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College Basketball Betting Odds, Picks & Predictions: Friday (3/10)

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Now don’t get me wrong, March Madness games are something else. But the Friday slate of games during Championship Week is right up there with one of the best days in sports. Teams are still fighting for a tournament bid, and the best in the business are in action after double-byes. Be sure to check out my bracketology article, which I’ll continue updating as the tournament gets closer. There are some solid matchups today but remember not to force any bets you don’t love, there is still plenty of season left, and we all want a big bankroll for the tournament.

Here are my best bets for Friday. 

This Season: 109-117-8

Also, take a look at our other best bets for Friday:

View 5-star bets and historical prop performance by players with our Prop Bet Analyzer >>

Best College Basketball Bets for Friday

All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

Rutgers vs. Purdue

These teams faced off earlier this season right after the new year, with Rutgers handing Purdue their first loss. Since then more than two months have passed, and these teams have developed and changed.

In that game, Rutgers held Zach Edey to 19 points on 10 attempts and kept Purdue below 50 percent from inside the arc. The Scarlet Knights were aided by shooting 43 percent from beyond the arc on six threes, a number I would be shocked if they repeated, considering their 32 percent season-average shooting from deep.

In their victory over Michigan, Hunter Dickinson still excelled, racking up 24 points. Without Mawot Mag, Rutgers’ frontcourt is not as strong, making them more susceptible to Purdue’s elite offensive rebounding rate. Still, Rutgers has some solid size with Clifford Omoruyi. Their preference for interior looks should bode well for Rutgers in the mid-range looks, and their interior defense should show out.

It’s March, so it’s going to be close, right?

Play: Rutgers +6.5 (-110)

Mississippi State vs. Alabama

On paper, Alabama is a team that lines up well with Mississippi State. The Crimson Tide’s preference for perimeter looks goes well with the Bulldogs’ interior defense. In practice, Alabama barely beat Mississippi State at home earlier this season after a near collapse in the second half.

Alabama has also been pretty sub-par away from home this year and in neutral court situations, losing to UConn by double digits and needing 4OT to beat UNC. The rims are different, the area is unknown, and Bama simply doesn’t perform well.

In their last four games, Alabama has not been playing to its capacity either. Needing overtime to beat South Carolina, along with overtime to beat Auburn at home, is concerning. Mississippi State’s ability to draw contact could cause problems for some of Bama’s better players, as we saw in the Texas A&M game. 

Considering recent play and where this game is being played, I have to imagine Mississippi State will keep it close. 

Play: Mississippi State +7.5 (-110)

UConn vs. Marquette

UConn is coming off a game where they looked like a national title contender for about 35 minutes, while Marquette is coming off a near loss in overtime to St. Johns.

If we look a bit beyond yesterday’s play, since February 1, UConn is the second-best team in the nation, per Bart Torvik. Marquette, meanwhile, ranks 40th. Connecticut is riding a six-game winning streak and has a double-digit win under its belt against Marquette already.

The Golden Eagles are one of the worst rebounding teams in the nation, ranking outside the top 300 in defensive rebound rate. This does not bode well for facing UConn, a team that leads the nation in offensive rebound rate. Marquette won’t draw contact near the hoop, but they do shoot well from the mid-range. 

The Huskies are a team that has dominated in neutral court play, and based on recent play, they have a chance of doing the same to Marquette tonight.

Play: UConn -3.5 (-102)

Other Plays:

Florida Atlantic -8.5 (-110)
Oregon +5.5 (-102)

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Be sure to follow me @rcoleman98 on the BettingPros app, as I post all my selections there that may not make it in these articles. Remember to monitor injury news because if you can beat the curve, there is plenty of value to be had on any given game day.