College Basketball Betting Picks for Wednesday 2/14/24

The college basketball season always provides a flurry of twists and turns that few saw coming -- especially when the NCAA Tournament comes around. This can make college basketball one of the most challenging sports to bet on.

Fortunately, we have plenty of tools available that can aid our chances of taking the most favorable college basketball bets. Bart Torvik and KenPom are excellent sources that give insights into team-level efficiency, and Sports Reference provides a wide range of useful team stats, as well.

Let's check out FanDuel Sportsbook's college basketball odds and select some of the best bets of the day by utilizing the mentioned tools.

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. Metrics via numberFire unless otherwise stated.

College Basketball Best Bets

No. 11 South Carolina at No. 13 Auburn

Auburn -11.5 (-110)

A pair of top-15 teams square off at Neville Arena tonight when the No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks (21-3, 9-2 conference) visit the No. 13 Auburn Tigers (19-5, 8-3). While the Gamecocks sit two spots higher in the AP Poll, Auburn is an 11.5-point favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook.

That may not be high enough.

South Carolina has had an incredible year, and they're a quality team, no doubt about it. After being picked to finish last in the SEC's preseason media poll, the Gamecocks find themselves tied for first place with just seven games remaining. They have the fourth-shortest odds to win the SEC, and they peaked at No. 7 in this week's Rothstein 45.

The Gamecocks' identity lies on the defensive end where they rank second in the SEC in defensive rating. In conference play, South Carolina has given up a measly 65 points, the lowest mark in the SEC. Their scoring defense is aided by the snail's pace they play at. Among 362 Division I teams, the Gamecocks are 355th in KenPom's adjusted pace.

However, SC can struggle to keep up on offense when the other team dictates the pace. They average the fourth-fewest points per game, and while some of that is thanks to their slow tempo, their pace-adjusted numbers don't get much better. The Gamecocks have averaged just 105.9 points per 100 possessions in conference play, eighth among 14 teams.

We saw them struggle to keep up when they visited Alabama. The Gamecocks lost by 27 points in that one, shooting 31% in a 47-point effort. They've since rebounded to secure a big-time road W over Tennessee, but they have their work cut out for them against Auburn tonight.

The Tigers can play fast when they need to, ranking 71st nationally in adjusted tempo. They've dominated on both ends of the floor, especially in SEC action. Through 11 conference games, Auburn ranks fifth in offensive rating and first in defensive rating. They're undefeated at home and haven't had a home game decided by fewer than 11 points all year. That includes an 18-point W over 'Bama just last week.

Auburn is at a disadvantage on the glass, ranking seventh in SEC play with a 50.8% rebound rate compared to SC's third-ranked 53.7% rate. However, the Tigers feature the conference's second-leading rebounder, Johni Broome. Broome is an intriuging bet to dominate the glass, and his work down low could go a long way toward his Tigers covering this spread.

Auburn has the star power to cover the spread here, and they've been dominant at home this season. For as fun as South Carolina's been this year, they're still a tier below the top of the SEC. Consequently, I'll take Auburn -11.5 (-110) here in what could turn into a blowout by the final buzzer.

No. 8 Tennessee at Arkansas

Tennessee -8.5 (-120)

South Carolina and Auburn aren't the only ranked SEC teams in action tonight, as the No. 8 Tennessee Volunteers (17-6, 7-3) will travel to Fayetteville to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (12-11, 3-7). FanDuel has this line at Tennessee -8.5 (-120), and I'm again drawn to the favorite.

Tennessee doesn't exactly have a lot of momentum coming in. They were blasted by 16 points at Texas A&M over the weekend and have dropped two of their last four games. That said, they sandwiched double-digit victories over Kentucky and LSU between those Ls, so the floor hasn't totally caved in, either.

Despite their most recent result, Tennessee remains one of the best teams in the entire country and certainly in the SEC. In conference play, the Vols rank second in offensive rating and fourth in defensive rating. They've proven more than capable of handling things away from home, picking up double-digit Ws in two of their last three road games.

The Vols feature the SEC's leading scorer in Dalton Knecht. Knecht has averaged 26.4 points per game in conference play, but he's actually been better on the road. In seven true road games, Knecht has averaged 27.9 points per game, shooting 59% overall and 46% from three.

That does not bode well for Arkansas as the Gamecocks have struggled mightily this season. They sport the conference's worst offensive rating and the fourth-worst defensive rating. Of their seven SEC losses, six have come by double digits, two of which were at home.

numberFire's model has Tennessee taking this one by 10, as does Bart Torvik. Given Arkansas's recent struggles, I'll back the models here and take Tennessee -8.5 (-120) in what should be another disappointing L for the Razorbacks.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.