College Basketball Picks and Best Bets: Saturday, February 13

Saturday is going to be a very busy day for college basketball betting. Unfortunately, we lost what would have been the best game of the day when Baylor vs. Texas Tech was scrapped due to COVID.

There are still lots of games to get excited about though. Too many to make the daily rundown. #Sorry. With so many great college basketball betting opportunities to build your bankroll, there’s enough to make your head spin. But that’s what we’re here for, so here’s our look at today’s best bets.

All college basketball betting odds are via Fanduel Sportsbook as of Saturday, February 13 at 11:20 am ET. Click here for updated odds.

College Basketball Betting Best Bets: February 13

Indiana vs. Ohio State, ESPN 12:00 PM ET

Matchup: Indiana Hoosiers (11-8 SU, 11-7-1 ATS) vs. (#4) Ohio State Buckeyes (16-4 SU, 12-7-1)

Spread: Indiana +6.5 (-110), Ohio State -6.5 (-110)
Total: Over 139.5 (-110), Under 139.5 (-110)
Money Line: Indiana +235, Ohio State -303

Wow…it is hard to get used to seeing a number like that next to Ohio State. Sure this is a very good team, but fourth in the country? That is what happens when you just keep winning. I am not sure how good they are but I am sure I don’t want to keep losing money on them.

Indiana has beaten Iowa twice and those wins are great resume builders. I still think they need to be adding to their resume and this game would definitely do that. I am just not seeing it though. Ohio State beats you by not beating themselves and Indiana is prone to too many lapses. Fade the Hoosiers here

Betting Advice: Take Ohio State.

Wake Forest vs. Florida State, ACC Network X, 12:00 PM ET

Matchup: Wake Forest Demon Deacons (6-8 SU, 9-4 ATS) vs. (#17) Florida State Seminoles (10-3 SU, 8-5 ATS)

Spread: Wake Forest +13.5 (-110), Florida State -13.5 (-110)
Total: Over 143 (-110), Under 143 (-110)
Money Line: Wake Forest +568, Florida State -732

These are the two best cover teams in the ACC. Only one of them is a good team though and it is not Wake Forest. I am not sure how the Demon Deacons are doing it to be honest. They have been profitable though.

Florida State lost the last time we saw them. They have not played in a couple of weeks though due to COVID and even though those breaks have been killer for other teams I like that they are healthy and that they have depth. They can be patient until they find the players who are the least rusty and lean on them.

Betting Advice: Take Florida State.

Loyola-Chicago vs. Drake, ESPN2, 12:00 PM ET

Matchup: (#22) Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (17-3 SU, 12-5-1 ATS) vs. Drake Bulldogs (19-1 SU, 15-3 ATS)

Spread: Loyola-Chicago -4.5 (-115), Drake +4.5 (-105)
Total: Over 133 (-110), Under 133 (-110)
Money Line: Loyola-Chicago -222, Drake +178

I am curious what this college basketball betting line would have been if Drake was still undefeated. I think you would have had to make them the favorite, even if they had some close calls before they finally lost to Valpo. It is still hard to know just how good this group is.

Now that Drake has one loss, the three losses of the Ramblers don’t look so bad. In fact, now that the Bulldogs have lost it is easy to say that Loyola is the best team in the Missouri Valley, hence being favoured even on the road in this spot. Winning on the road is tough but they do have the best player in the Valley in Cameron Krutwig and the nation's best defense giving up only 56ppg. I like the Ramblers but I am going to wait. The wagers are coming in on Drake but the line hasn’t moved yet.

Betting Advice: Take Loyola-Chicago

Oklahoma vs. West Virginia, ESPN+, 1:00 PM ET

Matchup: (#12) Oklahoma Sooners (12-5 SU, 11-6 ATS) vs. (#14) West Virginia Mountaineers (14-5 SU, 10-9 ATS)

Spread: Oklahoma +2.5 (-115), West Virginia -2.5 (-105)
Total: Over 145 (-110), Under 145 (-110)
Money Line: Oklahoma +121, West Virginia -145

Love the coaching matchup here between Oklahoma’s Lon Kruger and West Virginia’s Bob Huggins. Both are so adaptable. Oklahoma has been good at slowing down fast-paced teams, like when Alabama came to town in the B12/SEC Challenge and they upset the Tide. Doing so on the road is much tougher though.

West Virginia is not the tough defensive team of my mind’s eye. They score and score some more and have been able to get over on teams that try and muck things up, see recent wins over Texas Tech. Kansas came to town recently and they were -2.5 in that one. They beat the Jayhawks by 12 that day. They will do something similar here.

