College Basketball Betting Picks for Wednesday 2/7/24

The college basketball season always provides a flurry of twists and turns that few saw coming -- especially when March Madness 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

High Point at UNC Asheville

Over 156.5 (-112)

Expect a high-scoring affair when the High Point Panthers visit the UNC Asheville Bulldogs.

High Point (9-0 conference) and UNC Asheville (7-2) are the top two teams in the Big South Conference. They're also the top two offenses in the Big South, averaging 84.2 and 79.1 points per game in conference play. They're among the conference's three fastest-paced teams, and Asheville's 56% effective field goal percentage and 53% assist rate lead the league.

High Point, meanwhile, ranks second in offensive rebound rate and averages a conference-best 31 free throws per game. They've connected on 82% of their free throws in conference play, easily the top mark in the Big South.

Neither side is especially inspiring on the defensive end. Among nine Big South teams, UNC Asheville is fifth and High Point is sixth in scoring defense.

Clearly, both sides can get it done on the offensive end. But their previous matchup is what gives me confidence in their ability to go over this 156.5-point total.

The Panthers and Bulldogs combined for 163 points last month despite both squads shooting less than 40% overall and 35% from three. The high total was aided by a combined 70 free throw attempts. We can't expect them to spend that much time at the stripe again, but it's reasonable to anticipate more efficient shooting performances this time around.

A 156.5 total may look high upon first look, but both sides have been a part of several high-scoring affairs in Big South play. Six of High Point's nine conference games finished with at least 157 points while five of UNC Asheville's nine hit that mark.

Considering they're the top two offenses in their conference -- and that they already blew past this total in an earlier matchup -- I like High Point-UNC Asheville to go over 156.5.

No. 11 Wisconsin at Michigan

Wisconsin -5.5 (-110)

The 11th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers have dropped two straight games, but they're well-positioned to bounce back and cover as 5.5-point favorites against the Michigan Wolverines.

Despite the Badgers' two recent Ls, both are excusable. Wisco dropped a road date with Nebraska by eight before losing to No. 2 Purdue at home by six. Despite those results, they remain one of the best teams in the Big Ten.

Among 14 Big Ten teams, the Badgers rank sixth in scoring offense and third in defense. However, they also play at the third-slowest pace. When you look at their per-100 possessions numbers, Wisconsin jumps up to second in offensive rating and sixth in defensive rating. They're also third in total rebound rate and effective field goal percentage.

The Badgers are no stranger to large margins of victory, either. Six of their eight conference wins came by double-digits.

There just aren't many holes in this Wisconsin team -- something we can't say about Michigan.

The Wolverines have the worst overall record (7-15) and conference record (2-7) in the Big Ten. They sit at 10th in offensive rating, 12th in defensive rating, and eighth in total rebound rate. On top of that, Michigan turns the ball over at the third-highest rate but simultaneously boasts the third-lowest forced turnover rate.

On a neutral floor, this line would likely flirt with double digits, but Michigan does benefit from playing at home. However, while I'm way of betting road favorites, the Wolverines have done nothing to prove their home court advantage is truly an advantage.

In Big Ten play, they're just 1-6 at the Crisler Center. Each of their last three home losses came by double digits.

numberFire's model has Wisconsin taking this one by 6.6 points. That doesn't give us a huge margin for error, but Michigan trails Wisconsin by a considerable margin in several key metrics. Coupled with their home woes, I'll back the model here and take Wisconsin to cover as a 5.5-point favorite.

No. 19 Creighton at Providence

Creighton -2.5 (-104)

We close things out on the East Coast where I like the 19th-ranked Creighton Bluejays to cover as 2.5-point favorites on the road against the Providence Friars.

Creighton has already taken down the Friars once this season. Despite losing the turnover battle, the Bluejays managed to defend their home court and snag a nine-point W. They made just 7-of-23 threes in that one but still shot 48% overall and out-rebounded Providence by eight.

Given how these teams match up, I'd expect a similar result tonight. Creighton is one of the most efficient interior teams in the country, ranking third nationally in two-point field goal percentage and 44th in total rebound rate. Per Bart Torvik, they're shooting a Big East-best 68% at the rim this season.

Providence can hold their own underneath, but they don't have the size to compete with Creighton over a full 40 minutes. Seven-footer Ryan Kalkbrenner posted a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double in that previous matchup, and he held Providence big Josh Oduro to just 9 points on 4-of-17 shooting.

Kalkbrenner should be the difference-maker tonight, just as he was in the first meeting. However, there's also reason to believe Creighton gets more perimeter production this time around. Although they only shot 30% from deep in the previous matchup, the Bluejays average the most three-point attempts in the Big East. They've nailed double-digit threes in five of 11 conference games, winning four of those.

Creighton took home a nine-point W the last time they faced Providence. With the 12th-best away record (5-2) in the country, I'll take them to pick up another road win, covering as 2.5-point favorites in the process.

Looking for more college basketball betting opportunities? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook to check out all of the upcoming college basketball odds.

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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.