NCAA Basketball Predictions, Odds & Best Bets

Super Tuesday is here! Let's not waste any time, here are out College Hoops best bets for today!

For all of our Expert NCAA Basketball Picks, check out our page here.

Listed below are my College Hoops best bets for today, but be sure to get all of my picks on my Twitter (@Shaggy_Bets)

NCAA Basketball Best Bets – February 18th, 2025

#13 Purdue vs #14 Michigan State Predictions

Best Bets: Purdue +3 (-105) BetOnline

Colby Marchio is backing the Boilermakers on the road tonight!

Check out our #13 Purdue vs #14 Michigan State Preview!

Butler vs Xavier Predictions

Best Bets: Butler/Xavier Under 154.5 (-105) BetOnline

Colby is taking the under in this Big East battle tonight.

Check out our Butler vs Xavier Preview!

Oklahoma vs #2 Florida Predictions

Best Bets: Will Richard (UF) Over 4.5 Rebounds (-105) BetOnline

Will Richard is a do-it-all guard for the Gators. He puts up 13 points and 4.6 boards while leading the team in steals. The thing I love the most about Richard is the fact that he is always on the court. Florida already has a small rotation of just 7 guys typically, but Richard averages 32 minutes per game, increasing to 34.1 during SEC play.

Now, Oklahoma is the 10th worst rebounding team in the nation away from home, while Florida is 8th in offensive rebounds on their home court. This is a matchup disaster for the Sooners who will need to focus their attention on 6'9″ forward Thomas Haugh and 6'11" forward Alex Condon. This will opening things up for Richard to get a few cheap boards.

Richard rounds out the guard trio with Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin. While the two others are more prolific scorers, Richard is known for his defense and willingness to do the dirty work. He's only had one board in each of his last two games, but has had 5+ in 17/25 (68%) of games this year, including half of his conference games as well.

I will also be on the Gators to cover the spread, but it keeps ticking down causing me to wait until closer to tip off.

Colby Marchio also has thoughts on this matchup, so check out his piece below.

Check out our Oklahoma vs #2 Florida Preview!

Illinois vs #11 Wisconsin Predictions

Best Bets: Wisconsin -4 (-116) BetOnline

Revenge Spot at Home. Plus, the Badgers are the truth.

Back on December 10th, these two teams played in Champaign, where the Illini were 7 point favorites. They ended up winning but did not get the cover, as the total soared over 152.5, as Illinois won 86-80. Now tonight we find ourselves in Madison where the Badgers are now 4 point favorites?!?

If my math is correct, that is an 11 point swing, just for being at home. However we have to look at how these teams have done recently. Over the past two months since that loss, Wisconsin has gone 12-2, losing only to Maryland and UCLA on the road. This season at home the Badgers are 12-1, boasting the 5th most efficient offense, a Top 45 defense, while ranking highly in several other key categories.

Badgers Advanced Analytic Rankings

• eFG%: 31st
• eFG% Defense: 66th
• TO Rate: 17th
• OR Allowed: 41st
• FT Rate Defense: 68th

The Badgers are Top 15 in 3P Rate and Top 50 in 3P%, shooting over 36.5% as a team from downtown. Sure, the Illini are trying to bounce back after a loss, but they also have a huge showdown with Duke on Saturday in Madison Square Garden. I'm not saying Illinois is looking ahead, but they are dead last in forcing turnovers on the road, and 280th in getting to the free throw line.

Their perimeter defense is sound, but I simply do not trust Illinois like I do the Badgers. Illinois is 4-4 on the road this year, 10-7 since their win against the Badgers, and have really been up and down all year long. Wisconsin's efficient offense will have no problem finding a good shot in this contest tonight, and they have the scoring weapons to keep up with Illinois if things speed up.

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