Let’s breakdown some college basketball picks for the betting slate on Wednesday, January 29.
Houston at West Virginia (7:00pm ET)
Houston is coming off one of the most improbable victories you will ever see in college basketball on Saturday at Kansas. While the Jayhawks did everything they could to hand the game away, credit Houston for taking advantage of every single mistake to grind the game out in double overtime. Kansas was up by six points with just 18 seconds left in overtime, and headed to the free throw line for two shots … and lost at home. That’s a big, emotional road victory for the Cougars, who will now be on the road again in a hostile environment at West Virginia. The Mountaineers are 4-1 ATS off a loss this season, covering by 11.5 points per game. They enter Wednesday off consecutive losses to Arizona State and Kansas State, so I’m expecting their best effort. Prior to the two-game losing streak, WVU had lost on the road to Houston, and then returned home to upset No. 3 Iowa State outright. I’m not calling for the upset, but WVU should hang in this game.
College Basketball Pick: WVU +8.5 (-108) 1-unit
Alabama at Mississippi State (9:00pm ET)
Almost all of my college basketball picks are backing home teams, but Alabama is one of the few elite teams that I trust to back on the road. The Tide are 5-1 on the road this season, with an average margin of victory of 7.3 points per game — both by far the best marks in the SEC. While Mississippi State is 8-1 at home, it’s just 4-5 ATS, and should have its hands full with ‘Bama. The Tide have gone on the road in conference play to beat the likes of Texas A&M and Kentucky, and the Bulldogs lost their toughest home game to Kentucky. While home court advantage certainly matters here, I think ‘Bama will prove too deep and talented, and find a way to get another big road win.
College Basketball Pick: Alabama ML (-105) 1-unit
St. Mary’s at Santa Clara (9:00pm ET)
This one is going against the trends a little bit, as St. Mary’s has held its own on the road, sitting at 4-1 ATS. But this Santa Clara team has proven to be pretty good, highlighted by a road win at Gonzaga. The Broncos are off a road loss on Saturday at Oregon State, but have solid home wins in conference, over teams like Washington State, Oregon State and San Francisco. The Gaels are riding a six-game winning streak into this one, but I’ll back the Broncos, who are priced as a home underdog for the first time this season as my final college basketball pick on Wednesday’s slate.
College Basketball Pick: Santa Clara +4.5 (-112) 1-unit
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All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
The contents contained in this article do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment.
