College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Today: ATS Picks and Prop Bets (Wednesday, Jan. 21)

Five top 25 teams in the hardwood on Wednesday, and my college basketball predictions and best bets today are backing the only two undefeated power programs left in the sport, Arizona and Nebraska.

While I'm all over No. 1 Wildcats, and the Cornhuskers' best player to put on a show, I'm also expecting a pair of SEC teams to light up the scoreboard and a freshman phenom to continue his stat stuffing.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Plenty of points across the country

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

💰 College basketball best bets today: Ride with the offenses

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

High-scoring SEC shootout between two bubble teams - Over 154.5 (-110)

Kentucky is riding a three-game winning streak behind strong offensive play. The Wildcats are averaging 82.3 PPG during the winning streak and are led by a pair of guards (Otega Oweh and Denzel Aberdeen) who are combining for 33.2 PPG in SEC play.

Those two should take advantage of a Texas defense ranked No. 101 in adjusted efficiency. But the Longhorns have the firepower to overcome their defensive issues, with Sean Miller's team being top 20 in adjusted offensive efficiency and averaging 86.3 PPG.

Texas has hit the Over in nine of its last 13 games.

Bearcats & Wildcats & undefeated Arizona, oh my - Arizona -13.5 (-115)

Covering a 13.5-point spread against a conference opponent might seem like a big ask, but the Wildcats are one of just four teams ranked in the top 10 in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.

With a potential All-American in the backcourt in Jaden Bradley (14.1 PPG, 4.6 APG) and a potential lottery pick in the frontcourt in Koa Peat (14.7 PPG, 5.8 RPG), Cincinnati doesn't have the offense to keep up.

The Bearcats are No. 178 in offensive efficiency and poised for a letdown on the road after upsetting Iowa State.

⛹️ College basketball player props today: Bet the star scorers 

Irish coffee? Caleb Wilson prefers a double-double - Over 29.5 points + rebounds (-113)

Though not getting as much Wooden Award odds buzz as fellow freshman Cameron Boozer and AJ Dybantsa, North Carolina's Caleb Wilson has been nearly as unstoppable. The projected top-five pick is averaging 19.7 PPG and 10.6 RPG.

Notre Dame doesn't match up well with the 6-foot-10 Wilson - none of its top five players in MPG are above 6-foot-7 - and the Irish are allowing ACC opponents to shoot 57.2% from inside the arc.

Wilson has gone for 30-plus points in rebounds in seven of his last 10.

Nebraskaball is inevitable with Pryce Sandfort's shooting - 20+ points (+135)

Nobody would have guessed that Indiana is a football school and Nebraska is a basketball school, but here we are in 2026. The Cornhuskers are one of three undefeated teams in the country thanks to Pryce Sandfort, who leads the Big Ten in made 3-pointers per game (3.3).

The Iowa transfer is shooting 41.1% from deep and has been on fire as of late. In his last two games, Sandfort is averaging 25 PPG and has shot 12-for-21 from three (57.1%).

A Washington defense allowing Big Ten opponents to shoot 34.7% from behind the arc won't be able to stop him.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today