NCAAB Best Bets for Wednesday, January 29

Outside of the weekend, Wednesday is usually the highlight of the week in college basketball. There is no shortage of interesting games on the schedule. Out of the games involving quality teams from the top conferences, we have picked out the four bets that we like the most.

#1 Auburn (18-1) at LSU (12-7)

Despite an 11-game winning streak that has taken them to the top of the polls, Auburn is just 1-6 against the spread in its last seven games. That’s a little concerning with the Tigers favored by double digits in this game. In fact, in their three conference wins, the Tigers have failed to win by more than five points. Of course, LSU is among the worst teams in the SEC with a 1-5 record in conference play. In their defense, most of their losses have come on the road against ranked teams. The Bayou Bengals have managed to keep those games interesting, setting them up to do the same at home against an Auburn team that could be vulnerable to a letdown after a huge win over Tennessee on Saturday.

Pick: LSU +12

#6 Houston (16-3) at West Virginia (13-6)

The Cougars are no doubt riding high after that improbable comeback against Kansas over the weekend. A 12-game winning streak has also put some wind in their sails, especially with an 8-4 record against the spread during that stretch. While Morgantown can be a tough place to place, the Cougars have covered two double-digit spreads on the road in conference play, so they won’t be fazed by the trip to West Virginia. Plus, Houston’s relentless defense typically travels well. That could be a problem for West Virginia’s inconsistent offense, as the Mountaineers have been held under 70 points in eight of their last nine games. That includes a 70-54 loss to Houston. Even if the Cougars aren’t quite as dominant on the road, they should be able to win and cover a modest 7.5-point spread against the Mountaineers.

Pick: Houston -7.5

Northern Iowa (13-8) at Drake (18-2)

This is a big game between two of the best teams in a rather impressive Missouri Valley Conference that has at least five teams worth watching. Drake is riding a six-game winning streak behind point guard Bennett Stirtz, who averages 17.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. However, the Bulldogs aren’t necessarily a high-scoring team that’s going to blow teams out of the water. That gives some hope to Northern Iowa, which has one of the best records against the spread in the country. The Panthers may not be the most explosive team, but they are efficient offensively, shooting over 50% from the field and close to 37% from the perimeter. While this will be a challenging road game for them, UNI should be able to keep things close enough to beat the spread.

Pick: Northern Iowa +8

#4 Alabama (17-3) at #14 Mississippi State (16-4)

This is the game of the night and one of the tightest spreads of the night. The Crimson Tide has already passed several road tests this season, beating North Carolina, Texas A&M, and Kentucky on the road, so they’re more than capable of beating a ranked team away from home. Alabama is also 7-2 against the spread in its last nine games whereas the Bulldogs have lost five straight games against the spread, going 2-3 straight up during that stretch. Mississippi State has also been limited to 66 points or less in three of its last four games. Likewise, the Bulldogs have allowed at least 80 points in three of their last five games. Those trends don’t bode well for MSU against an Alabama team that leads the nation in scoring at over 90 points per game.

Pick: Alabama ML

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