College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Today: Can Kingston Flemings Stay Hot?

Although the Wednesday slate features just three top 25 programs taking the court, my college basketball predictions and best bets today are focused on two of them, including the defending national champions.

I'm also expecting a high-scoring SEC showdown and for one of the best players in the Big Ten to continue to carry his team in a crucial home matchup.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Points aplenty in major matchups

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.

Texas vs. Auburn prediction: Over 156.5 (-110 via Caesars) 

Though neither of these SEC programs is ranked, this is arguably the best game on the schedule tonight because of the offenses. Both Texas and Auburn are ranked in the top 15 in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency.

However, neither team is expected to earn a top-six seed in the NCAA Tournament because of their defensive woes. The Longhorns are No. 99 in adjusted defensive efficiency, and the Tigers are No. 64.

They're a combined 23-16 betting the Over this season, and KenPom projects them to combine for 161 points.

Florida vs. South Carolina prediction: Florida -10.5 (-110 via bet365) 

After an inconsistent start to the season for the defending champs, Florida has had a far more vicious bite over the last two months. Since the start of December, the Gators are 8-5 ATS, including 5-2 ATS in SEC play.

Todd Golden's team has beaten up on lesser SEC opponents, too. Florida is outscoring its last three SEC teams ranked outside the top 30 by KenPom by an average margin of 16.6 points

South Carolina is ranked No. 76, second-worst in the SEC. The Gamecocks are 3-4 ATS in conference games.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

USC vs. Iowa prediction: Bennett Stirtz 25+ points (+245 via FanDuel) 

The Drake combo, by way of Northwest Missouri State, of head coach Ben McCollum and guard Bennett Stirtz, has made Iowa must-watch TV. Stirtz is one of the best offensive threats in college basketball, as the only player in the Big Ten averaging at least 18 points and five assists per game.

He's averaging 20.6 PPG in Big Ten play and has been cooking unranked conference opponents. In five games against unranked Big Ten teams, Stirtz is putting up 24 PPG with three 25-plus performances.

USC is unranked and sits outside the top 40 in defensive efficiency.

Houston vs. TCU prediction: Kingston Flemings 20+ points (+156 via FanDuel) 

This is shaping up to be a historically dominant freshman class in college basketball, with the Wooden Award odds littered with first-year players. Among them is Kingston Flemings, who's coming off a 42-point performance against Texas Tech. 

Flemings has been as hot as it gets against Big 12 opponents, putting up 20.7 PPG in conference play.

TCU's defense isn't equipped to slow Flemings, who's fourth in the Big 12 in OBPR (6.39). The Horned Frogs have allowed 82-plus points in four of their last six conference matchups.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today