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College Basketball Odds & Best Bets Today: Schedule, Picks for Sunday

Mike Spector

Last Updated: January 1, 2023 6:37 AM EST • 2 min 54 sec read.

College basketball best bets.
College basketball best bets.

College basketball gets a new year started with a loaded 19-game weekend slate. Read on for our college basketball best bets for Sunday based on the top odds.

Three games out of the Big Ten Conference highlight the Sunday college basketball slate, while two contenders in the Missouri Valley do battle in an enticing early-season matchup as Missouri State hosts Drake.

Here are our college basketball best bets for Sunday (odds via Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, WynnBet, BetRivers; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our college basketball best bets.

Sunday’s College Basketball Schedule and Odds

(Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook)

  • Ohio State (-2) vs. Northwestern
  • Maryland (-1) vs. Michigan
  • Iowa vs. Penn State (-2)
  • Memphis (-4.5) vs. Tulane
  • UCLA (-10.5) vs. Washington

College Basketball Best Bets for Sunday

  • Spread: Temple +4.5 (-115 via Wynn) vs. Cincinnati
  • Moneyline: Butler (-149 via Caesars) vs. Georgetown
  • Total: UCLA-Washington Over 140 (-110 via DraftKings)
  • Upset: Northwestern (+118 via BetRivers) vs. Ohio State

Editor's note: Hey Ohio! Welcome to legal sports betting. Check out the best sites for Ohio sports betting and the best Ohio sportsbook promos!  

College Basketball Top Picks

Spread: Temple +4.5 (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Cincinnati has played just one true road game, suffering a 13-point loss to Northern Kentucky. While the Norse were preseason co-favorites in the Horizon League, the Bearcats still need to prove themselves on the road before we back them in what should be a closely contested league game. 

Temple beat Cincinnati by a combined seven points in two regular-season meetings last year. The team played both of those games without 2022-23 leading scorer Khalif Battle, who's one of three AAC players averaging more than 18 points per game (18.6). The Bearcats are second in the league with a plus-11.7 points per game differential, but their four top-135 KenPom opponents have outscored them by 28 points (Temple ranks 134th).

Wynn is the only sportsbook that hasn't come down from its opening number of +4.5. The -115 in juice is well worth it, as most other sportsbooks are at +3.5.

Moneyline: Butler (-149) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

At some point, we'll need to wonder if Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing will make it through the season. The Hoyas were undone during their last game against DePaul by 18 turnovers, which the Blue Demons converted into 25 points. Considering Butler forces turnovers at an even higher clip than DePaul (112th compared to 135th), Georgetown could be in for a similarly rough day.

Caesars is the only sportsbook offering Butler for cheaper than -150. Others are as high as -160, so Caesars offers great value for Bulldogs backers.

Total: UCLA-Washington Over 140 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

UCLA torched Mike Hopkins’ 2-3 zone in two meetings last year, winning by an average of 76.5-58. The Huskies’ zone has been more effective than in 2021-22, allowing opponents to shoot 27.8% from beyond the arc compared to last year’s 33.8% clip.

However, that is not an apples-to-apples comparison, as Washington has barely scratched the surface of conference play. In the Huskies’ two games against top-25 competition, they allowed Auburn to shoot 9-for-17 from deep, while Gonzaga burned them for 51.8% shooting from the floor and won the rebound battle 36-29. 

DraftKings and Caesars are the only sportsbooks at 140, while all others are a half-point higher at 140.5.

Upset: Northwestern (+118) ⭐⭐

Ohio State is in the ultimate trap spot here while playing the late game (7:30 p.m. ET tip) in Chicago with a colossal home matchup against the No. 1 ranked team in the country (Purdue) looming. Northwestern has won five straight games, including a road victory at Michigan State. The Wildcats also know how to defend their home court, going 4-1 at home in conference play to end last season.

Northwestern ranks in the top 10 nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and effective field-goal percentage defense allowed. The Wildcats are also the country’s best team when defending inside the arc, allowing opponents to shoot just 37.9% from 2-point range.

Northwestern opened at a consensus of +110, so it will be interesting to see if BetRivers remains so high on the Wildcats before tipoff.

Check out our top sports-betting sites for Illinois.

College basketball best bets made 1/1/2023 at 8:00 a.m. ET.

Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:

* Bonuses not applicable in Ontario.

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Written By:
Mike Spector
I have been in the sports writing industry for over three years, working for sites like BettingPros/FantasyPros, Oddschecker, and Sportsbook Review. In my first year writing for BettingPros, I finished with the #2 overall record in their annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an over/under and moneyline perspective. I am an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, and all college sports. In my opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and I am especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. I am a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." Follow me on Twitter for my best bets and commentary to go along with the wagers.