College Basketball Preview & Picks for Dec. 8 to Dec. 12: Wisconsin Seeks Two Big Wins to Open Big Ten Play

Here is a quick look at the top college basketball games this week. Teams are easing into conference play but we still have some nice out-of-conference matchups.

All college basketball odds listed below are via BetOnline Sportsbook.

College Basketball Preview & Picks Menu

• UConn vs West Virginia (December 8)
• Indiana vs Wisconsin (December 8)
• Texas vs Seton Hall (December 9)
• Loyola-Chicago vs Vanderbilt (December 10)
• Wisconsin vs Ohio State (December 11)
• St. Bonaventure vs UConn (December 11)
• Houston vs Alabama (December 11)
• Baylor vs Villanova (December 12)

College Basketball Picks for Wednesday, December 8

Connecticut Huskies (8-1) vs West Virginia Mountaineers (7-1), ESPN2, 7:00 p.m. ET

These teams used to battle in the Big East and haven’t faced each other since 2014. Both are looking to be in the March Madness mix.

The Huskies have looked good to start the college basketball season. They are one of the nation’s leaders in scoring and have wins over Auburn and VCU. The only team to get them so far has been Michigan State. Unfortunately, big man Adama Sonogo, who is second on the team in scoring and rebounding, is hurt.

West Virginia’s only loss on the season was to another Big East team, Marquette. Guard Taz Sherman is running with his new role, scoring 21 points per game. You can bet he is going to be the focus of the Huskies’ defensive game plan. WVU does not have a lot of secondary scoring so a home win will be a challenge.

Connecticut Huskies vs West Virginia Mountaineers College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Connecticut Huskies +116
• West Virginia Mountaineers -140

Total

• OVER 139.5 (-110)
• UNDER 139.5 (-110)

Spread

• Connecticut Huskies +2.5 (-110)
• West Virginia Mountaineers -2.5 (-110)

Connecticut Huskies vs West Virginia Mountaineers Best Bet

Under 139.5

UConn has great scoring numbers, but they are inflated by some large numbers against low-level competition and an overtime game against Auburn. This is their first true road game of the season, and they are missing Sanogo, an efficient scorer. West Virginia might have the defensive intensity of some of their best teams, but this game looks like one where 65 points will win it.

Result: West Virginia 56, UConn 53 (UNDER 139.5)

Indiana Hoosiers (7-1) vs Wisconsin Badgers (7-1), Big Ten Network, 7:00 PM ET

Neither of these teams is supposed to be at the top of the Big Ten this season but early on they have looked as good as any team in the league not named Purdue.

Indiana has one of the best players in the country in Trayce Jackson-Davis. Their season was made when Jackson-Davis decided to stick around to play for new coach Mike Woodson. He is averaging 21 points per game and with him on the floor, the Hoosiers have a chance at an easy basket every possession. The only team to beat them so far this season is Syracuse.

Wisconsin has been a nice surprise too as guard Johnny Davis has thrown his hat in the ring for the player of the year in the conference too. If the Badgers truly have some talent to work with then their grinder style makes them tough to beat.

Indiana Hoosiers vs Wisconsin Badgers College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Indiana Hoosiers +162
• Wisconsin Badgers -194

Total

• OVER 131 (-110)
• UNDER 131 (-110)

Spread

• Indiana Hoosiers +4.5 (-110)
• Wisconsin Badgers -4.5 (-110)

Indiana Hoosiers vs Wisconsin Badgers Best Bet

Wisconsin -4.5

Indiana coach Mike Woodson is still learning the ropes in the Big Ten. Winning in Madison is tough, especially if you do not have strong guard play. TJD will be a factor for sure, especially with Wisconsin being lighter upfront than normal, but the Badgers will wear down Indiana and pull away late and win by close to 10.

Result: Wisconsin 64, Indiana 59 (Wisconsin -4.5)

College Basketball Picks for Thursday, December 9

Texas Longhorns (6-1) vs Seton Hall Pirates (7-1), FS1, 6:30 PM ET

We have not heard much from Texas since their early season loss to Gonzaga. There has been no reason to talk about them as they have been beating up the low-level competition while building a 6-1 record. They might be winning games, but they are getting less production than expected from a lot of players.

