College basketball is back at the forefront of the sports landscape. Wednesday features a premier showcase of talent, with eight teams ranked in the recent AP Poll in action. Below, I’ve detailed my two favorite college basketball bets for January 29 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
UConn -14.5 (-108)
The UConn Huskies are no longer an unstoppable juggernaut. The team currently sits fourth place in the Big East, dropping two of their last four games, including a 20-point blowout loss against unranked Creighton.
Even with the recent skid, Dan Hurley is the best coach in the nation—there’s a reason the Los Angeles Lakers were desperate for his services. After winning the title in 22-23, Hurley lost five of his top eight scorers. He was able to quickly replenish the roster by taking stud transfer Cam Spencer, landing elite freshman Stephon Castle, and successfully transforming Donovan Clingan into an elite two-way center. After repeating, Hurley lost four of his five top scorers heading into this season, and replacing that level of production hasn’t been so easy.
Connecticut is ninth in offense but 130th in defensive rating. That offensive mark is remarkable considering they rank 334th out of 364 teams in adjusted tempo. Hurley has found another first-year star in Liam McNeeley, and Alex Karaban and Solo Ball have been impressive in their extended roles. The problem is outside of that nucleus; they lack the viable depth to make this group a viable contender.
With that in mind, this recent rough patch is predictable with the turnover in the roster. This is still a tournament squad that can make noise in March. DePaul is 128th in KenPom and is rarely competitive, especially on the road. A Huskies hot streak is coming and starts with a rout of the Blue Demons.
Alabama ML (-105)
Alabama was the preseason pick to win the gauntlet, which is the SEC, but they’ve struggled to live up to those expectations. It starts with Mark Sears, who returned to Tuscaloosa for a super-senior campaign. The former All-American is barely playing at an all-conference level outside of his extensive usage. His shooting from the field has dropped over 10%, and his efficiency from a distance has also taken a massive tumble.
The fact Alabama is 17-3 overall with this level of play from their superstar is a testament to offensive mastermind Nate Oats. It’s hard to imagine Sears following up his latest disastrous performance, going scoreless, with a similar stinker. He’s too talented of a scorer for this to continue and will rise to the occasion against Mississippi State.
