X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Top College Basketball Betting Picks for Saturday, January 11

NCAA college basketball CBB betting picks march madness

Nick Federline's NCAA college basketball betting picks for January 11th, 2020. He analyzes CBB Vegas lines and recommends the top expert bets including spreads and over/unders.

In this article every week, we'll be reviewing some of the top college basketball games of the day to see how we can beat Vegas.  Today's full slate of games includes five different conferences, an undefeated team, and a former lacrosse-turned-basketball star.

For the season so far, our picks have gone 6-3, as we enter conference play. Now that the non-conference "cupcake" games are out of the way, teams are entering the phase of the season where they must put on hteir best performances to make their claim towards the field of 68.

Here are some of the top college basketball expert betting picks for Saturday, December 28. Let me know your thoughts, and follow me on Twitter @fredetterline.

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 30% off using code WIN. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

Season record to date: 6-3

 

Virginia Military Institute (VMI) @ East Tennessee State - 4:00 pm

The VMI Keydets travel to Johnson City, Tennessee, to compete with the East Tennessee State Buccaneers. In the early going, the Keydets have shown minimal defensive ability, but plenty of offensive firepower. In fact, the total points has gone over in five straight games. While VMI is seeking to break a six game losing streak, East Tennessee State is churning along towards an at-large argument.

The key in this game will come down to the guard-play and which team can dictate the pace of play. Senior VMI guard Garrett Gilkeson is a high-volume shooter who has not shot with particular efficiency this season. An added dash of efficiency and command of the pace by VMI will make hitting the over a bit easier today.

Pick: Over 139

 

Nebraska @ Northwestern - 4:30 pm

Nebraska and Northwestern share an identity as Big Ten West programs that are seemingly in a continual rut of mediocrity. Nebraska, led by first year head coach Fred Hoiberg, has several embarrassing blemishes on the resume such as a home losses to George Mason and North Dakota, and a blowout conference loss to Rutgers. The team was expected to struggle in a full rebuilding year, but they have also registered some surprising wins including over Purdue and Iowa. Coach Hoiberg has this team trending in the right direction and they should do enough to keep this game close.

The Northwestern Wildcats are led by a senior who hasn't even played college basketball until this year. When coach Chris Collins decided to bring Loyola-Maryland graduate transfer Pat Spencer on board, many fans and pundits were skeptical. Spencer was a four-time All-American lacrosse player who hadn't played basketball yet at the Division 1 level. Spencer has been a reliable guard this year, shooting 44% from the field and averaging 10.6 points per game. The Wildcats' problem has been a lack of offensive creativity and play-makers, something that even Spencer has been unable to fix.

Pick: Nebraska +5.5

 

New Jersey Tech (NJIT) @ North Florida =5:00 pm

The NJIT Highlanders travel to Florida to take on an Atlantic Sun foe, the North Florida Ospreys. NJIT, led by head coach Brian Kennedy and junior guard Zach Cooks, is coming off a 27-point humiliation on its home court at the hands of Liberty, the class of the conference, and a conference loss at Jacksonville. The season has not started how NJIT wanted, but they have an opportunity to get back on track after starting conference play 0-2.

North Florida has jumped out to a 3-0 conference record, with wins over Kennesaw State, North Alabama and Florida Gulf Coast. Coach Matthew Driscoll returned 80% of minutes played from last year's team, including senior forward Wajid Aminu. The team operates defensively out of a 1-3-1 defense which plays right into what NJIT wants to do on offense. The 1-3-1 defense should allow NJIT's shooters free reign on the perimeter where they prefer to do their damage. These teams are a lot more evenly matched than Vegas' line indicates, and NJIT has capable shooters that can light up the scoreboard in a hurry, despite the lackluster performance to start Atlantic Sun conference play.

Pick: NJIT +10

 

Florida @ Missouri - 8:30 pm

The Florida Gators earned much deserved fanfare this off=season. Head coach Mike White added Virginia Tech graduate transfer Kerry Blackshear and a consensus top-15 recruiting class that promised to return Florida to its glory days a decade ago when it hoisted back-to-back championships. The team has struggled to gel, and Blackshear has had difficult carving out a specific role in the early going, highlighted by losses to UConn, Florida State, Butler and Utah State. The last time out though, the Gators gave a spirited performance as they convincingly cast aside the South Carolina Gamecocks.

Missouri has started 0-2 in Southeastern conference play and will be without junior Jeremiah Tilmon for the second straight game. Replacing Tilmon's offense has been a work-in-process so far and the team showed minimal signs of reviving its offense in its most recent 12-point home loss to Tennessee, a game that Missouri was favored in. Missouri will need an injection of scoring to keep up with Florida and it is difficult to see exactly who the main contributor of that could be.

Pick: Florida -3

 

Boise State @ San Diego State

The Boise State Broncos travel to San Diego State on Saturday evening for a Mountain West conference showdown. Boise State has been a strong team against-the-spread this season, winning and covering the spread its last time out against UNLV. Coach Leon Rice has an experienced squad, led by senior guard Justinian Jessup who set Boise State's record for career three-point shots made its last time out. Jessup is the engine that leads a strong mid-major team that has its eyes firmly on a huge resume boosting opportunity tonight.

San Diego State has been incredible, to say the least. The team has been perfect, winning every game this year thus far including games over BYU, Iowa, and Utah State. Junior guard Malachi Flynn, who transferred into the program from Washington State, has been the lead conductor averaging 16 points per game this season. The Aztecs pride themselves seemingly every season on elite defense and this year is no different. While the Aztecs appear on paper to be the superior team, they have a target on their back for all of the Mountain West to chase and Boise State will be motivated to show it can compete with the class of the conference.

Pick: Boise State +10

Thanks for reading, and remember to gamble responsibly.

