🏀 College Basketball Predictions Today: Washington to Take Advantage of Reeling USC

Wednesday's college basketball slate offers an exciting blend of early tournament action from power conferences, combined with mid-major conferences that have NCAA Tournament bids on the line.

My college basketball predictions today include an ATS play from the Patriot League final where the winner will go dancing, but my top wager fades crumbling USC out of the Big Ten. I also add two player props from SEC and Big Ten tilts, one of which looks to cash plus-money odds.

For more on today's college basketball action, see Rob Paul's conference tournament guide. Get ready for the NCAA Tournament with our March Madness bracket predictions.

🏀 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: 4.0 units | Max profit: 3.86 units

💰 Best college basketball bet today

USC vs. Washington prediction: Washington -4.5 (-110) 

Few programs with realistic chances of making the NCAA Tournament are in as much turmoil currently as USC. The Trojans have lost seven straight entering the Big Ten Tournament, and just recently dismissed second-leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara from the team. 

That news combined with Rodney Rice’s injury after just six games leaves USC devoid of two players who averaged at least 18.5 points per game.

Washington swept USC in the regular season, including a 19-point win in a game Baker-Mazara did not play in. I expect more of the same as the Trojans continue to play out the string.

🔥 More college basketball picks & player props today

Boston University vs. Lehigh prediction: Boston University -1.5 (-108)

Boston University is favored in a true road game in this Patriot League Championship, which is a testament to how well it has played over the last three weeks.

The Terriers have won nine of their last 10 games, with the only loss in that span coming by three points to Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks beat Boston University by five combined points in a regular season sweep, but needed two red-hot 3-point shooting nights (45.8% and 42.1%) to win those nail-biters.

Boston University is 3-1 in its last four games decided by three or fewer points. That includes a win over a Navy team that was a dominant 17-1 in league play, and one that returned all five starters from last year’s squad. 

Jalen Reece Over 5.5 assists (+115) vs. Kentucky

LSU freshman point guard Jalen Reece has seen his assist total decline for four straight games since a season-high 10-assist game against Mississippi. But he has still gone over this projected total three times in that span, while maintaining the fifth-highest assist rate in SEC play (28.1%).

Reece now faces a Kentucky defense that ranks 296th in assists per field goal made. The Wildcats are also 14th out of 16 SEC teams in that metric.

Reece wasn’t in the starting lineup when he still finished with four assists in the regular season loss to Kentucky. He started six of the seven games to end the regular season while playing 37 minutes or more in all but one, so he should have plenty of opportunities to stuff the stat sheet in this elimination game.

Brandon Maclin Over 14.5 points (-115) vs. Georgetown

Brandon Maclin is one of four DePaul players averaging at least 10.8 points. But Blue Demons leading scorer CJ Gunn has stayed under his 13.3 points per game scoring average in four straight games and eight of nine, while paving the way for Maclin’s best stretch of the season.

Maclin has scored in double figures in seven of eight games (15-plus in five of those), after scoring in single digits in nine of the first 11 games.

My confidence in Maclin also comes from some Georgetown injury news, with the Hoyas playing their fourth game without leading scorer KJ Lewis. At the time of his season-ending injury, Georgetown was 13.8 adjusted points per 100 possessions better with Lewis on the floor than without. That is as much of a testament to his perimeter defense as it is his scoring.

💡 How I'm betting college basketball today

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

Oftentimes, the early rounds of most tournaments in power conferences come down to which squad is more motivated. That is why my Washington play is the best college basketball bet today, as it will be difficult for USC to snap a seven-game losing streak without its top two leading scorers.

My other ATS play comes from a game where an NCAA Tournament bid on the line, and I'm backing Boston University to cover its 10th game in its last 11. Those plays pair nicely with two power conference player props, with Reece's most enticing at plus-money odds.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today

In addition to the four wagers above, I am adding a play on Auburn's moneyline odds against Mississippi State as a fifth leg for this parlay.

The Tigers desperately need a win to bolster their NCAA Tournament chances, as they have not won a game away from home since late January. But Mississippi State enters amid a five-game losing streak and have allowed 99 points per game in that span, so a leaky defense should make this a "get right game" for Auburn.

Adding Auburn to this parlay brings the odds from +1294 to a more enticing +1801.