Seton Hall has already shown they can compete at a high level, winning at Michigan, although that win has not aged as well as they would like. There might not be an NBA prospect on the roster, but this is a deep team, especially on the wing. They are no pushovers.

Texas Longhorns vs Seton Hall Pirates College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Texas Longhorns -102
• Seton Hall Pirates -118

Total

• OVER 133.5 (-110)
• UNDER 133.5 (-110)

Spread

• Texas Longhorns +1 (-110)
• Seton Hall Pirates -1 (-110)

Texas Longhorns vs Seton Hall Pirates Best Bet

Seton Hall -1

I love Texas coach Chris Beard and this Texas team should eventually be very good…they just aren’t there yet. This is going to be a tough road trip to take on the Pirates, who have more continuity and are better on the wings than most might realize. Texas does not have the inside power they did last season when three NBA prospects were in the paint. This one will be close, but I like the Pirates to eventually pull away and win, which makes them great value against the higher-ranked Longhorns.

Result: Seton Hall 64, Texas 60 (Seton Hall -1)

College Basketball Picks for Friday, December 10

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (8-2) vs Vanderbilt Commodores (5-3), ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET

This is another strong Loyola-Chicago team. The buzz might be on their move out of the MVC to the A-10, but they are going to do some damage on the way out. Their lone losses on the season are to Michigan State and Auburn, two power conference teams. Don’t think they can’t compete with those guys. Just ask Illinois.

Vanderbilt has one of the better players in the SEC in Scottie Pippen Jr. His numbers are down this season, but the defense is holding opponents to under 60 points per game. That is going to give them a chance in the league but might not be good enough in this matchup. Loyola is more than happy to play in the 40s.

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs Vanderbilt Commodores College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Loyola-Chicago Ramblers -215
• Vanderbilt Commodores +176

Total

• OVER 133 (-110)
• UNDER 133 (-110)

Spread

• Loyola-Chicago Ramblers -4.5 (-110)
• Vanderbilt Commodores +4.5 (-110)

Loyola-Chicago Ramblers vs Vanderbilt Commodores Best Bet

Loyola-Chicago -4.5

Nailed the play yesterday with Seton Hall getting the win over Texas. The Ramblers are no secret at this point, but I still think they are being undervalued on Friday on the road heading into SEC country. Vanderbilt is far from the top of the SEC, but I especially like the matchup because Loyola is so sound on defense. Vandy has a big-time scorer in Scottie Pippen Jr. but that makes it easy for the Ramblers to focus their defense. They will do a bit of feeling out early because that is what Loyola does, but eventually, they win by 10. They are just so sound.

Result: Loyola-Chicago 69, Vanderbilt 58 (Loyola-Chicago -4.5)

College Basketball Picks for Saturday, December 11

Wisconsin Badgers (8-1) vs Ohio State Buckeyes (7-2), BTN, 12:00 PM ET

Ohio State is the only team to beat Duke so far this season. That shows the ceiling of this team. The question is how consistent they can be without an experienced hand at the wheel on the court. Almost all of their production comes from upfront which is rare these days.

Wisconsin Badgers vs Ohio State Buckeyes College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Wisconsin Badgers +144
• Ohio State Buckeyes -178

Total

• OVER 134.5 (-110)
• UNDER 134.5 (-110)

Spread

• Wisconsin Badgers +4 (-110)
• Ohio State Buckeyes -4 (-110)

Wisconsin Badgers vs Ohio State Buckeyes Best Bet

Ohio State -4

This one opened a little higher, so we are already getting a little extra value with the home side. These are two good, but not great Big Ten teams. Wisconsin is definitely overvalued right now after some impressive wins, but as long as the Buckeyes can keep Johnny Davis in check, they can get a solid profile building win at home. Wisconsin is not as good inside as normal and that is where the Buckeyes have their strength with EJ Liddell and Zed Key.

Result: Ohio State 73, Wisconsin 55 (Ohio State -4)

St. Bonaventure Bonnies (8-1) vs Connecticut Huskies (8-2), ESPN2, 4:00 PM ET

This is supposed to be the best Bonnies team ever as all five starters returned from a year ago. They have just one loss, but the larger issue is that they are going to be playing without top scorer Kyle Lofton for a little while. The Bonnies are really good, but depth is not a strength.