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Kyle Tucker

Leaves With Calf Tightness on Tuesday
Alexandre Sarr

to Miss Rest of EuroBasket
Max Scherzer

Blue Jays Confident Max Scherzer Will Make Sunday Start Despite Back Tightness
Roman Anthony

Leaves Early With Back Injury
Jared McCain

"On Pace" for Training Camp
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Done for the Year With Torn ACL
Luke Hughes

Devils Optimistic About Signing Luke Hughes
Martin Fehérváry

Martin Fehervary on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Dylan Holloway

Good to Go for Start of Season
Nick Kurtz

Back in Action on Tuesday
Josh Morrissey

Fully Healthy for Start of Season
Dennis Hildeby

Signs Three-Year Extension With Maple Leafs
Nick Lodolo

Scratched With Illness
Dalton Kincaid

Role Not Expected to Grow?
Quinshon Judkins

Zero Chance Quinshon Judkins Plays Against Bengals?
Najee Harris

Says He's Expecting to Play Against Chiefs
Adolis García

Adolis Garcia Departs Monday with Quad Injury
Franz Wagner

Collects Double-Double in Blowout Win
Alperen Sengün

Alperen Sengun Achieves Rare Numbers at EuroBasket
Nikola Vučević

Nikola Vucevic Dominates Against Sweden
Stefon Diggs

Expected to Suit Up in Week 1
Kristaps Porzingis

Finding Form at EuroBasket
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Suffers Minor Injury at EuroBasket
DJ Moore

Bears Experimenting with DJ Moore in Backfield
Rome Odunze

Could Move All Around the Offense
Carolina Panthers

Dave Canales Comfortable With Panthers' Young Receivers
Quinshon Judkins

Not Considering NCAA Return
Dallas Goedert

Healthy for Week 1
Marvin Mims Jr.

Returns to Practice Monday
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Carted Off Monday With Knee Injury
Jason Adam

Diagnosed With Ruptured Left Quadriceps Tendon
Victor Wembanyama

Looking "Quite Stellar"
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Scratched on Monday
Matthew Stafford

Expected to Start in Week 1
Edward Cabrera

Heading to Injured List With Elbow Sprain
Najee Harris

Cleared for Contact, Could Play in Week 1
Denny Hamlin

Ends Eventful Day at Darlington in Seventh Place
NASCAR

Bubba Wallace Almost Earns a Top-Five Finish at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek

has His Best 2025 Performance at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

Has An Underwhelming Performance At Darlington
Josh Berry

Crashes Early and Suffers A Playoff Setback at Darlington
Harry Ford

Called Up for Major-League Debut
Victor Scott II

Activated From Injured List
Fernando Tatis Jr.

Dealing With Hamstring Tightness, Expects to Play Monday
Giannis Antetokounmpo

"Staying in Milwaukee"
Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Agrees to a One-Year Contract with Milwaukee
Kyrie Irving

"Healing Up Great"
Dante Exum

Mavs Agree on a One-Year Deal
Jaylen Warren

Agrees to Two-Year Extension With Steelers
De'Von Achane

Practicing Monday, on Track to Play in Week 1
Quinshon Judkins

Could Report to Browns This Week
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs, Trent McDuffie Not Expected to Finalize Extension
Chase Elliott

Under Playoff Pressure After 17th-Place Darlington Finish
Kyle Larson

Despite Hendrick Mediocrity, Kyle Larson Remains Pretty Safe in Playoffs
Alex Bowman

Opening-Lap Crash and Botched Pit Stop May Have Sunk Alex Bowman's Playoff Hopes
Erik Jones

Darlington Master Erik Jones Comes Up Short but Still Finishes Third
AJ Allmendinger

A.J. Allmendinger Impresses at Southern 500
Dameon Pierce

Ahead of Schedule, Ready for Season
Jordan Love

May Wear Thumb Brace During Season
Chicago Bears

Bears Head Coach Admits Offense Could Face Learning Curve
Matt Chapman

Leaves Early on Sunday, Expects to Play Monday
A.J. Brown

Says He'll Be Active For Season Opener
Luis Garcia

to Make Season Debut on Monday
Max Scherzer

Exits Due to Back Tightness
Taylor Ward

Exits Early After Collison
Braelon Allen

Says He Has a Lot Left to Prove
Sal Stewart

Reds Promoting Sal Stewart to Majors
Daniel Suarez

is A DFS Risk for Darlington Lineups?
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez to Undergo Tommy John Surgery
Noah Gragson

Should Fantasy Managers Roster Noah Gragson for Darlington?
Ty Dillon

is an Excellent Punt Option for Darlington DFS Lineups
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic to Miss the Rest of EuroBasket
Denny Hamlin

Picking Up Where He Left Off At Darlington
Kyle Larson

The Sky Is The Limit for Kyle Larson at Darlington
Ryan Blaney

a Strong DFS Play at Darlington This Weekend
Tyler Reddick

Shouldn't Be Overlooked at Darlington This Weekend
Alex Bowman

An Easy Place-Differential Play in DFS This Weekend
Ty Gibbs

Could Be Strong at Darlington This Weekend
Erik Jones

Has Best Darlington Qualifying Effort Since Last Win
Zane Smith

Hopeful For Another Solid Run At Darlington
Aroldis Chapman

Agrees to Contract Extension
Dallas Mavericks

Olivier-Maxence Prosper Waived by the Mavs
Lauri Markkanen

Dominant in Win Over Great Britain
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Leads Serbia to a Win
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Shines Versus Portugal
Jose Alvarado

"Good" After Recent Fall
Lauri Markkanen

Torches Sweden
Neemias Queta

Dominates in EuroBasket Opener
Kawhi Leonard

Clippers Not Allowing Kawhi Leonard to Play Back-to-Backs

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP