College Basketball Betting – Non-Conference Matchup Generates January Intrigue

Three top-25 games dot the landscape on a crowded and compelling college basketball betting Saturday.

The best game in this trio just might be in Nashville, Tennessee.

Saint Mary’s (CA) Gaels @ Vanderbilt Commodores

Saturday, 2:05 PM ET

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It’s always an urgent and important moment in a college basketball season when two teams play the last significant non-conference games on their regular-season schedules. Intersectional matchups are important because they tell the NCAA Tournament’s Selection Committee how various ballclubs measure up in multiple contexts. Especially for teams like St. Mary’s that don’t get many chances to take on elite foes within their conference (Gonzaga is the only team in the West Coast Conference that will boost the Gaels’ RPI rating to a considerable extent), a big non-conference game offers a final chance to leave a lasting impression on the Selection Committee. That’s why this game between St. Mary’s and Vanderbilt is so essential. The visiting Gaels will put up a good fight on the road, and Vanderbilt has been known to lack toughness on the boards, but the Commodores are very strong at home, and that’s probably what will enable them to dig out a very close win this weekend. Take Vanderbilt in a down-to-the-wire battle.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Vanderbilt

Iowa State Cyclones @ Missouri Tigers

Saturday, 9:05 PM ET

Iowa State did thump Baylor a week ago, but when one then realizes that Kansas embarrassed Baylor the following Monday night, maybe beating Baylor by a bunch of points at home really doesn’t amount to much of anything. Iowa State has been admirably competitive – more than a lot of people expected this season – under first-year coach (and former ISU player) Fred Hoiberg, but the Cyclones simply don’t have the same levels of athleticism and depth that Missouri possesses. The Tigers made a physical Kansas State team look slow-footed and weary on Monday in a 74-59 win over the Wildcats. Missouri, playing at home, should have very little difficulty in tossing Iowa State aside. This game should not be terribly close.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Missouri

Michigan State Spartans @ Purdue Boilermakers

Saturday, 9:05 PM ET

This is a featured attraction in the Big Ten on Saturday. Michigan State and Purdue are two brand-name programs in the world of college basketball. Their coaches, Tom Izzo and Matt Painter, are obsessively focused on defense and rebounding. Purdue has made two straight Sweet 16s, a really good accomplishment, but Michigan State has raised the bar for everyone in the Big Ten by making two consecutive Final Fours. This year, the Spartans aren’t playing up to Final Four standards because their veteran backcourt, especially point guard Kalin Lucas, isn’t making good choices or exhibiting a lot of decisiveness on the floor. Michigan State big man Draymond Green is carrying more than his fair share of the load, but his teammates aren’t helping. This isn’t good news against a Purdue team that, although shorthanded due to the (pre-season) loss of star player Robbie Hummel, can still defend… and offer the scoring punch of center JaJuan Johnson, who has scored a total of 55 points in his last two games while hitting over 50 percent of his field goal attempts. Take Purdue at home over struggling Sparty.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Purdue

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