College Basketball Picks & Best Bets: Monday, February 22

After a very busy weekend in NCAAB, Mondays are usually pretty quiet for college hoops. This one definitely fits that description.

I know we are not supposed to care anymore but Duke got a huge win over Virginia over the weekend. They need to follow it up with another one over ho-hum Syracuse or else it will have been just a classic tease.

Here is a closer look at some of the best the games to get down on…

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February 22 College Basketball Betting: Best Bets

Syracuse vs Duke, ESPN, 7:00 PM ET

Matchup: Syracuse Orange (13-6 SU, 8-11 ATS) vs. Duke Blue Devils (10-8 SU, 6-12 ATS)

• Spread: Syracuse +5.5 (-116), Duke -5.5 (-106)
• Total: Over 151.5 (-102), Under 151.5 (-120)
• Moneyline: Syracuse +184, Duke -220

Syracuse is having a nice season. They are winning the games they are supposed to and that probably has them on the Tournament bubble right now. I don’t want to call this a must-win but beating Duke on the road always improves the resume and Syracuse has the scorers to do it. They have scored 75+ in three straight wins and if they get there again it might be four.

Duke beat Virginia by a point on Saturday night. It was a low-scoring affair and it extended the Blue Devils winning streak to three games. Jalen Johnson left the team and they have gotten better. That can’t be good for a guy’s draft stock, can it? They have covered in all three recent wins and this is another game they can win. Even if they win their final four games though this team might not make the Tournament. I like them to win but the Orange keep it close.

Betting Advice: Take Syracuse (bet them closer to tip-off for maximum value).

Evansville vs Drake, ESPN+, 7:00 PM ET

Matchup: Evansville Purple Aces (8-13 SU, 10-10-1 ATS) vs. Drake Bulldogs (22-2 SU, 18-4 ATS)

• Spread: Evansville +11.5 (-106), Drake -11.5 (-116)
• Total: Over 134 (-110), Under 134 (-110)
• Moneyline: Evansville +530, Drake -750

These teams just played yesterday and predictably Evansville lost by 14. They were +12.5 which makes this line a little curious a day later. The Bulldogs have been played close by only a couple of teams in the Valley and the Purple Aces do not look like a team that can do that. They have just one win away from home this season.

Drake has just two losses but is still having a great season. They are an amazingly profitable 18-4 ATS after another spread win yesterday which is another reason I am not sure why the line dropped a little for this quick rematch. There are no injuries to report and the Bulldogs are better everywhere on the floor. Any fatigue concerns are balanced by the fact that the Aces played yesterday too.

Betting Advice: Take Drake.

Texas Tech vs Oklahoma State, ESPN, 9:00 ET

Matchup: (#11) Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-7 SU, 7-14 ATS) vs. (#22) Oklahoma State Cowboys (14-6 SU, 10-9-1 ATS)

• Spread: Texas Tech -2.5 (-110), Oklahoma State +2.5 (-110)
• Total: Over 138.5 (-106), Under 138.5 (-116)
• Moneyline: Texas Tech -130, Oklahoma State +110

Texas Tech is off back-to-back losses but I don’t want to downgrade them too much for falling to West Virginia and Kansas. They were in both games but failed to cover in either. That puts a little more urgency onto the Red Raiders which is probably a good thing for coach Chris Beard. They lost to the Cowboys at home too, in overtime back in January. I like this TTU team but they are not as good as recent versions.

I have to admit I did not realize how good a season Oklahoma State was having. Phenom Cade Cunningham has been very good but I was expecting more and even though the Cowboys have some nice wins they have not had an extended streak of dominating performances, something that is hard to do in the Big 12 if you are not Baylor.

They have already beaten TTU once and play better at home where they have already upset Kansas and Texas. I have to lean to the home side here. Getting a couple of points of value seems to be based purely on reputation.

Betting Advice: Take Oklahoma State.

Oregon vs USC, FS1, 9:00 PM ET

Matchup: (#25) Oregon Ducks (14-4 SU, 9-9 ATS) vs. (#18) USC Trojans (18-4 SU, 14-8 ATS)

• Spread: Oregon State +3.5 (-110), USC -3.5 (-110)
• Total: Over 138 (-110), Under 138 (-110)
• Moneyline: Oregon +155, USC -185

There is a lot to like about the Ducks. They have a pair of players both averaging 17 points per game in guard Chris Duarte and forward Eugene Omoruyi, and they play great defense. This is an experienced group and I like Dana Altman a lot. He usually gets the most out of his guys. As I said, there is a lot to like about Oregon, I just don’t like this spot.

USC laid an egg in their last game, a home loss to Arizona. It was a definite surprise because they had been the hottest team in the conference this month. Evan Mobley was great, again, but the rest of the team failed in support. Also, for the second game in a row, the defense was a little leakier than expected. That gives the coach the perfect opportunity to refocus the troops for this one. Maybe they were looking ahead too much over the weekend anyway.

As long as Mobley continues to dominate as he has been the Trojans can win and cover in a low-scoring game. Small spread but the Trojans get the win and cover.

Betting Advice: Take USC.