CBB Best Bets: Saturday's Litmus Test in College Hoops

Non-conference play is wrapping up in the 2022-23 college basketball season, and it is certainly going to end on a high note.

Saturday’s loaded college basketball slate will start with Kansas vs. Indiana in Allen Fieldhouse at 12 PM EST, followed by several other marquee matchups. Gonzaga will face Alabama in Birmingham, while Houston and Virginia will square off in a rock fight. Don’t forget about North Carolina-Ohio State, UCLA-Kentucky, and Tennessee-Arizona as well.

With league play (and the new year) just around the corner, Saturday should serve as a nice litmus test for all the biggest programs. And it could be a measuring stick for us bettors, as we begin handicapping marquee matchups on a regular basis from now until the NCAA Tournament.

Today’s CBB Best Bets (December 17)

Indiana (+6.5) at Kansas (-110, FanDuel)

No. 8 Kansas (9-1) has looked the part of a defending national champ since its loss to Tennessee during a mid-season tournament, which included a 95-67 thrashing of Missouri last weekend in Columbia. But this spread feels a touch too high, given the likely matchup problems in this game for the Jayhawks.

KJ Adams, who is 6-foot-7, currently starts for the small-ball lineup of the Jayhawks. They have young bigs to turn to, if necessary, but this does lead to them being a bit vulnerable against teams with a dominant post presence. Enter the Indiana Hoosiers, who have a National Player of the Year (NPOY) candidate in Trayce Jackson-Davis.

Jackson-Davis is averaging 16.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game for an 8-2 Indiana squad, which is ranked No. 14 in the country. The Jayhawks will likely try to trap him when the ball enters the post against Adams, but it remains to be seen how effective that will be. Kansas should ultimately win inside Allen Fieldhouse, but don’t be surprised if this matinee matchup comes down to the wire.

Risk: 1.1 units at FanDuel to win 1 unit. (Playable to 5.5)

Gonzaga (+2) vs. Alabama (-110, DraftKings)

This is a semi-away game for No. 15 Gonzaga, which has to face No. 4 Alabama in the Legacy Arena in Birmingham. While most teams are using Saturday to prepare for league play, this will be the Bulldogs’ last chance to really get a signature win for their NCAA Tournament seeding.

After this weekend, Gonzaga will have just four games against teams currently ranked inside the top 100 on KenPom with two meetings against No. 93 BYU and two matchups against No. 17 Saint Mary’s. So defeating the Crimson Tide, who are No. 10 and actually two spots above the Bulldogs, would be a significant win.

Alabama is coming off a 91-88 win over Memphis and knocked off previously top-ranked Houston last weekend. The Crimson Tide (9-1) are riding high, and this is a perfect opportunity to sell some stock. The Bulldogs have the offensive firepower to keep pace in a contest that could finish with over 160 combined points.

I like Gonzaga to ultimately get the job done, especially after a narrow loss to Baylor earlier this month, but we will take the points, to be safe.

Risk: 1.1 units at DraftKings to win 1 unit. (Playable to 1)

North Carolina (PK) vs. Ohio State (-110, Caesars)

This slate is so awesome that all three picks in this week’s best bets column feature a marquee matchup. Let’s end with a showdown between No. 23 Ohio State (7-2) and North Carolina (7-4) at Madison Square Garden, where I see value in taking Hubert Davis’ squad for the first time all year.

The Tar Heels have obviously failed to meet expectations after entering the year ranked as the No. 1 team in the country. They lost four games in a row at one point between Nov. 25 and Dec. 4, but have responded with back-to-back victories over Georgia Tech and The Citadel entering this matchup.

With the market still low on UNC, this is exactly the time to buy in on the team that made it all the way to the national championship game last year. UNC outscored The Citadel, 42-18, in bench points last time out and young reserves like Tyler Nickel and Dontrez Styles appear to be getting mixed in a bit more recently.

Ohio State won’t be able to slow down Armando Bacot, who is averaging 16.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. Look for the Tar Heels to pick up their first signature win of the year—just as they get set to enter ACC play.

Risk: 1.1 units at Caesars to win 1 unit. (Playable to -1)

For the most up-to-date picks check out my Twitter and subscribe to our Discord. This sheet from Dan Rivera tracks all my betting picks (and those from the rest of the betting staff) on the year. Just click on the tab with my name on it for the results.

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