A large slate of College Basketball betting action is set to go down on Thursday night with a number of decent matchups there for the taking at the online sportsbook. While only two top-25 teams will be in action, I’ve honed in on one of those matchups to add it to tonight’s college basketball parlay picks. Here’s to getting in the black with tonight’s 3-team parlay so we can roll it over to the weekend and unleash upon Saturday’s loaded college hoops card - SLAM YOUR MAN!!
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Thursday, February 1, 2024
Cal Golden Bears vs. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona and California opened Pac-12 play up against each other in Berkeley at the end of December. The Wildcats, as 13.5-point road favorites, cruised to the 100-81 win and CBB odds cover. Shooting nearly 60 percent from the field and owning the glass (41-29), the Wildcats dominated regardless of turning it over 15 times. Cal's defense struggled to contain the Wildcats, especially in the paint, where Oumar Bello recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds; Caleb Love led the team with 22 points. In tonight’s rematch, the Cats are expected to dominate the paint once again, as the Golden Bears rank 260th in 2-point percentage defense and 169th in defensive 2-point rate.
Although Cal has improved in defensive rebounding (No. 28) since their first meeting, it remains to be seen how their bigs will perform. The home team is likely to be laying upwards of 20-points at the online sportsbook, but that offering comes off a bit inflated to me considering Cal has been playing better recently (4-2 SU & ATS L/6) while Zona just snapped a four-game coverless streak. Despite Arizona's fast-paced games (No. 11), the fatigue carry over from last week’s road trip through Oregon will likely play a role. On the other hand, Cal is comfortable playing at a slower pace, so look for the visitors to muck it up and cover the lofty impost.
Youngstown State Penguins vs. Wright State Raiders
In the first meeting between these two teams a few weeks back, I backed the Raiders plus the points and looked poised to cash the ticket after they bolted out to a nine point lead minutes into the second half. However, the team struggled from that point forward and allowed Youngstown to make a comeback, resulting in an 81-71 defeat. My prediction was that Wright State's strong 2-point offense would dominate near the basket, but that didn’t come to fruition with only 22 out of 51 shots converted within the perimeter. On the other hand, Youngstown State was able to shoot 42 percent from the field, make 10 shots from beyond the arc, and outrebound the Raiders 40-36.
Due to Wright State's albatross of a defense, it is difficult for me to believe that they will be able to even the score on their home court in this rivalry matchup. Youngstown State has improved defensively since their last meeting, but I still believe the Raiders will bring their best game in this pivotal Horizon League tilt. A loss tonight would greatly decrease Wright State's chances of winning the regular season title, especially since they’ve already been swept by WIGBY. I expect the home team to give their all and put up a strong fight against the Penguins, but I am still not convinced that it will be enough to secure the win against a better Youngstown team.
Hawaii vs. Cal State Fullerton
In the December match between Hawaii and Cal State Fullerton, the Rainbow Warriors went off the board favored by 8 points but lost 63-61 in overtime. Despite Hawaii's strong defense, the Titans were able to convert 47 percent of their shots and made half of their 3-point attempts. Hawaii had the advantage in rebounding (34-26), but their poor shooting from the field (22/53) and free throw line (12/21) ultimately led to their demise. The recent rivalry between the two teams has been tight, with Fullerton winning the last five games both straight up and against the college basketball spread. However, the average margin of victory in the past three games has only been 1.7 points.
With Fullerton expected to be favored by multiple possessions by the online sportsbook, I believe Hawaii's strong rebounding will give them an edge to break their losing streak. If you enjoy high-scoring basketball games, this Big West rivalry isn’t for you. In the last seven meetings, the average score clocks in at 122.9 points leading to low scorers on all but one occasion. Turnovers played a role in the low score, but poor free throw shooting by both teams also contributed. With both teams known for their slow tempos and strong defenses, I’ll take a ride on the under train once again and expect another hotly contested match down to the wire. Hopefully overtime doesn’t seal our fate!
CBB 3-TEAM PARLAY: CALIFORNIA ATS | YOUNGSTOWN STATE ATS | HAWAII/CSF UNDER
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