College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Today: ATS Picks and Prop Bets (Friday, Jan. 16)

There are just seven games on Friday's schedule, and none involving ranked programs, but my college basketball predictions and best bets today are locked in on one of the biggest stars in the sport.

Kansas takes on Baylor in the best game of the day, and my favorite college basketball player prop is backing freshman phenom Darryn Peterson.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Jan. 16

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

💰 College basketball ATS picks today

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

Loyola Chicago vs. Dayton prediction: Dayton -16.5 (-105 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is not the Loyola Chicago team that made major noise in the NCAA Tournament several years ago and turned Sister Jean into a star. The Ramblers are 5-13 this season, are ranked No. 293 by KenPom, and are 5-13 ATS.

Meanwhile, Dayton is one of the best teams in the A10 with a suffocating defense that's No. 32 in adjusted efficiency and allowing the fewest PPG in conference play (65.3).

To make matters worse for the Ramblers, four of their top six scores are banged-up and questionable for tonight's matchup.

Marquette vs. DePaul prediction: DePaul -3 (-110 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐

After making the NCAA Tournament in each of Shaka Smart's first four seasons leading the program, Marquette has fallen off a cliff. The Golden Eagles are ranked outside the top 240 in PPG (74.3) and points allowed per game (77.2).

Marquette is among the worst teams ATS in the Big East (5-13) and is 2-8 ATS since December. 

DePaul has gone the other way in year two under Chris Holtmann. With a defense ranked top 50 in adjusted efficiency, the Blue Demons are 11-6 ATS and have covered in seven of their last eight.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

Austin Swartz, Creighton: 4+ made 3-pointers (+140 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you like scoring, Creighton's matchup with Providence tonight is for you, especially if you enjoy guards who shoot without a conscience. Leading the way from behind the arc is Austin Swartz, who's coming off an 8-for-12 performance from deep.

The sophomore started the season coming off the bench, but has been the Bluejays' best shooter since entering the starting lineup. Since December, he's averaging 3.8 made 3-pointers on 8.5 attempts per game (44.7%). 

Providence is bottom 10 in the country in 3-pointers allowed (10.5) and 3-point percentage allowed (37.8%).

Darryn Peterson Over 22.5 points (+102 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Though Peterson isn't in the Wooden Award odds race alongside fellow freshman Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa, the Kansas guard could go No. 1 over them. Peterson has dazzled when on the court, averaging 21.8 PPG and shooting 40% from three.

Since his return to the hardwood, he's averaging 24.2 PPG in just 28.2 MPG. In his four games back, he's gone Over 22.5 points three times - the only time he didn't was against an Iowa State defense ranked No. 4 in adjusted efficiency.

Baylor's defense is its achilles heal, sitting No. 94 in adjusted efficiency.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today