Top College Basketball Picks for Saturday, December 4 (2021)
As we begin the month of December, College Basketball is really starting to kick into gear. This weekend we’ll feature a pair of in-state rivals, then we’re already getting a taste of in conference games some are beginning to kickoff.
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Marquette at Wisconsin: Pick Marquette +6
(Tip 12:30 p.m. ET)
The Badgers have been on a roll lately as they come into this game 6-1 and covering the spread in four straight. Guard Johnny Davis has been lighting it up, especially behind the arc where he’s shooting 38.5%. This team has also been able to rely on their free-throw shooting, specifically late in games to hold onto leads.
Marquette has been playing well to start the season at 7-1 and has covered the spread in four of their last six games. Shaka Smart has coached up this in his first year running the Golden Eagles. Forward Justin Lewis has made huge strides as he’s statically improved from last year, but he looks more comfortable just watching him on the floor.
Wisconsin is better in terms of talent, but Marquette has been playing up to their competition as they’ve been able to cover in three of four games this season as an underdog. Davis has been great from the perimeter, but Darryl Morsell has defended the long-range shots very well this season. The Golden Eagles won’t give up the easy points either as they’re 38th in Division I in allowing near-proximity field goals (lay-ups, dunks, and tip-ins), according to Haslametrics. Marquette will be able to keep this game within one possession.
Clemson at Miami: Pick Miami -2.5
(Tip 12 p.m. ET)
Clemson will head into this game riding the struggle bus. They started so well with winning four straight but have hit a slide with losing three of their last four. Forward PJ Hall has been efficient to start the year as he’s shot over 50% in all but one game, while guards Nick Honor and Al-Amir Dawes have been sharp from long range as they’re both shooting nearly 50% from three-point range.
Miami fared well in non-conference play by going 5-3. Last week’s 96-64 loss to Alabama was bad, but they’ve been able to pull off the other two underdog wins against Penn State and North Texas. Kameron McGusty has been the star of this offense as he’s scoring 16.9 points per game and already has three double-doubles.
Clemson is struggling on offense lately as they’ve scored less than 70 points in their last three of four games. The problem hasn’t been that they aren’t shooting well, but it’s more of not putting enough pressure on the defense, allowing second-chance points, and not getting enough possessions. Miami has been able to contain opposing offenses as they allow 67 or fewer points in five of their eight games on the season. They should be able to contain the Tigers.
Buffalo at St. Bonaventure: Pick Buafflo +3
(Tip 4 p.m. ET)
St. Bonaventure will be playing without guard Kyle Lofton, who’s second on the team with 17.4 points per game and leading with 5.9 assists per game. Not having a guy who’s been able to create points as he has is a significant loss. The Bonnies have not been kind to bettors as they haven’t covered the spread in two of their last three games, including a loss straight up as a 9.5 favorite to Northern Iowa.
Meanwhile, Buffalo has been very good as they’re 5-1 against the spread, including 2-0 as underdogs. Jeenathan Williams, Josh Mballa, and Ronaldo Segu have been an incredible triple threat as all three are shooting nearly 50%, and Mballa is nearly averaging a double-double this year.
Look out for Segu in this game as St. Bonaventure allows the 11th-highest three-point scoring rate in Division I. Segu can stretch the floor, make plays in transition, and has been great from behind the arch. He should be able to lead the Bulls to a road upset.
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