College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Tonight: ATS Picks and Prop Bets (Thursday, Jan. 15)

My college basketball predictions and best bets tonight are locking in on two colossal mid-major showdowns, and the only clash with a ranked team.

No. 9 Gonzaga is the only top-25 team in action, so both of my favorite college basketball player props come from the Zags' tilt with Washington State.

🏀 College basketball predictions tonight: Jan. 15

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

💰 College basketball ATS picks tonight

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

Oakland vs. Milwaukee prediction: Oakland -2.5 (-110 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐

Don't let Oakland's 9-9 record fool you; head coach Greg Kampe put together one of the hardest non-conference schedules for the Golden Grizzlies to start the season. Four of their losses have come against top 12 teams, and they still have one of the best ATS records in the Horizon League (10-7).

Led by Brody Robinson, Oakland's offense is top 60 in the country in PPG (84.1) and adjusted efficiency.

Robinson and Co. should light up a Milwaukee defense ranked No. 301 in adjusted efficiency. The Panthers have covered just once in their last four.

Wichita State vs. FAU prediction: Wichita State +5.5 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thursday's schedule lacks massive matchups, but this American battle is a must-watch (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Wichita State poses a challenging matchup for FAU, with the Shockers sitting at 10-6 ATS.

Wichita State star Kenyon Giles is one of the best 3-point shooters in the country, hitting 42.6% from behind the arc. He can push an Owls defense that struggles to defend the perimeter, allowing opponents to shoot 35.3% from deep.

Giles' shooting should keep the Shockers in this game, against an FAU team ranked a spot behind Wichita State (No. 101) by KenPom.

⛹️ College basketball player props tonight

Graham Ike 20+ points (+105 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Without any serious Wooden Award odds contenders taking the court in college basketball tonight, Gonzaga's Graham Ike is the best player playing. Ike is the engine that powers one of the best offenses in the country, averaging 17.8 PPG and 24.6 PPG in his last three outings.

Washington State's defense has been atrocious at times this season, ranking No. 160 in adjusted efficiency and sitting No. 238 in effective field goal percentage allowed (52.5%).

Ike's prowess inside the arc should help him beat up on a Cougars defense that lacks a consistent inside presence.

Ace Glass III 3+ made 3-pointers (+155 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐

Washington State has gotten off to a bumpy start, but the saving grace is freshman Ace Glass III. After not beginning the season as a starter, he's averaging 17.6 PPG over his last 14 games and has hit at least three 3-pointers six times.

The Cougars now lean on Glass, with him ranking in the top 100 in percentage of possessions used (28.7%). 

Against a Gonzaga team that's loaded inside, I expect Glass to be shooting plenty from deep against a Bulldogs' defense that ranks outside the top 150 in 3-pointers allowed per game (7.7).

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks tonight