College Basketball Picks for Tuesday – Best Bets for Every Top-25 Game
By Sascha Paruk in College Basketball
Published:
- Nebraska puts its dominant 12-1 home record on the line against Purdue tonight
- Sharp money is aggressively targeting road favorites in key Big 12 matchups
- Duke looks to exploit a massive paint mismatch against a struggling Pittsburgh defense
Tuesday’s college basketball slate delivers high-stakes conference struggles and a test of mettle for elite road favorites. The marquee showdown takes place in the Big Ten, where the #7 Nebraska Cornhuskers host the #13 Purdue Boilermakers, putting a fortress-like home record on the line against a talented rival. The Big 12 also flexes its depth, featuring 20-win titans like the #3 Houston Cougars and #5 Iowa State Cyclones looking to exploit significant mismatches on the road against unranked opponents.
The table below summarizes my ATS and O/U picks for every game involving a top-25 team. Under the table, I dive deeper into a few of today’s college basketball best bets.
College Basketball Picks Today (Tuesday, Feb 10)
The odds in the table were available as of 11:25 am ET, Feb 8th. Check out SBD’s college basketball odds page to see up-to-the-minute lines for every DI game this season.
These aren’t among my top picks for the day, but anyone looking to fade the public in Tuesday’s college basketball public betting percentages should key on Pitt (vs Duke) and Utah +17.5 (vs Houston). The Blue Devils have attracted 84% of ATS handle as 17.5-point road chalk against the Panthers, while the Cougars are getting 81% of ATS handle as 17.5-point road favorites against the Utes.
Those are the two highest ATS splits among today’s 11 games involving top-25 teams.
While #1 Arizona fell from the ranks of the unbeaten yesterday, falling 82-78 at #9 Kansas, the Wildcats remain the outright favorite in the March Madness championship odds at +450.
Purdue Boilermakers @ Nebraska Cornhuskers Picks & Predictions
Nebraska enters this showdown with one of the most formidable home-court advantages in the conference, boasting a 12-1 record at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Their success is anchored by the perimeter sharpshooting of Pryce Sandfort, who is hitting 40.6% from deep while averaging 17.1 PPG. They face a Purdue squad that relies heavily on interior efficiency, particularly from Oscar Cluff, who leads with a 73.7% field-goal percentage.
While Purdue possesses an elite playmaker in Braden Smith (8.7 APG), Nebraska’s defensive disruptor Sam Hoiberg (2+ steals per game) presents a matchup nightmare for opposing ball handlers. With Nebraska’s nearly flawless home record and the offensive firepower available on both sides – specifically the clash between Sandfort’s range and Cluff’s interior dominance – the data supports the hosts covering the short number in a high-scoring affair.
Houston Cougars @ Utah Utes Picks & Predictions
- ATS Pick: Houston -17.5 (-115 at DraftKings)
- O/U Pick: Under 143.5 (-110 at Fanatics)
The advanced metrics in this matchup reveal a massive gulf in class. Houston holds a dominant 0.9175 adjusted winning percentage compared to Utah’s 0.3053. Despite Utah guard Terrence Brown’s impressive individual campaign – ranking fourth in the conference with 21.1 points per game – the Utes lack the depth to compete for 40 minutes. Houston features a balanced attack led by standout freshman Kingston Flemings (17.1 PPG) and senior leader Emanuel Sharp (15.8 PPG), and they have proven they can travel, holding a strong 4-1 record in true road games.
Utah has struggled significantly against quality opposition, and Houston’s suffocating defense is poised to key in on Brown, Utah’s only consistent threat. Expect the Cougars to extend their lead comfortably, keeping the total under as they stifle the Utes’ secondary scoring options.
BYU Cougars @ Baylor Bears Picks & Predictions
This contest features a clash of high-volume scorers that points toward the over. BYU is led by the Big 12’s leading scorer, AJ Dybantsa, who is averaging a stellar 24.0 points per game. The Bears counter with Cameron Carr (19.6 PPG), ensuring plenty of offensive fireworks at Foster Pavilion.
However, the trends heavily favor the visitors against the spread. Baylor has struggled mightily against elite competition this season, holding a dismal 0-6 record against Top 25 teams. BYU’s offensive ceiling, driven by Dybantsa, should be enough to cover the number on the road.
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Managing Editor
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
