How to bet some of the top college basketball games this weekend

Here’s a look at the top college basketball games to bet over the next few days.

Syracuse at Florida State (Saturday)

Like clockwork, the Orange are in NCAA bubble trouble with March around the corner. Syracuse (14-9) ranks 56th overall on Kenpom.com and needs a few key wins to strengthen its case, so this is a big opportunity in Tallahassee. Jim Boeheim’s team is 3-1 on the road in ACC play, with wins at Notre Dame, Virginia and Virginia Tech and a one-point loss at Clemson. Florida State is No. 8 in the AP poll, yet the metrics show this is an overrated team (No. 20 on Kenpom). The Seminoles (20-4) shot three-for-18 on three-pointers and made 12 of 20 free throws Monday in a 70-65 loss at Duke. Syracuse will be about a seven-point road underdog and could be worth a look due to its recent success on the road.

USC Sports

USC needs to turn its fortunes around before season slips away

USC has lost three in a row and is in danger of playing its way out of an NCAA tournament bid. The Trojans host the Washington Huskies on Thursday.

Feb. 12, 2020

Purdue at Ohio State (Saturday)

The Boilermakers did not have a quality road win all season until upsetting Indiana 74-62 last weekend. Purdue does not have a go-to scorer, such as Carsen Edwards last season, but is getting it done with defense, offensive rebounding and hot three-point shooting. Still, the Boilermakers’ shooting percentage is significantly worse on the road. The Buckeyes will hold their own in the paint behind 6-foot-9, 270-pound forward Kaleb Wesson (14.0 points, 9.6 rebounds). With two slow-paced offensive teams likely getting involved in a typical Big Ten grinder, look Under the total and lean to Ohio State.

West Virginia at Baylor (Saturday)

The Bears remain No. 1 in the AP poll, but they are wobbling after recent close calls against Texas, Oklahoma State and Kansas State — three teams nowhere near the top 25. Baylor’s only loss was to Washington, the last-place team in the Pac-12. The Bears are going down again soon, but will it happen here? It’s not a positive scheduling spot for the Mountaineers, who host Kansas on Wednesday, so this is a wait-and-see decision. It’s likely to be West Virginia or pass.

UCLA Sports

Oregon’s Sabrina Ionescu is living up to the potential Kobe Bryant saw in her

Sabrina Ionescu could have been the first pick in the WNBA draft last season. But the Oregon star returned for her senior season, intent on helping the Ducks win a national title.

Feb. 12, 2020

Maryland at Michigan State (Saturday)

From No. 1 in the preseason to out of the top 25, the Spartans carried the baggage of a three-game losing streak into Tuesday’s game at Illinois. The Terrapins sit on top of the Big Ten standings. This is a familiar script, and coach Tom Izzo almost always finds a way for Michigan State to click down the stretch and get rolling in March. Don’t stop believing.

Arizona at Stanford (Saturday)

Just when it seemed the Wildcats were about to make a big run in the Pac-12, the wheels fell off Saturday in a 65-52 loss to UCLA. The Bruins were 12½-point underdogs in Tucson, and the only sense you could make of that result is Arizona relies heavily on freshmen and young teams will look bad at times. So this becomes a much bigger game for Sean Miller. He has the talent edge against Stanford, which is 1-5 in its last six games.

UCLA Sports

UCLA point guard Tyger Campbell emerges as a scorer as well as a distributor

Standout efforts in wins over Arizona and Utah have established UCLA redshirt freshman Tyger Campbell as a point guard who does more than pass the ball.

Feb. 12, 2020

San Diego State at Boise State (Sunday)

Expect professional money to show against the Aztecs (24-0) as stubborn bettors continue to try to bet against the nation’s only undefeated team. San Diego State had covered three straight going into Tuesday’s game against New Mexico. Wildly inconsistent for most of the season, Boise State has won five of six and will give the Aztecs their best shot.

North Carolina at Notre Dame (Monday)

Senior forward John Mooney (16.5 points, 13.0 rebounds) is a top-five player in the ACC, yet a loss to the Tar Heels could send Notre Dame to the NIT. Freshman point guard Cole Anthony is back, and eventually Carolina will move past its collapse against Duke. This should be a good spot for the home favorite, but it’s unwise to lay more than three points with the unreliable Irish.

Dayton at VCU (Tuesday)

Dayton, unbeaten in the Atlantic 10, is similar to San Diego State in the Mountain West. Professional bettors are searching for spots to bet against the Flyers when the line is inflated. The Flyers will probably get tripped up on the A-10 road soon. Take the points with the Rams.