College Basketball Picks Today:

Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Friday, January 2.

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7:00 PM Eastern

Jacksonville State Gamecocks vs. Delaware Blue Hens

Both teams are playing at a slow pace with Jacksonville State ranking 337th in possessions per game and Delaware 318th. Delaware isn’t giving itself second chances to score, ranking 354th in offensive rebound percentage with only 19.7% of missed shots becoming offensive rebounds. The Blue Hens’ strength is perimeter shooting at 37.7% from 3, which ranks 35th nationally, but Jacksonville State counters that well, allowing opponents to shoot just 32% from beyond the arc and ranking 132nd overall in points per possession allowed.

Pick: Jacksonville State -1.5 and Under 132.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Jacksonville State -7.5, Total 127.5)

Kennesaw State Owls vs. Liberty Flames

These teams play at completely different tempos, with Liberty ranking 331st in possessions per game while Kennesaw State leads the nation. Strengths are opposites as well, with Kennesaw State ranking 29th in offensive rebound percentage at 36% while Liberty ranks 364th at just 17.3%. Kennesaw State struggles from the perimeter, ranking 288th in 3-point shooting at 30.6%, while Liberty ranks 18th at 39.2%, a number that has climbed to an unsustainable 49.4% and could regress against a Kennesaw State defense ranking 87th in points per possession allowed away from home.

Pick: Kennesaw State vs. Liberty Under 156.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 150)

Robert Morris Colonials vs. Detroit Titans

Robert Morris plays at a slow tempo, ranking 292nd in possessions per game, and has struggled with ball security, ranking 260th in turnovers per possession. Detroit has had major issues shooting from deep, ranking 320th in 3-point shooting percentage at 29.4%, which drops to 25.6% at home, and is just 241st in points per possession on offense.

Pick: Robert Morris -2 and Under 147.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Robert Morris -5, Total 141)

7:30 PM Eastern

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

Louisiana Tech is playing at a very slow pace, ranking 350th in possessions per game, and is limiting overall possessions despite ranking 220th in turnovers per possession offensively. Defensively, they rank 116th in turnovers forced and fifth nationally in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 26.3%. Middle Tennessee ranks 32nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage, and both offenses have struggled mightily with Louisiana Tech ranking 360th in points per possession away from home and Middle Tennessee 328th at home.

Pick: Louisiana Tech vs. Middle Tennessee Under 132.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 127.5)

Fairleigh Dickinson Knights vs. Mercyhurst Lakers

Fairleigh Dickinson has struggled across the board, ranking 333rd in points per possession allowed and 340th offensively while also ranking 280th in turnovers per possession. Mercyhurst’s defense is strong at home, ranking 31st in turnovers per possession and allowing opponents to shoot just 26.3% from 3-point range, which is particularly problematic for a Fairleigh Dickinson offense that ranks 11th nationally in percentage of field goal attempts coming from 3.

Pick: Mercyhurst -6 (Greg’s Handicap: Mercyhurst -13.5)

Oregon Ducks vs. Maryland Terrapins

Oregon has been sloppy offensively, ranking 228th in turnovers per possession and shooting just 30.4% from 3-point range away from home. Maryland ranks 77th in turnovers per possession forced at home and, while 92nd in possessions per game overall, has slowed its tempo by more than 4.5 possessions per game over its last five contests.

Pick: Maryland +2.5 and Under 151.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Maryland -3.5, Total 143.5)

8:00 PM Eastern

Louisville Cardinals vs. Stanford Cardinal

Louisville has been one of the most explosive offenses in the country, ranking 15th in points per possession, and faces a Stanford defense ranking 222nd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage while gambling for turnovers at a 24th-ranked rate. Louisville has taken care of the ball, ranking 86th in turnovers per possession, while Stanford should see positive offensive regression after a 47–40 grind-it-out game against Notre Dame, having ranked 88th in points per possession prior to that contest.

Pick: Louisville vs. Stanford Over 157.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 163.5)

Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers once again shows significant home-road defensive splits, ranking 137th overall in points per possession allowed but giving up 19.6 fewer points per 100 possessions at home. The Scarlet Knights play slowly, ranking 284th in possessions per game, while Ohio State has been solid defensively, ranking 84th in points per possession allowed and 45th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage away from home.

Pick: Ohio State vs. Rutgers Under 148.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 144.5)

9:00 PM Eastern

Michigan State Spartans vs. Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Michigan State has controlled the glass, ranking fourth nationally in defensive rebound percentage, and is fifth in points per possession allowed away from home. Nebraska’s opponent 3-point shooting percentage of 29.7%, which ranks 41st, could be due for regression given teams are attempting 51.6% of their shots from deep against them, the fourth-highest rate in the country, while Nebraska ranks just 135th in points per possession offensively at home.

Pick: Michigan State +2.5 and Under 145.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Michigan State -2, Total 138)

10:00 PM Eastern

Oregon State Beavers vs. Pacific Tigers

Oregon State isn’t maximizing possessions, ranking 305th in offensive rebound percentage and 263rd in turnovers per possession. Pacific controls the interior, ranking 89th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage and 10th in defensive rebound percentage, while both teams play at a slow pace with Oregon State ranking 283rd and Pacific 274th in possessions per game.

Pick: Pacific -4 and Under 142.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Pacific -9.5, Total 135.5)

Portland Pilots vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels

Portland has struggled with ball security, ranking 329th in turnovers per possession, and ranks just 319th in points per possession away from home, which neutralizes their fast tempo of 53rd in possessions per game. Saint Mary’s continues to play very slowly, ranking 313th in possessions per game, while dominating inside with a 44th ranking in opponent 2-point shooting percentage and 13th in rebound percentage.

Pick: Portland vs. Saint Mary’s Under 150.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Total 144.5)

11:00 PM Eastern

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. California Golden Bears

Notre Dame remains without top scorer Markus Burton and now faces a California team ranking 17th in 3-point shooting percentage at 39.2%. Notre Dame’s defensive metrics were skewed by a 47–40 slog against Stanford, but the team still ranks 339th in turnovers per possession in road games, creating a tough setup against a capable California offense.

Pick: California -3.5 and Over 138.5 (Greg’s Handicap: California -8, Total 146)

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