NCAAB Best Bets and Player Prop Picks for Wednesday, December 18

The Big East will attempt to steal the college basketball spotlight on Wednesday, as half a dozen teams are poised to play their conference opener, including reigning champ UConn. There are also a few other games that might catch your eye. I’ve picked out my three favorite betting lines for Wednesday, as well as a player pick to consider.

Creighton (7-4) at Georgetown (8-2)

Record-wise, Georgetown looks good at 8-2. But lopsided losses to Notre Dame and West Virginia are potential red flags for the Hoyas. After all, they barely beat a Syracuse team that’s missing its best player, needing 27 points from Jayden Epps to avoid a loss. Despite some good guard play from Epps, Micah Peavy, and others, the Hoyas aren’t a good shooting team and still have some lingering questions. To be fair, things haven’t been all that great for Creighton, which has already lost four games despite high preseason expectations. Of course, the Bluejays have played a tough schedule and have a win over Kansas on their resume. They also have Ryan Kalkbrenner to dominate the paint and Steven Ashworth, who is among the best point guards in the Big East, averaging 16.3 points and 6.2 assists per game. Those two should lead the way and make sure the Bluejays don’t suffer another disappointing loss.

Pick: Creighton -3.5 

Xavier (8-3) at #11 UConn (8-3)

It looks like business as usual for UConn after the team’s disastrous trip to Maui. The Huskies have won four in a row and gone 4-0 against the spread since returning to the mainland. That includes wins over Baylor, Texas, and Gonzaga, so they’ll surely be ready for the start of conference play. Plus, UConn should have the firepower to pull away and cover a double-digit spread, something they did as well as anyone last season. The Musketeers, to their credit, put up a good fight as underdogs in their last game against intra-city rival Cincinnati. However, they ask a lot of the trio of Zach Freemantle, Ryan Conwell, and Dayvion McKnight. Ultimately, UConn’s depth will be too much because Xavier doesn’t have much margin for error if that trio doesn’t perform.

Pick: UConn -13.5

Washington State (9-2) at Washington (7-3)

The nightcap in college basketball on Wednesday features in-state rivals who no longer share a conference. Washington has already stumbled at the start of Big Ten play with losses to UCLA and USC, which isn’t a good sign. The Huskies lack a proven point guard who can spread the ball around and get people involved. Also, three of their four leading scorers shoot below 70% from the free-throw line, which is a red flag in what figures to be a close game. Meanwhile, the Cougars have had a promising start to the season, already recording true road wins against Boise State and Nevada. In fact, that 11-point win over Nevada came as an 11-point underdog. Despite losing leading scorer Cedric Coward to a season-ending injury, the Cougars have five other players who average double figures, including three players who also average at least three assists per game. This is a team that has good balance and likes to share the basketball, which is why Washington State has an edge in this game.

Pick: Washington State +3.5

Vladislav Goldin (Michigan) Over 20.5 Points + Rebounds

After a sluggish start to the season, Goldin is now Michigan’s leading scorer. The Florida Atlantic transfer has scored at least 17 points in four straight games, all against quality opponents, including a pair of 20-point games against Big Ten opponents. Naturally, the 7’1’’ center is also fit to collect plenty of rebounds regardless of the opponent. Goldin has pulled down at least five boards in four straight games. In short, he’s averaged 27.3 points and rebounds over his last four games. Even against an unbeaten Oklahoma team, there’s no reason to think Goldin won’t continue that success.

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