Saturdays feature an incredible number of college basketball games. It is easy to get lost in the sea of betting options with so many games taking place around the country. In this post, I'll point you in the direction of my top college basketball picks & predictions.
Are these the only good bets? Of course not. But they are the ones I feel good enough to share.
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Saturday’s Best College Basketball Picks & Predictions
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
No. 24 Louisville Cardinals at Clemson Tigers
Clemson has been in a free fall the last couple of weeks, losing four straight to Virginia Tech, Duke, Wake Forest and Florida State. Louisville has gone 2-2 in its last four, including its last game, a 77-74 loss to North Carolina on Monday. Both teams play solid defense, with Clemson's being the better of the two. However, the Tigers’ offense is inconsistent.
While they may contain the Cardinals on the offensive end somewhat, the Tigers’ offense will let them down. It's going to be one of the more entertaining games of the day. Louisville will come out on top in the end.
Pick: Louisville -1.5 (-108)
Virginia Tech Hokies at No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels
Virginia Tech has shown some solid potential at times, like in their recent 10-point win over No. 20 Clemson and their recent 82-63 victory over Wake Forest. But they have also been wildly inconsistent, with back-to-back conference wins just once this season. Losing Caleb Wilson to a hand injury stings, but North Carolina still has more talent and depth than the Hokies and plays more efficiently on both ends of the court.
Virginia Tech's need for a win to boost its tournament resume will help it take its game to another level. But while they'll make the game more competitive, the Hokies will not be able to pull a win out in the end against a better North Carolina team.
Pick: North Carolina -6.5 (-108)
No. 12 Nebraska Cornhuskers at USC Trojans
A couple of weeks ago, when their record stood at 18-6, USC looked like a shoo-in for the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament. But four losses later, their future is not nearly as certain, but it's something a win over No. 12 Nebraska could certainly fix. However, USC has struggled with turnovers in recent games and has had trouble getting the offense kick-started.
While playing at home will help, it will not be any easier against a solid Nebraska defense (No. 16 in the country, 65.4 points per game allowed). USC knows it needs to get a win here, and the extra effort will show. But they are the weaker of the two teams. I've seen several analysts take the Trojans and the points, but I can't see any reason to think USC will keep it that close.
Pick: Nebraska -5.5 (-102)
