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College Basketball Odds, Picks & Predictions: Wednesday (2/21)

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It’s Wednesday, and there are a slew of great games on tap for college hoops. We had a major upset on Tuesday, as top-ranked UConn took it on the chin against Creighton in a game which was never close from the jump. I’m once again pinch-hitting for Mike Spector, who recharges his batteries this week on vacation, resting up leading into March Madness. We ended up with a winning record at 3-2 (+94) on Monday, and while plus-money is great, we can do even better. Let’s get started!

Wednesday’s College Basketball Best Bets

Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook. | All wagers are for 1 unit

Richmond at Rhode Island – 7 p.m. ET

The Spiders (18-7) travel to meet the Rams (11-14) at the Thomas M. Ryan Center in Kingston, R.I. The game can be viewed on ESPN+. Richmond has won five in a row in the series, while covering three of those outings, including the past two visits to URI.

Richmond bounced back from a stunning 69-59 loss at home against UMass to destroy George Washington on the road by a 90-74 count, covering as 5.5-point favorites as the Over (149.5) cashed. URI, meanwhile, was on the short end of a 77-67 score against Loyola-Illinois at home on Sunday. The Rams are just 2-7 straight up (SU) in the past nine outings, while covering just three of those contests. Back Richmond laying the points, as the Spiders look to secure their 19th victory of the season.

Bets: Richmond -4.5 (-110)

Evansville at Illinois-Chicago – 8 p.m. ET

The Purple Aces (15-12) travel to meet the Flames (10-17) at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, and this game also can be viewed on ESPN+. Evansville looks for the regular-season series sweep after posting a 77-60 win against UIC at home as a 1-point underdog on Jan. 31 as the Under (140.5) connected.

Evansville has dropped the past three games, with two of those setbacks coming at Murray State and at Illinois State. However, the Purple Aces have covered seven of the past eight games, including the UIC game.

On the flip side, the Flames are coming off a 75-60 loss against Belmont on Sunday, not even coming close to covering as a 3-point underdog as the Under (154.5) cashed. UIC had covered three in a row from Feb. 7-14, but it is just 4-12 ATS across the past 16 games. UIC did win last season’s game at home on Feb. 4, 2023 by a 70-61 count as a 9-point favorite. However, the Purples Aces are the play, as they worked over the Flames in the first meeting, have the better body of work this season, and come in hot against the number.

Bets: Evansville +2.5 (-106)

Belmont at Drake – 8 p.m. ET

We’ll stay in the Missouri Valley Conference for this game, which can be viewed on ESPN+, too. The Bruins (16-11) are starting to look like their old selves again after a sluggish start to the conference slate. Belmont enters on a four-game win and cover streak, including a dominant 75-60 win at UIC on Sunday as a 3-point favorite. The Bruins are also 6-1 ATS in the past seven outings.

The Bulldogs (22-5) head into this home game at The Knapp Center in Des Moines, IA with revenge on their minds. Drake suffered an ugly 87-65 loss at Belmont on Jan. 7, as the Bruins covered as 5.5-point favorites with the Under (154.5) coming in. Drake has won four in a row, but it is just 2-4 ATS in the past six outings. At home, the Bulldogs have split the past four games against the number. Based on Belmont’s dominance in the first meeting, and its home streak against the number, playing the underdog is warranted.

Bets: Belmont +9.5 (-105)

Georgia at Vanderbilt – 8:30 p.m. ET

Last, but certainly not least, the Bulldogs (14-11) and Commodores (7-18) hook up in Nashville in a game that tips off on the SEC Network. Georgia, the favorites, looks to halt a four-game losing streak in the series. Vanderbilt has covered five of the past six meetings, too.

UGA has been struggling lately, dropping six straight after a 14-5 SU start. As such, their NCAA Tournament aspirations have likely forced them into an untenable position, perhaps having to win the SEC Tournament, or at least get to the Final, to receive any consideration. The Dawgs are just 1-4 ATS in the past five games, and they really need to get it in gear.

Vandy’s road to the postseason was ended long ago barring a miracle run in the league tourney. It was just destroyed 88-53 at Tennessee on Saturday, failing to cover a 20-point number, and the ‘Dores are 2-10 SU against SEC opponents while going just 3-6-1 ATS across the past 10 outings. Georgia can ill afford to lose this game, if it hopes to get its postseason hopes back on track. Vanderbilt has been a thorn in the side of many, but it isn’t a good team.

Bets: Georgia -1.5 (-110)

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