College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Today: ATS Picks and Prop Bets (Thursday, Feb. 5)

Following a Wednesday full of pandemonium, with three top-25 upsets, including No. 6 Gonzaga, my college basketball predictions and best bets today are locked in on the best player on the only ranked team taking the court, No. 2 Michigan.

And as part of my favorite college basketball player props, I'm also backing the top scorer on Michigan's biggest rival, Ohio State, ahead of the Wolverines' showdown with the Buckeyes this weekend.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Big Ten 

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds.

💰 College basketball best bets today

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

West Virginia vs. Cincinnati prediction: Under 129.5 (-115 via BetMGM)

You might as well call this the Bob Huggins bowl ... he led both programs to national prominence, and both still play suffocating defense. West Virginia and Cincinnati each rank in the top 35 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, and they rank in the bottom two in PPG in Big 12 play.

Neither of these offenses brings much to the table. WVU is one of the slowest-paced attacks in the country, ranking No. 361 in adjusted tempo. Cinci is just No. 217 in adjusted offensive efficiency.

These two programs are a combined 31-13 betting the Under this season.

Memphis vs. UAB prediction: Memphis +2.5 (-104 via FanDuel) 

This is among the best games on the schedule tonight. Memphis has been sporadic this season, but still has one of the best defenses in the American, ranked No. 39 in adjusted efficiency.

That should pose issues for a UAB team ranked outside the top 130 in both offensive and defensive efficiency. Despite their record, the Blazers are just 3-6 ATS in conference play and have failed to cover in five of the last six games they've been favored in. 

If Memphis can get enough out of Dug McDaniel offensively, it could win outright.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

Penn State vs. Michigan prediction: Yaxel Lendeborg 18+ points (+130 via DraftKings) 

The last time Yaxel Lendeborg was on the court, he was an unstoppable force against a Michigan State defense ranked No. 4 in adjusted efficiency. Penn State has the worst defense in the Big Ten, sitting No. 250 in adjusted efficiency.

The Nittany Lions are allowing the most PPG in Big Ten play (86.1), and have given up 93-plus in four of their last seven.

Lendeborg is coming off a 26-point performance for the March Madness odds favorites, and has gone for 18-plus in two of his last three.

Ohio State vs. Maryland prediction: Bruce Thornton 20+ points (+115 via bet365) 

He may not be a Wooden Award odds favorite, but Bruce Thornton is as important to his team's success as almost any player in the country. The senior is fifth in the Big Ten in PPG (19.5) and leads a Buckeyes offense that's top 30 in adjusted efficiency.

Maryland doesn't have the talent to slow Thornton, with the Terrapins allowing 83.3 PPG in conference matchups and holding a 1-9 record in Big Ten games.

Thornton is ranked No. 5 in the country in OBPR by EvanMiya and has gone for 20-plus in five of 11 Big Ten games this season. 

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today