College Basketball Best Bets Today | ATS Picks & Player Props for Sunday, Jan. 4

My college basketball best bets today aim to build on yesterday's successes, which led to a profitable 3-1 day.

My college basketball player props are also 3-1 over the last two days and include one of the top freshmen in the Big East’s game of the day. I round out my four-pack of picks with my best traditional ATS and O/U plays.

🏀 College basketball best bets today: Jan. 4

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

💰 College basketball expert picks today

Want more college basketball betting advice? Check out all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

UTEP vs. FIU prediction: Over 151.5 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Panthers went into their last game against New Mexico State averaging 50 points and 63 possessions in two losses to the Aggies last year, but just torched their CUSA rivals for 89 points and 1.25 points per possession on Friday.

While still a heavily reliant team on transition opportunities, FIU entered Friday ranked in the 58th percentile in halfcourt efficiency, up big from the second percentile ranking last season. Its offensive prowess is why the Over should cash for the sixth time in the seventh game after a Panthers win, and for their third straight league game.

Southern Illinois vs. Belmont prediction: Belmont -6.5 (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐

Belmont entered its last game (an 88-78 win over Bradley) ranked in the first percentile in rim rate allowed. That makes the Bruins a terrible matchup for Southern Illinois, as the Salukis rank in the bottom 30 of D-I teams in 3-point percentage (28.3%).

Belmont is also on a path to positive regression in terms of home/road/neutral site shooting splits. Prior to torching Bradley for 88 points and 43.5% shooting from 3-point range, the Bruins had shot 33% from beyond the arc in home games, and 47% away from home.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

Search the best college basketball player prop odds for any team or player across every market from legal sportsbooks in your area.

Braylon Mullins Over 1.5 3-pointers made (-125 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Marquette did not take a single transfer in the offseason, which makes it even harder to believe the Golden Eagles are struggling so much defensively. 

This personnel will be very familiar with UConn’s arsenal having lost the two regular season meetings last year by a combined 14 points. But the Golden Eagles also struggled to defend the Huskies from the perimeter, as UConn made 12-of-19 threes in the first game, and 7-of-20 in the rematch. 

Freshman Braylon Mullins is the one player Shaka Smart isn’t familiar with, and I expect him to make multiple threes for the fifth straight game.

Brayden Maldonado Over 2.5 assists (+122 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐

Seattle point guard Brayden Maldonado had the team’s highest offensive rating per KenPom (min. 20 minutes) in the team’s near upset at Gonzaga on Friday.

While this is a quick turnaround for the Redhawks against the league’s second best team, Maldonado will likely have the ball in his hands a ton after his 17 points against Gonzaga were his most in seven games.

I expect Saint Mary’s, however, to turn him into more of a facilitator. These plus-money odds are a great value for a player who has had at least three assists in four of the last six games.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today