College Basketball Predictions Today: Top 10 Showdown Highlights Loaded Slate

It's a massive college basketball slate today following several major games over the last few days. Tuesday's biggest matchup is No. 1 Michigan at No. 7 Purdue, a battle of title contenders.

While that top 10 showdown is a must-watch, it's not the only game my college basketball predictions today are focused on. There are double-digit games tonight involving ranked programs, and I'm locked in on four of them with my best bets today.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Best player props & ATS picks

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds; picks rated on a 1-to-5 star confidence scale based on betting value.

Total wagered: 3.5 units | Max profit: 4.46 units

💰 Best college basketball bet today 

Michigan vs. Purdue prediction: Michigan -2.5 (-110) at Purdue

This is one of the biggest games of the season, the March Madness odds favorite (Michigan) against the preseason favorite (Purdue). And though Michigan is on the road, the Wolverines are the best team in the country - they're the only team ranked top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. 

Led by the top two-way player in college basketball, Yaxel Lendeborg, Michigan's length should overwhelm Purdue All-American Braden Smith enough to pull away.

The Wolverines have been at their best against the best; they're 4-1 ATS against ranked opponents, beating them by an average of 23 points.

🔥 More college basketball picks & player props today

Louisville vs. SMU prediction: Mikel Brown Jr. 4+ made 3-pointers (+220) at SMU

If not for injury, Mikel Brown Jr. might be among the freshmen in the Wooden Award odds race. The projected top 10 pick has hit 14 threes in his last two games.

In his last two outings, Brown has been shooting 66.7% from beyond the arc. He's one of the most lethal weapons in the ACC, averaging 3.2 made threes against conference foes.

SMU is allowing the most made 3-pointers in ACC play (10.8). That's why this prop is priced as short as +140 at some of our best March Madness betting sites, and is a must-play at FanDuel.

Wisconsin vs. Ohio State prediction: Bruce Thornton 25+ points (+140) vs. Wisconsin

Tonight's matchup against Wisconsin could be make or break for Ohio State's NCAA Tournament hopes. If the Buckeyes are going to beat the Badgers, Bruce Thornton needs to show why he's ranked the seventh-most valuable offensive player in the country by EvanMiya.

With Ohio State's second-best player out indefinitely (John Mobley Jr.), Thornton took on a larger role in Saturday's loss to Virginia. He put up 28 points on 21 shots.

That usage will need to continue against a Wisconsin team ranked outside the top 50 in adjusted defensive efficiency and allowing the fourth-most PPG in Big Ten play (78.7).

Nebraska vs. Iowa prediction: Nebraska ML (+105) at Iowa

Iowa should not be favored in this game, even with home-court advantage. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 21-point loss to Purdue at home and a brutal upset loss to Maryland, and have just a 2-5 record against Quad 1 teams.

Nebraska's only three losses this season have come to three teams ranked in the top 10 (Michigan, Illinois, Purdue) by a combined 15 points. In Nebraska's five other Quad 1 matchups, it's 5-0.

The Cornhuskers have a top 10 defense capable of slowing Iowa star Bennett Stirtz down and one of the best shooters in the country, Pryce Sandfort.

💡 How I'm betting college basketball today

Follow all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

With tonight's college basketball schedule full of massive games, I'm focusing on four of the most important/most entertaining matchups. I love betting on games that I know I'm going to watch, and what CBB fan won't be tuned into, Michigan vs. Purdue. 

Meanwhile, I love targeting plus-money player props for scorers who have been hot and have advantageous matchups. That's why I'm comfortable allocating 1.5 units to my Mikel Brown Jr. and Bruce Thornton bets. I'd take Brown to hit four-plus threes at anything +140 or better, so the odds at FanDuel have me fired up.

The Nebraska moneyline play is purely because it should be a pick'em at worst, if not the Cornhuskers being the 2.5-point betting favorite. I'd take Nebraska ML at anything longer than -130.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today

I like parlaying these four picks because it's backing the best to keep playing like the best in matchups that shouldn't slow them down. Michigan has been a monster against ranked teams, Nebraska has beaten every non-top 10 team it's played, SMU's perimeter defense isn't equipped to slow the hottest shooter in the country, and Thornton needs to carry the load because Mobley is out.