College Basketball Picks Today:

Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Saturday, March 7.

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12:00 PM Eastern

Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Boston College Eagles

Boston College has been a solid defensive team this season, ranking 96th in points per possession allowed, but their offense ranks just 328th in points per possession and 345th in three-point shooting percentage at 29.7%. Notre Dame has struggled from three-point range away from home, shooting 39.2% at home compared to 31.2% on the road. Neither team pushes the pace, with Boston College ranking 269th and Notre Dame 246th in possessions per game.

Pick: Notre Dame vs. Boston College Under 142 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 134.5)

Xavier Musketeers vs. Villanova Wildcats

Villanova plays at a slow pace, ranking 258th in possessions per game, while ranking 69th in points per possession on offense. Xavier does the little things well, ranking 67th in defensive rebound percentage and 22nd in fewest turnovers per possession on offense, but struggles inside, ranking 271st in two-point shooting percentage. Villanova has had issues at the free throw line, ranking 297th at 68.9%.

Picks: Xavier +11.5 and Under 155.5 (Greg’s Handicap Xavier +9.5 and Total 147.5)

1:00 PM Eastern

Albany Great Danes vs. UMass Lowell River Hawks

UMass Lowell has done a great job limiting second chances at home, allowing opponents to grab only 20.1% of their misses as offensive rebounds, which ranks 10th nationally. Albany prefers a slow pace, ranking 320th in possessions per game. Neither team excels at ball security or free throw shooting, as UMass Lowell ranks 269th in turnovers per possession and 358th in free throw shooting (64.9%), while Albany ranks 300th and 349th respectively.

Pick: Albany vs. UMass Lowell Under 150.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 142.5)

2:00 PM Eastern

Rhode Island Rams vs. Fordham Rams

Both teams play at a slow tempo, with Fordham ranking 348th and Rhode Island 284th in possessions per game. Neither team shoots well from three-point range, with Fordham ranking 358th at 28.8% and Rhode Island 332nd at 30.5%. Fordham ranks 69th in points per possession allowed but 257th offensively, while Rhode Island ranks 54th in points per possession allowed on defense.

Pick: Rhode Island vs. Fordham Under 134.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 140)

SMU Mustangs vs. Florida State Seminoles

Both teams play at an uptempo pace, with SMU ranking 36th and Florida State 47th in possessions per game. Florida State relies heavily on three-point attempts, ranking 15th in percentage of field goal attempts from beyond the arc, but shoots just 31.2% from three at home (312th). SMU ranks 23rd in three-point shooting percentage at 37.8% and holds opponents to 32.2% from three away from home (71st). Florida State also ranks just 247th in rebound percentage compared to SMU at 81st.

Picks: SMU +1.5 and Over 160.5 (Greg’s Handicap SMU -4 and Total 164)

Cornell Big Red vs. Dartmouth Big Green

Cornell’s offense is explosive, ranking fifth nationally in points per possession away from home and shooting 38.1% from three-point range (19th). Dartmouth also shoots well from deep, ranking 52nd at 36.3%. Cornell has struggled defensively, ranking 357th in opponent three-point shooting percentage away from home (39.5%) and 341st in points per possession allowed.

Picks: Dartmouth +5.5 and Over 165.5 (Greg’s Handicap Dartmouth -1.5 and Total 169.5)

Sam Houston State Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames

Both teams shoot well from three-point range, with Sam Houston State ranking 18th at 38.1% and Liberty sixth at 39.7%. Liberty struggles to create second chances, ranking last in the nation in offensive rebound percentage at 15.4%, while also playing at a slow pace (339th in possessions per game). Sam Houston State defends the perimeter well, allowing just 32.2% shooting from three (72nd), while Liberty allows 37.7% (350th).

Picks: Sam Houston +4.5 and Under 156.5 (Greg’s Handicap Sam Houston +1.5 and Total 151.5)

4:00 PM Eastern

Maine Black Bears vs. NJIT Highlanders

Maine has struggled to generate offense all season, ranking 360th in points per possession. NJIT holds an advantage on the glass, ranking 316th in rebound percentage compared to Maine at 363rd. With Maine also ranking 342nd in possessions per game, this game projects to be played at a slow pace.

Picks: NJIT -3.5 and Under 131.5 (Greg’s Handicap NJIT -8 and Total 128)

New Mexico Lobos vs. Utah State Aggies

New Mexico has been strong defensively away from home, ranking 27th in points per possession allowed while allowing just 28.4% shooting from three in road and neutral court games (fourth lowest nationally). Both teams generate turnovers well, with New Mexico ranking 38th and Utah State 19th in turnovers forced. Utah State plays at a moderate pace, ranking 196th in possessions per game.

Pick: New Mexico vs. Utah State Under 157.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 151.5)

6:00 PM Eastern

Marist Foxes vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats

Marist ranks sixth nationally in points per possession allowed, though that drops to 26th in road games. Quinnipiac prefers a faster pace, ranking 131st in possessions per game compared to Marist at 307th. Quinnipiac also creates second chances, grabbing 32.7% of their misses as offensive rebounds (54th). They shoot 34.9% from three away from home (94th), while Marist allows opponents to shoot 23.9% from three at home but 32.2% away.

Picks: Quinnipiac +1.5 and Over 129.5 (Greg’s Handicap Quinnipiac -4 and Total 134)

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6:30 PM Eastern

Duke Blue Devils vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

Duke leads the nation in points per possession allowed on defense while ranking third offensively in points per possession. They shoot 35.5% from three-point range (83rd). North Carolina has been strong inside defensively, ranking 14th in opponent two-point shooting percentage and 36th in defensive rebound percentage.

Pick: North Carolina +17.5 (Greg’s Handicap North Carolina +12.5)

7:00 PM Eastern

CS Bakersfield Roadrunners vs. Cal Poly Mustangs

Both teams play at extremely fast tempos, with CS Bakersfield ranking 24th and Cal Poly first in possessions per game. However, many of these possessions are wasted due to turnovers, as CS Bakersfield ranks 305th in turnovers per possession and Cal Poly ranks 351st. CS Bakersfield also struggles shooting, ranking 337th in two-point shooting percentage and 356th in three-point shooting at 29%. Defensively, they allow 36% shooting from three (307th), while Cal Poly ranks fifth nationally in percentage of field goal attempts from three-point range.

Picks: Cal Poly -9.5 and Under 172.5 (Greg’s Handicap Cal Poly -12 and Total 164)

10:00 PM Eastern

UCLA Bruins vs. USC Trojans

USC has played at an uptempo pace this season, ranking 28th in possessions per game, but may need to slow down due to injuries to top scorers Rodney Rice and Chad Baker-Mazara. USC ranks 15th in block percentage on defense and allows opponents to shoot just 30.1% from three-point range (20th). UCLA’s strength is perimeter shooting, ranking 24th in three-point shooting percentage at 37.8%.

Pick: UCLA vs. USC Under 151.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total 148.5)

11:30 PM Eastern

Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. BYU Cougars

Both teams have suffered major losses recently, with JT Toppin out for Texas Tech and Richie Saunders out for BYU. BYU now has just two healthy players averaging over eight points per game, and their defense has suffered, allowing at least 75 points in four of the five games since Saunders was injured. Texas Tech has emphasized defense since Toppin’s injury, allowing 73 points or fewer in each of the four games since while slowing their pace by more than four possessions per game.

Pick: Texas Tech +2.5 (Greg’s Handicap Texas Tech -2)

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