Connecticut is a talented team and things get easier for them in this matchup with Lofton not available. This one is probably going to be a defensive grinder, which suits both sides just fine. RJ Cole is an underrated lead guard, but he looks much more comfortable in Storrs this season

St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs Connecticut Huskies College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• St. Bonaventure Bonnies +143
• Connecticut Huskies -171

Total

• OVER 135 (-110)
• UNDER 135 (-110)

Spread

• St. Bonaventure Bonnies +4 (-110)
• Connecticut Huskies -4 (-110)

St. Bonaventure Bonnies vs Connecticut Huskies Best Bet

St. Bonaventure Bonnies +4

If this game were at UConn, they would probably be the play as a small home favorite (instead it is in New Jersey). Both teams are missing key pieces and this one is going to come down to execution in the last few minutes of the game. That is why I like the Bonnies in this spot. Even with Lofton out they have so much continuity to lean back on. This game will be slow and steady, and they might just win it outright.

Result: UConn 74, St. Bonaventure 64 (UConn -4)

Houston Cougars (8-1) vs Alabama Crimson Tide (7-1), ESPN2, 10:00 PM ET

This one is awesome for a contrast in styles. Houston is second in the nation in defense, but the offense has been more fluid this season. Their only loss on the season was in the Maui Invitational against Wisconsin, who beat them at their own game. Marcus Sasser is a very experienced lead guard and should be able to handle Alabama’s pressure.

Alabama got the big win over Gonzaga last weekend. They are scoring at a high rate this season, but their defense was much better a year ago. Alabama wants to play a very specific way, but they are going to find that difficult against the Cougars.

Houston Cougars vs Alabama Crimson Tide College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Houston Cougars +104
• Alabama Crimson Tide -126

Total

• OVER 145.5 (-110)
• UNDER 145.5 (-110)

Spread

• Houston Cougars +1.5 (-110)
• Alabama Crimson Tide -1.5 (-110)

Houston Cougars vs Alabama Crimson Tide Best Bet

Houston Cougars +1.5

This game is going to be a battle for pace throughout. I am leaning toward Houston for a couple of reasons. For starters, there is no way Alabama is not overvalued after beating Gonzaga. Second, I like the Cougars’ ability to adjust their game enough to limit what Alabama does best. Houston will ease off the glass to prevent runout and make it hard for the very good Alabama guards to find their rhythm. Both teams are very well-coached, but Houston has more ways to win.

Result: Alabama 83, Houston 82 (Houston +1.5)

College Basketball Picks for Sunday, December 12

Villanova Wildcats (7-2) vs. Baylor Bears (8-0), ABC, 3:00 PM ET

If it is possible, Baylor looks just as good to start the season as last year’s title-winning team. They have yet to lose and are winning by almost 30 points per game. This will be their toughest test to date, but they have definitely looked better than Nova so far. The Bears downed the Wildcats by 11 in their March Madness meeting last year and will be eyeing a similar result in this one.

I like this Villanova team a lot, but I am not sure they are any better a match for Baylor this time around. They do not have bad losses (UCLA and Purdue) but have come up short against the best teams. I love their experience, but they are struggling with depth this season.

Villanova Wildcats vs Baylor Bears College Basketball Betting Odds

Moneyline

• Villanova Wildcats +151
• Baylor Bears -182

Total

• OVER 138.5 (-110)
• UNDER 138.5 (-110)

Spread

• Villanova Wildcats +4 (-110)
• Baylor Bears -4 (-110)

Villanova Wildcats vs Baylor Bears Best Bet

Baylor -4

You can throw out that game in the NCAAs last season as this Baylor team has turned over quite a bit. What you can’t dismiss is that the Bears have been killing teams this season, winning by almost 30 points per game. Villanova will be the best team that they have faced so far, by far, but I still expect a comfortable win at home for Baylor. Playing against really good teams the Wildcats have been getting exposed for not having as much depth. They are not going to wilt but Baylor is a bad matchup for them.