Saturday College Basketball Best Bets | January 25, 2025
Written by: Colby Marchio
Published: Fri Jan 24, 2025, 6:00 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Saturday's college basketball slate is packed with high-stakes revenge spots, headlined by Xavier hosting No. 19 UConn and Texas squaring off against No. 13 Texas A&M. Xavier looks to avenge an overtime loss in Storrs, while Texas seeks redemption after a blowout defeat to their in-state rival earlier this month. With both home teams thriving in key areas, these matchups offer prime opportunities for drama and betting value.
Here are Saturday's college basketball best bets…
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Last Month in CBB: 35-49 (-18.92 Units)
Last Week in CBB: 9-15 (-5.68 Units)
#19 UConn vs Xavier Best Bet
How hungry will Xavier be after their overtime loss to St. John's?
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Welcome to Revenge Spot Saturday. The Xavier Musketeers will host the No. 19 UConn Huskies at the Cintas Center on Saturday night. The last time these two teams faced off, UConn defeated Xavier 94-89 in overtime in Storrs. Now, the Musketeers have the opportunity to seek revenge at home.
The Musketeers have played their best basketball at home this season, boasting a top 75 offense and a top 100 defense. Xavier excels at shooting the deep ball and making free throws, ranking in the top 30 in both categories. Defensively, they struggle to defend the three-point shot but are solid in the paint, ranking 46th in two-point defense.
Despite UConn being an analytical darling with a top 15 offense and top 25 defense, they have yet to impress this season. They have faltered in several big games during non-conference play, and that trend has continued into conference play. The Huskies rank 25th worst in three-point defense, which will be a major issue against Xavier's shooting prowess. UConn also struggles at sending teams to the free-throw line, ranking 316th. Meanwhile, Xavier is 32nd in free-throw rate offense and 30th in free-throw percentage.
This seems like the perfect spot to back the Musketeers. Coming off an overtime loss to St. John's, Xavier will be hungry for revenge and should come out strong on Saturday night.
Best Bet: Xavier Moneyline (-114) on BetOnline
#13 Texas A&M vs Texas Odds
Does Texas have what it takes to get their revenge over Texas A&M?
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Nothing beats a Saturday afternoon revenge spot. The Texas Longhorns host No. 13 Texas A&M at the Moody Center, looking for redemption after losing by 20 points to the Aggies on January 4th.
Both teams are coming off big wins, but none more dramatic than the Aggies' last-second three-pointer to beat Ole Miss. This sets up an even better opportunity for the Longhorns to exact revenge on the Aggies.
Texas has been dominant at home, ranked 8th by Haslametrics. They've maintained a top-25 offense and top-60 defense, excelling both inside and out. On defense, they rank top-40 in two-point defense and top-75 in block percentage.
Texas excels in turnover offense, ranking second in the country, while the Aggies are 24th in forcing turnovers. However, Texas has been solid in handling pressure, and the Aggies have struggled on the road, ranking poorly in multiple key offensive categories.
If Texas keeps up their efficiency and shuts down the Aggies inside, they should come out on top. With A&M's struggles away from home and Texas' strong two-point defense, I'm taking the Longhorns to cover the spread.
Best Bet: Texas (+1.5) on BetOnline
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Former D1 (club) baseball player, Colby has been betting since his college days at DePaul, where he had to endure the worst collegiate basketball the Big East has ever seen. He is an advanced analytics nerd and has never seen an underdog he has not liked. Hot. Corn. Bull. It does not matter the dog he loves them all.
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