College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Today: ATS Picks and Prop Bets (Tuesday, Jan. 13)

With a loaded Tuesday slate that includes several ranked teams taking the court, my college basketball predictions and best bets today focus on a pair of top 25 matchups and two major SEC clashes.

My favorite college basketball player props are taking two All-SEC talents to shine against struggling defenses, including one at plus-money.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Jan. 13

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

💰 College basketball predictions today

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

Virginia vs. Louisville prediction: Virginia +3.5 (-105 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ryan Odom has Virginia back on track in his first season as bench boss, with the Cavaliers among the top teams against the spread in the ACC at 10-6. Virginia has been at its best since ACC play began, too, going 3-1 ATS in conference games.

Meanwhile, after Louisville got off to a hot start to the season in Pat Kelsey's second year leading the program, the banged-up Cardinals have come crashing down. Louisville is 1-3 ATS in ACC play.

The Cardinals are still without one-time Wooden Award odds contender Mikel Brown Jr., too.

UConn vs. Seton Hall prediction: Under 134.5 (-115 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This top-25 showdown might harken back to the old days of the Big East, when physicality was king. Both UConn and Seton Hall rank in the top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency, per KenPom, and neither allows more than 64 points per game.

Both programs lean heavily on their defenses and play a slow brand of offense. Neither the Huskies nor the Pirates rank in the top 250 in adjusted tempo this season. 

This game total is set as low as 130.5 at some of our best March Madness betting sites, making it a must-play at DraftKings.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

Ja'Kobi Gillespie, Tennessee: Over 2.5 made 3-pointers (-130 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the best transfer additions in the country this season, Ja'Kobi Gillespie, has given Rick Barnes an offensive threat he can lean on. Gillespie ranks sixth in the country in OBPR, per EvanMiya, and top 10 in the SEC in both made 3-pointers per game (2.8) and 3-point percentage (36.3%).  

His range will come in handy against a Texas A&M defense that's struggled to defend the perimeter this season.

The Aggies rank outside the top 200 in 3-point percentage allowed (33.6%) and 3-pointers allowed per game (8.5).

Thomas Haugh, Florida: 20+ points (+155 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Though Florida's championship defense has been shaky, Thomas Haugh is hardly to blame. The Gators' forward has carried the offensive load this season and ranks top 10 in the SEC in points per game (17.2). 

Haugh has been seeing plenty of usage in SEC play, going for 21-plus points in two of three conference games while averaging 37 minutes, 14 field goal attempts, and 5.6 free throw attempts across those three games.

His high usage should continue against an Oklahoma defense ranked No. 114 in adjusted efficiency.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today