Betting Advice: Take West Virginia

TCU vs. Texas, Longhorn Network, 2:00 PM ET

Matchup: TCU Horned Frogs (11-7 SU, 8-10 ATS) vs. (#13) Texas Longhorns (12-5 SU, 6-11 ATS)

Spread: TCU +12 (-110), Texas -12 (-110)
Total: Over 142 (-110), Under 142 (-110)
Money Line: TCU +496, Texas -692

The Horned Frogs have won two in a row but they have shown multiple times they are not ready to compete with the top teams in the Big 12. They might be catching the Longhorns at a vulnerable stage but I am not seeing a major upset here.

Texas’ last game was a win over Kansas State, but by only three points. They need an easy one here as they have not covered in six straight games. They are healthy and in that state, they should be able to name their score against a team like TCU, if they are a top team. That is the question though, what are these Longhorns?

Betting Advice: Take Texas.

Tennessee vs. LSU, ESPN, 2:00 PM ET

Matchup: (#16) Tennessee Volunteers (14-4 SU, 10-8 ATS) vs. LSU Tigers (12-6 SU, 7-11 ATS)

Spread: Tennessee -2.5 (-110), LSU +2.5 (-110)
Total: Over 146 (-110), Under 146 (-110)
Money Line: Tennessee -146, LSU +122

Big contrast in styles here. Tennessee plays teams in the 50s and 60s, while LSU wants to score like crazy. In the Vols' last game, they were actually in a track meet against Georgia, both teams scored in the 80s. Freshman guard Jaden Springer scored a season-high 30 points and his continued development makes this team very interesting.

These teams are tied at 7-4 in the SEC right now. SEC success is all the Tigers have to play for this season and this team is more than good enough to deal the Volunteers another blow. They are at full health too, getting their top rebounder back. He is their emotional leader. As long as they get off to a good start this one has great upset potential at the Maravich Center.

Betting Advice: Take LSU.

Georgia vs. Alabama, SEC Network, 3:30 PM

Matchup: Georgia Bulldogs (12-7 SU, 10-8 ATS) vs. (#11) Alabama Crimson Tide (16-5 SU, 12-8-1 ATS)

Spread: Georgia +13 (-110), Alabama -13 (-110)
Total: Over 158 (-110), Under 158 (-110)
Money Line: Georgia +550, Alabama -706

The 3:30 start is a nice nod to the football season where this matchup would be much more meaningful. Georgia is solid and just pushed Tennessee on the road but does not look like a threat here.

Alabama is still trying to get back to the free-wheeling success they were having before they went to Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago. It looks like they will win the SEC with ease but they do not look like a title contender right now. They need to show us something on Saturday. This should be an easy win.

Betting Advice: Take Alabama.

Arkansas vs. Missouri, ESPN2, 4:00 PM ET

Matchup: Arkansas Razorbacks (15-5 SU, 11-7-1 ATS) vs. (#10) Missouri Tigers (13-4 SU, 10-7 ATS)

Spread: Arkansas +3.5 (-110), Missouri -3.5 (-110)
Total: Over 150 (-110), Under 150 (-110)
Money Line: Arkansas +124, Missouri -149

The Razorbacks are on roll right now with wins in five of their last six. Maybe they should be beating teams by more sometimes, but this is a good team and in Moses Moody, they have one of those rare players who can get hot and put a team on his back. He is averaging 16ppg, one of five players scoring in double-figures.

Mizzou got a reality check this week losing 80-59 at Ole Miss. They were favourites in the game so that one stings, but the loss was not as bad as how it played out. They fell apart in the second half, scoring just 22 points. That might create some value but I have been questioning the Tigers for weeks. I think they are a target to fade this weekend.

Betting Advice: Take Arkansas.

Villanova vs. Creighton, FOX, 5:00 PM ET

Matchup: (#5) Villanova Wildcats (13-2 SU, 9-6 ATS) vs. (#19) Creighton Blue Jays (15-5 SU, 8-12 ATS)

Spread: Villanova -3 (-110), Creighton +3 (-110)
Total: Over 144 (-110), Under 144 (-110)
Money Line: Villanova -150, Creighton +125

Villanova looked a little vulnerable when they first came back from their COVID break. Now that feeling is gone which is why they are easy to make favourites even at Creighton. They won at Creighton last season and even though the Blue Jays want to think they are closing the gap there is no real evidence of that.

The Blue Jays have won five of six but the offense has not been as good as expected this season. Marcus Zegarowski is the key. They need him to have his best game of the season and show the ceiling of this team. Even that might not be enough though.

Betting Advice: Take Villanova.