Top College Basketball Picks for Monday, January 3 (2022)
As of this morning, there are only five games on the entire college basketball slate that have been postponed. Things are starting to get a bit better on the COVID front in college basketball, yet, we’re nowhere close to being completely back. Either way, with enough games ready to go, there’s plenty of games to choose from.
I’ve found three games where I see value for Monday, January 3. Let’s get right to it.
All odds via BettingPros consensus
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Towson vs. Drexel: Towson -115
(6:00 PM ET tip)
The Towson Tigers are 9-4 on the season and haven’t played a game since December 22. Meanwhile, Drexel hasn’t played a game since December 14, so both teams could be rusty to start this game.
However, the Dragons haven’t defended the three all that well, allowing teams to shoot 37.4 percent from long range this season. On the other hand, you’ve got a Towson team that has been red hot from distance, shooting 37.1 percent.
Also, Towson dominates the offensive glass, and while Drexel is just as good on the defensive glass, I like Towson’s chances at earning some offensive rebounds off long rebounds in this game. Towson is also the better defense, earning more turnovers and holding teams to an effective field goal percentage of 47.3 percent.
Texas Southern vs. Southern: Texas Southern -125
(8:30 PM ET tip)
The Texas Southern Tigers lost seven straight games and won two straight over Florida and UT Rio Grande Valley. Of course, COVID ended the little two-game winning streak, and now Texas Southern is finally in action against since their last game on December 14.
The Tigers were starting to come around. The defense was spectacular, and the offense was doing enough. I think that continues in this game against a Southern team that has struggled to put away teams like Tennessee State and Southeastern Louisiana.
Texas Southern should dominate the offensive glass and get plenty of chances to score on second chances. Despite Texas Southern struggling from deep, they’ve been fine inside, hitting nearly 46 percent of shots. I bring this up because Southern has allowed teams to shoot nearly 60 percent inside on the season, and Texas Southern will seriously rarely take a three. Texas Southern will dominate this game inside against a really bad Southern defense.
Maryland vs. Iowa: Iowa -8
(9:00 PM ET tip)
In the Big 10, it’s tough to win on the road. Yesterday, we watched as Penn State knocked off Indiana at home. We’ve already seen Rutgers defeat Purdue at home, and I could do this for days.
Anyway, I love Iowa at home, catching eight points. Maryland will struggle to force turnovers and won’t defend Iowa on the perimeter or inside in this game.
The Terps are shooting a 47.3 percent effective field goal percentage while shooting just 30.2 percent from long range. While Maryland gets to the line at a high rate, Iowa doesn’t foul all that much, to begin with.
I like Iowa to dominate a Maryland team playing its first true road game of the season tonight.
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Jason Radowitz is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Jason, check out his archive and follow him @Jason_Radowitz.