College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Today: ATS Picks and Prop Bets (Friday, Jan. 23)

While just two top-25 teams are playing on Friday, there's plenty of action, and my college basketball predictions and best bets today are backing two of the best teams taking the court.

Meanwhile, my favorite college basketball player props are targeting two of the hottest scorers in the country with favorable matchups. And don't miss our Ohio State vs. Michigan prediction for the biggest game on the slate tonight.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Star power wins the day

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

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

Saints Louis vs. St. Bonaventure prediction: Saint Louis -7 (-115 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The best mid-major keeps on rolling.

Josh Schertz is one of the best coaches in the country, and two years after dominating at Indiana State, he has Saint Louis ranked and looking like the best mid-major. The Billikens are 18-1 and beating A-10 opponents by an average margin of 15.8 points.

Led by big man and internet sensation Robbie Avila, Saint Louis is ninth nationally in PPG (91.2) and should push a St. Bonaventure program that's No. 225 in adjusted defensive efficiency. 

The Billikens are 8-4 ATS since December, while the Bonnies are 3-7 ATS in that same timeframe.

Indiana vs. Rutgers prediction: Indiana -5.5 (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers used to be a basketball school.

Indiana is now officially a football school, but the Hoosiers should cruise to a victory tonight. Despite being on a four-game losing streak, Darian DeVries program has the luck of playing a Rutgers team that's 5-10 since mid-November.

The Scarlet Knights are 315th in the country in PPG (70.3) and giving up the second-most PPG in Big Ten play (83.4). 

Indiana just covered against Michigan, the March Madness odds favorite, and Rutgers won't be able to keep up with Tucker DeVries and Co., who have the Hoosiers sitting No. 39 in adjusted offensive efficiency.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

Marquette vs. Butler prediction: Finley Bizjack 20+ points (+105 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

He's in the business of jacking up shots.

Butler is off to its best start of Thad Matta's tenure, thanks in part to the emergence of Finley Bizjack. The junior has taken a massive step this season, sitting third in the Big East in PPG (16.9) and fourth in made 3-pointers per game (2.4). 

Bizjack has taken his game up a notch in conference play, too. He's averaging 17.9 PPG in eight Big East matchups, and has gone for 21-plus in three of his last four.

Marquette's defense is among the worst in the conference, allowing 81.2 PPG to Big East teams.

Utah State vs. Colorado State prediction: Mason Falslev 20+ points (+190 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

There ain't nothing false about him.

MJ Collins was the story early in the season for a Utah State team that looks poised to earn a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. However, since Mountain West play got underway, it's been Mason Falslev making the most noise - he's averaging 19 PPG in conference games.

In his last three games, Falslev has been unstoppable. He's averaging 24 PPG across 37.6 MPG and shooting 51% from the floor.

Colorado State's defense has been brutal this season, ranking No. 235 in adjusted efficiency, and isn't equipped to cool down the heater Falslev is on.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today