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College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: Monday (2/3)

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This past Saturday capped a tremendous week in college basketball, highlighted by the fact that 11 ranked teams lost, which was tied for the most on a single day in the AP Poll era.

Among the major storylines from the weekend was Kansas State beating Iowa State by 19 points for its largest win against a top-five opponent since 1951. Tennessee’s 20-point win over Florida was its largest against a top-five opponent in program history. Elsewhere, Texas Tech snapped Houston’s 33-game home winning streak and Oklahoma tied its largest win against a ranked opponent in program history, beating Vanderbilt by 30 points.

Continue reading for a detailed breakdown of our college basketball best bets and top picks for Monday, February 3rd.

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    Monday's Best College Basketball Bets

    (Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

    Virginia (+12) @ Pittsburgh (-12) | O/U 133 (-110/-110) 

    Pittsburgh is reeling with five losses in its last seven games, though one of those wins was on relatively short rest when it beat North Carolina last Tuesday at home. The Panthers’ win over the Tar Heels was impressive as they overcame a 10-point first-half deficit and bothered UNC defensively by switching its game plan mid-game and switching on pick-and-rolls.

    Perhaps the most impressive part of Pitt’s win over UNC was that it held the Tar Heels to eight transition possessions, their lowest all season. That will happen when one takes care of the ball and utilizes good shot selection. It does not bode well for Virginia’s chances of scoring in the half-court, as the Cavaliers’ offense ranks 13th in conference play in adjusted offensive efficiency.

    Pittsburgh has a huge edge in turnover percentage (ranking 16th vs. UVA at 160) and free throw shooting (seventh while UVA ranks outside the top 100). That should help the Panthers cover for the ninth time in 13 home games this season.

    Pick: Pittsburgh -12 (-115)

    Iowa State (+2.5) @ Kansas (-2.5) | O/U 144.5 (-112/-108) 

    This is a rematch of a January 15 game in Ames the Cyclones won 74-57 - Kansas’ worst loss of the season. The Jayhawks entered that game holding their first four Big 12 opponents to 0.77 points per possession. But when the Cyclones finished with 1.03 points per possession, it created the feeling that Kansas benefitted from a soft early-season conference slate.
    The Jayhawks are glad to have KJ Adams back from a three-game absence, but he has averaged just nine points per game in the two games back from injury. The Cyclones held him to four points on five shot attempts in the first matchup.
    Many will be down on Iowa State after its 29-game home winning streak was snapped in its last game against Kansas State. But the Jayhawks also are coming off their largest blown lead in program history (21 points). I am backing a Cyclones team that has covered eight of their first 11 conference games and is 4-0 against the spread (ATS) against ranked opponents this year.

    Pick: Iowa State +2.5 (-110)

    Make sure to check out our other best bets for Monday:

    Mike Spector is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @MikeSpector01.

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