled to take care of the ball, ranking 288th in turnovers per possession and 240th in points per possession, though they are strong on the offensive glass, while Southeast Missouri State ranks 94th in defensive rebound percentage and 53rd in turnovers generated per possession, limiting Morehead State’s biggest strength.
Pick: Morehead State vs. Southeast Missouri State Under 146 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 141.5)
9:00 PM Eastern
Memphis Tigers vs. UAB Blazers
UAB has a massive edge in ball security, ranking third in the nation in fewest turnovers per possession on offense while Memphis ranks 336th, and Memphis allows plenty of second chances, ranking 320th in defensive rebound percentage and 179th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage away from home, which plays into a UAB offense that heavily attacks inside the arc.
Picks: UAB -1.5 and Under 152 (Greg’s Handicap UAB -4.5 and Total 148.5)
UT Arlington Mavericks vs. Utah Tech Trailblazers
UT Arlington’s biggest issue is turnovers, ranking 356th in turnovers per possession, but Utah Tech also struggles with ball security and is the far worse defense, ranking 217th in points per possession allowed compared to UT Arlington’s 37th, and Utah Tech forces opponents inside where UT Arlington’s 2-point efficiency improves away from home.
Pick: UT Arlington +1.5 (Greg’s Handicap UT Arlington -2.5)
Eastern Washington Eagles vs. Montana Grizzlies
Eastern Washington has been dreadful defensively away from home, ranking 348th in points per possession allowed and near the bottom nationally in opponent shooting percentages, while Montana ranks 33rd in 3-point shooting percentage and should get plenty of possessions with a tempo edge.
Picks: Montana -6 and Over 151.5 (Greg’s Handicap Montana -9 and Total 155)
10:00 PM Eastern
CS Northridge Matadors vs. Cal Poly Mustangs
Both teams play at a blistering pace with Cal Poly third and CS Northridge fifth in possessions per game, but both waste possessions with high turnover rates, and Cal Poly has one of the most extreme home-road 3-point shooting splits in the country while CS Northridge struggles at the free throw line in close games.
Picks: Cal Poly +1.5 and Under 177 (Greg’s Handicap Cal Poly -3.5 and Total 169.5)
Tarleton State Texans vs. Cal Baptist Lancers
Tarleton State applies constant pressure, leading the nation in turnovers generated per possession, while Cal Baptist struggles to force turnovers and Tarleton State looks to attack inside at one of the highest rates in the country while playing at a fast tempo.
Picks: Tarleton State +10.5 and Over 141 (Greg’s Handicap Tarleton State +6.5 and Total 144.5)
