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Wednesday College Basketball Best Bets | December 18, 2024
Written by: Colby Marchio
Last Updated:
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Here are my top college basketball best bets for Wednesday. From high-stakes showdowns to value plays, I am breaking down two key matchups featuring battle-tested teams facing tough opponents. Let’s dive into why Virginia and Michigan are the teams to back tonight.
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Last Month in CBB: 44-27 (+13.75 Units)
Last 7 Days: 13-6 (+5.79 Units)
#24 Michigan vs #14 Oklahoma Best Bet
Does Michigan have what it takes to beat a 10-0 Oklahoma Sooners squad?
#24 Michigan vs #14 Oklahoma odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.
Arguably the game of the night on the college hardwood, two top-25 teams clash in Charlotte at Spectrum Center. The 8-2 Michigan Wolverines look to hand the 10-0 Oklahoma Sooners their first loss of the season—and they should.
The Wolverines have been one of the most battle-tested teams in the country to start the season. According to Haslametrics, Michigan has faced the 39th toughest schedule. They are coming off a road loss to Arkansas last Tuesday, but with eight days of rest, they should be more than ready to take on a Sooners team that has faced far less adversity. Oklahoma’s strength of schedule ranks 259th—220 spots below Michigan. The Sooners have played only three teams inside the top 100, while the Wolverines have faced six. Michigan is 4-2 against top 100 teams, having taken on Wake Forest, TCU, Xavier, Wisconsin, Iowa, and most recently, Arkansas.
Against top 100 teams, Michigan boasts a top-75 offense and a top-35 defense. They rank inside the top 100 in nearly every key metric, including adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage (both offense and defense), offensive rebounding, free throw rate defense, defensive block percentage, and two-point offense and defense.
The Sooners have been strong on the road this season, but they simply have not faced the same level of competition. This feels like the type of game that gets away from them. Oklahoma is due for a loss, especially against a team as tested and prepared as Michigan.
Give me Michigan.
Bet: Michigan Moneyline (-140) on BetOnline
#21 Memphis vs Virginia Best Bet
Will Virginia be able to slow down Memphis and secure a home victory?
#21 Memphis vs Virginia odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.
One of the less appealing plays of the day involves backing a team with limited offense but elite defense against a top-30 offense. Yes, it is Virginia. Why? Memphis is coming off a big road win over Clemson as nearly six-point underdogs. They are one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country, but shooting nearly 50% from beyond the arc and making over half their shots from the floor is not a sustainable number on a nightly basis. A letdown feels inevitable for the Tigers.
Virginia boasts one of the best defenses in the nation, ranking top 75 in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage defense, free throw rate defense, two-point defense, and block percentage. On top of that, they play at the slowest pace in the country, according to Bart Torvik. This deliberate tempo will likely disrupt Memphis, a team that thrives on speed and is ranked inside the top 100 in tempo by various advanced metrics.
While Virginia’s offense is far from flashy, they have been efficient against top-100 teams, particularly from three-point range. This aligns perfectly against Memphis, which has struggled to defend the perimeter, ranking 285th in three-point defense.
For full transparency, I grabbed this number last night at +6. I still feel comfortable with +4, but anything below that is a pass. Virginia is in a great spot here, but given their inconsistent offense, you need at least a two-possession cushion to make this a worthwhile play.
Bet: Virginia (+4) 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 who spends his free time on Bart Torvik, Ken Pom and Batters-Box.com. He 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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