College Basketball Picks & Best Bets: Wednesday, February 17

What a weird week. In addition to the seemingly inevitable COVID cancellations, we have also been getting weather postponements. It’s almost like we thought these other kinds of things couldn’t happen in the world we live in today.

The Wednesday slate is a little light. The game I am most keen on is Arizona State at USC. It has an 8:00 pm ET tip so we can all check it out and see whether the PAC 12’s top team is anything to worry about.

All college basketball betting odds are via BetOnline Sportsbook as of 12:30 pm ET. Click here for updated college basketball betting odds.

February 17 College Basketball Betting: Best Bets

Marquette vs Butler, FS1, 6:30 PM ET

College Basketball Betting Matchup: Marquette Golden Eagles (9-12 SU, 7-11 ATS) vs Butler Bulldogs (7-11 SU, 8-10 ATS)

• Spread: Marquette +2 (-110), Butler -2 (-110)
• Total: Over 129 (-110), Under 129 (-110)
• Moneyline: Marquette +115, Butler -135

For both of these teams, it is all about trying to get in good enough shape to shock in the Big East Tournament. Marquette is slumping badly right now. They have lost six of their last seven and the only win in there was over Butler at home, by three. This team should be better than that and the coach is in trouble.

Butler might not be very good but they are the team in the league that nobody wants to play. They compete as hard as anyone and if you are not on your game they can beat you. This is a revenge spot and that is likely to bring the best out of the Bulldogs. They are getting Marquette at the right time too.

Betting Advice: Take Butler.

Arizona State vs USC, ESPN2, 8:00 PM ET

College Basketball Betting Matchup: Arizona State Sun Devils (7-9 SU, 3-13 ATS) vs. (#18) USC Trojans (17-3 SU, 13-7 ATS)

Spread: Arizona State +10 (-110), USC -10 (-110)
Total: Over 147 (-115), Under 147 (-105)
Moneyline: Arizona State +400, USC -540

Arizona State is in the upper half of the PAC 12 in talent and in the bottom 1% of the country in consistency. Their record has crept up a little as they have beaten some of the lighter teams in the league like Cal and Stanford, but USC did not have too much trouble when they visited Tempe last month, winning by 9.

USC is at the top of the PAC 12 standing and playing its best ball right now. They have won six in a row and covered in the last five. Andy Enfield is doing his best coaching since coming to L.A. He has a star in Evan Mobley and figured out how to surround him with quality role players. USC is very long and they are playing great defense so they can handle the occasional offensive lull.

Betting Advice: Take USC.

Valparaiso vs Loyola-Chicago, ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET

College Basketball Betting Matchup: Valparaiso Crusaders (8-14 SU, 8-11-1 ATS vs. (#22) Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (18-4 SU, 13-6-1 ATS)

Spread: Valparaiso +20 (-110), Loyola-Chicago -20 (-110)
Total: Over 129 (-110), Under 129 (-110)
Moneyline: Valparaiso +1200, Loyola-Chicago -2300

It has been a while since Valpo was in the national hoops discussion, but there they are after beating Drake last week. This is not a particularly strong team but they have shown they can punch above their weight so maybe they are a factor.

Loyola just split with the same Drake team over the weekend, winning by 27 and then losing by 1 in the rematch. Their defense was awesome holding the Bulldogs to just 54 and 51 points. They are the top defensive team in the country and that makes this line, which is Ramblers’ largest of the season playable. However, they did not cover in back to back games earlier in the season when they were -18.5 against Evansville

Betting Advice: Take Loyola-Chicago.

Kansas vs Kansas State, ESPN+, 8:00 PM ET

College Basketball Betting Matchup: (#24) Kansas Jayhawks (15-7 SU, 10-11 ATS) vs. Kansas State Wildcats (5-17 SU, 7-14 ATS)

Spread: Kansas -12 (-115), Kansas State +12 (-105)
Total: Over 135.5 (-110), Under 135.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Kansas -925, Kansas State +620

This series sometimes has a little juice but I would not expect anything too crazy even if the Jayhawks are down some this season. Kansas is back in the rankings after a brief hiatus. They have won and covered three straight and four of five.

K-State has covered three straight too, but they have not won a game in 2021. Now a rivalry spot might be one for a team in a bad situation like that to get a little frisky but that is tough given our current circumstances. It is nearly impossible to see.

Betting Advice: Take Kansas.

DePaul vs Seton Hall, FS1, 8:30 PM ET

College Basketball Betting Matchup: DePaul Blue Demons (3-9 SU, 5-7 ATS) vs. Seton Hall Pirates (12-8 SU, 12-8 ATS)

Spread: DePaul +13.5 (-110), Seton Hall -13.5 (-110)
Total: Over 139 (-110), Under 139 (-110)
Moneyline: DePaul +629, Seton Hall -822

DePaul is somehow 2-2 ATS on the road this season but I don’t see how that makes them a live underdog in this spot. This is a team that is purely playing out the string this season and if any power conference school was just going to opt-out of the rest of the year, it might be these guys.

Seton Hall is at the point of their schedule where they have to start dominating. They have won three in a row and will be favored in all of their remaining games. I like this group a lot and feel like we are finally seeing what they can do. The line is a little hefty but that is what you get against the Blue Demons.

Betting Advice: Take Seton Hall.

South Carolina vs Tennessee, SEC Network, 9:00 PM ET

College Basketball Betting Matchup: South Carolina Gamecocks (5-8 SU, 6-8 ATS) vs. (#20) Tennessee Volunteers (14-5 SU, 10-9 ATS)

Spread: South Carolina +12 (-110), Tennessee -12 (-110)
Total: Over 143 (-110), Under 143 (-110)
Moneyline: South Carolina +490, Tennessee -690

The Gamecocks have had some unexpected results this season but this is a poor team in the SEC. AJ Lawson is one of the better players in the league but the surrounding cast is just very light this season.

Tennessee has the goods on defense but the offense is all over the map. The one positive is that they are getting more from top frosh Jaden Springer. If this team uses these last couple of weeks wisely they could be a threat in the Tournament. This one should be an easy win for the Vols at home but nothing has been easy for them of late so play it carefully.

Betting Advice: Take Tennessee.