College Basketball Picks Today:
Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Wednesday, December 17.
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6:30 PM Eastern
St. Francis PA Red Flashes vs. Florida Gators
By no means is St. Francis going to win this game, but Florida’s backcourt issues make this number difficult to cover. The Gators rank 119th in points per possession on offense, are shooting just 26.8% from 3-point range (351st nationally), and are 259th in turnovers per possession. St. Francis is 151st in turnovers generated per possession on defense, which could help them hang around.
Pick: St. Francis PA +44.5 (Greg’s Handicap: St. Francis +38)
7:00 PM Eastern
Richmond Spiders vs. Elon Phoenix
Richmond does a good job of limiting second chances, ranking 30th in defensive rebound percentage with opponents rebounding just 23.2% of missed shots. However, they now face an Elon offense that ranks 41st in points per possession. Richmond’s 3-point shooting is also due for regression, as the Spiders are shooting 37.4% from deep overall and 41.1% away from home after ranking just 314th a season ago at 31.2%.
Picks: Elon +5.5 and Under 160 (Greg’s Handicap: Elon -1.5, Total 155.5)
Alabama State Hornets vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati has been sloppy offensively, ranking 283rd in turnovers per possession and 264th in points per possession. Defensively, however, the Bearcats have been strong, ranking ninth in the nation in points per possession allowed. Alabama State will look to stay within the number by forcing mistakes, ranking 106th in turnovers forced per possession away from home.
Pick: Alabama State +21.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Alabama State +14.5)
Albany Great Danes vs. Stony Brook Seawolves
Stony Brook plays at a very slow pace, ranking 271st in possessions per game, while Albany is a mid-tempo team at 169th. Albany hasn’t made the most of those possessions, ranking 265th in turnovers per possession and 325th in overall points per possession on offense. Stony Brook has also been pedestrian offensively, ranking 187th in points per possession and 267th in offensive rebound percentage.
Picks: Albany +10.5 and Under 140.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Albany +8.5, Total 140.5)
The Citadel Bulldogs vs. Charleston Cougars
Charleston has dealt with numerous injuries this season but is beginning to get healthy. Connor Hickman missed the first five games and has been the team’s top scorer since his return, averaging 13.7 points per game. The Cougars have scored at least 73 points in four straight games and now face a Citadel defense that ranks 349th in the nation in points per possession allowed.
Pick: Charleston -14.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Charleston -22.5)
Oakland Grizzlies vs. Northern Kentucky Norse
Oakland plays at a fast tempo, ranking 60th in possessions per game, while Northern Kentucky is more mid-tempo at 163rd. The Norse create plenty of dead possessions, ranking 11th in turnovers forced per possession, but are just 236th in turnovers per possession on offense. Oakland also struggles to generate second chances, ranking 294th in offensive rebound percentage.
Pick: Oakland vs. Northern Kentucky Under 167.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 163.5)
7:30 PM Eastern
Houston Christian Huskies vs. Nicholls Colonels
Houston Christian plays at one of the slowest tempos in the country, ranking 355th in possessions per game, while Nicholls is 179th. Nicholls has struggled offensively, ranking 290th in points per possession and 291st in the percentage of missed shots that become offensive rebounds, but has returned to generating turnovers, ranking 90th in turnovers per possession on defense.
Pick: Houston Christian vs. Nicholls Under 143.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 135.5)
South Alabama Jaguars vs. UL Monroe Warhawks
South Alabama plays at one of the slowest paces in the nation, ranking 323rd in possessions per game, while daring opponents to shoot from 3-point range. Opponents are taking 61.8% of their shots from beyond the arc, the highest rate in the country. UL Monroe is a relatively average shooting team, ranking 203rd in 3-point shooting percentage at 32.7%. Neither team generates many second chances, with South Alabama ranking 287th and UL Monroe 341st in offensive rebound percentage.
Picks: UL Monroe +11.5 and Under 148.5 (Greg’s Handicap: UL Monroe +8.5, Total 140.5)
9:00 PM Eastern
North Texas Mean Green vs. Santa Clara Broncos
Santa Clara should control the interior, ranking 68th in rebound percentage compared to North Texas at 187th. North Texas will look to slow this game down while playing without starting guard Will McClendon for the rest of the season and ranking 335th in total possessions per game. Santa Clara is also generating more turnovers than in past seasons, ranking 45th in turnovers per possession, while North Texas is 286th in turnovers per possession on offense.
Picks: Santa Clara -9.5 and Under 141.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Santa Clara -14.5, Total 136.5)
10:00 PM Eastern
UT Arlington Mavericks vs. Stanford Cardinal
UT Arlington has struggled to take care of the ball, ranking 356th in turnovers per possession, and is unlikely to get many second chances with Stanford ranking 32nd in defensive rebound percentage, allowing just 23.3% of missed shots to become offensive rebounds. Defensively, UT Arlington is 54th overall in points per possession allowed, but that number worsens significantly on the road, where they allow 21.5 more points per 100 possessions than at home.
Picks: Stanford -11.5 and Over 143.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Stanford -16, Total 148)
