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Top College Basketball Parlay Picks for Sunday

Jon Metler

Last Updated: January 16, 2022 5:16 AM EST • 2 min 26 sec read.

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA - JANUARY 06: Joey Brunk #50 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates against the Indiana Hoosiers at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on January 06, 2022 in Bloomington, Indiana. Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by ANDY LYONS / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

College basketball's Sunday slate features endless parlay pick opportunities, including a defensive battle in the AAC and two picks against the spread from the Big Ten.

Minnesota almost upset Michigan State the last time it played. We're not asking the Golden Gophers to end their three-game skid in the Big Ten, but we need them to keep it within 6 points.

Meanwhile, you might want to watch something other than the Cincinnati vs. Wichita State game if you're a fan of efficient offensive basketball. However, while it may not be the most pleasing to the eye, there's still money to be made.

Here are my top parlay picks for the Jan. 16 college basketball matchups (odds via PointsBet; pick confidence based on 1-to-5-star scale).

Sunday's Top College Basketball Parlay Picks

Minnesota +6 vs. Iowa (-110) ????Ohio State -9 vs. Penn State (-115) ????Wichita State vs. Cincinnati Under 135 (-115) ???

SEE ALSO: Iowa vs. Minnesota College Basketball Picks

Top College Basketball Parlay Predictions

Minnesota +6 (-110)

In its home victory over Indiana on Wednesday, Iowa covered the number by 3.5 points. Kris Murray - the brother of the nation's leading scorer, Keegan Murray - scored 29 points. By forcing Indiana into 23 turnovers, Iowa was able to turn its defense into offense.

Though Minnesota has lost three games in a row, it was very impressive at Michigan State, losing by just two. The way Minnesota was able to protect the ball against Michigan State will make the difference against Iowa. Despite a chaotic environment, the Golden Gophers turned the ball over only eight times.

The line is too high for a Minnesota team playing at home, and I doubt Murray will repeat his performance from Wednesday. The spread should be closer to Iowa -4, and even at the number, I'd still lean toward taking the home team.

PointsBet is where I am placing this first leg of our college basketball parlay bets because it has +6 instead of the +5.5 offered by several other sportsbooks.

Ohio State -9 (-115)

The Buckeyes beat Penn State by 12 points on the road earlier this season, and Sunday's game will be played in Columbus, where they've been much better this year.

In Wednesday's loss to Wisconsin, Ohio State struggled to shoot the three, which was expected because of the Badgers' 3-point defense. This game against Penn State should present a completely different story from behind the arc. The Buckeyes are one of the most efficient 3-point shooting teams in the nation and the Nittany Lions have one of the worst 3-point defenses.

Additionally, role players generally perform better at home, so expect a better performance from Eric Liddell Jr. than he showed in the last meeting.

I expect Ohio State to cover the 9 points easily. The Buckeyes opened at -8.5 and have been bet up to -9.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Once again, you'll receive the best number when we place our college basketball parlay at PointsBet.

Wichita State-Cincinnati Under 135 (-115)

Though neither program has its most talented team this season compared to years past, both schools still play defense at a high level.

Wichita State and Cincinnati have fairly similar team profiles, as the biggest hurdle to winning more games is their offense. However, their defensive numbers are on par with some of the best teams in the nation.

Based on the style these two teams play, I believe the 135 total posted at PointsBet is too high. The game is projected to finish at 133 points, so I'm more than willing to take the extra 2 points offered by PointsBet, with which you'll get a better total than at FanDuel Sportsbook, which is 133.5.

Combined Odds: Minnesota +6 (-110) + Ohio State -9 (-115) + Wichita State-Cincinnati Under 135 (-115) = +567

SEE ALSO: All picks and odds. Be sure to check out SportsbookReview.com's community forums and betting tools.

College basketball parlay picks made 1/16/2022 at 8:48 a.m. ET.

Written By:
Jon Metler
Jon Metler is a Sports Betting Analyst at SportsbookReview.com. Having played, coached, and officiated basketball, he immediately turned his attention to the NBA and College Basketball when he entered the sports betting space. Sports betting has been a part of his life for over 13 years, and he specializes in futures markets and player props, particularly in the NBA. In pursuit of value, he keeps a close eye on movements in the betting markets. He believes strongly in analytics and staying ahead of the curve; let the numbers do the talking. A graduate of the University of Windsor with a degree in Sports Studies, Jon enjoys spending time with his dogs when he isn't watching basketball.