Saturday’s College Basketball Betting Picks: Creighton vs. Butler, Wisconsin vs. Iowa, and Kansas vs. Oklahoma
College basketball fans are in for a treat this Saturday as some of the top teams in the country go head-to-head in highly anticipated matchups. With the regular season winding down and conference tournaments just around the corner, these games carry significant weight and could have a major impact on seeding for March Madness.
Let’s take a closer look at three of the most intriguing games on the schedule and see where the smart money is leaning.
Creighton vs. Butler
Creighton, ranked 17th with an 18-7 record, is coming off two impressive wins and looks to continue their momentum against Butler. On the other hand, Butler has struggled recently, losing two of their last three games. The line opened with Creighton as a 3-point road favorite, but despite receiving 77% of spread bets, the line has remained stagnant at -3.
This lack of movement suggests that sharp bettors are backing Butler as the home underdog. Butler has value as a buy-low unranked team against a sell-high ranked team and has a track record of performing well in this situation. Additionally, Butler’s ability to score and their strong performance at the free-throw line give them a good chance to keep pace or even backdoor cover.
Wisconsin vs. Iowa
Wisconsin, ranked 20th with a 17-8 record, looks to build on their recent win over Ohio State as they take on Iowa. The line opened with Wisconsin as a 1.5-point road favorite, but despite receiving 69% of bets, the line has moved in favor of Iowa, dropping to -1.
This reverse line movement indicates that sharp bettors are buying low on Iowa at home. Iowa has several statistical advantages over Wisconsin, including higher scoring averages, better offensive efficiency, and superior free-throw shooting. With a strong home record and the motivation of avenging their earlier loss to Wisconsin, Iowa could be a smart bet in this matchup.
Kansas vs. Oklahoma
Kansas, ranked 6th with a 19-6 record, looks to bounce back from a tough loss against Texas Tech as they face Oklahoma. Similarly, Oklahoma is coming off a loss to Baylor and aims to get back on track. The line opened with Kansas as a 1-point road favorite, but the public is heavily backing Kansas, pushing the line up to -2.
However, sharp bettors are showing support for Oklahoma as the contrarian underdog. Despite receiving only 21% of spread bets, Oklahoma has attracted 36% of spread dollars, indicating a sharp bet split in their favor. With an edge in offensive rebounding and a strong home record, Oklahoma has the potential to pull off an upset in this revenge game.
Conclusion
As Saturday’s college basketball slate unfolds, these three matchups will undoubtedly provide plenty of excitement and betting opportunities. While the public may be leaning one way, it’s important to consider the insights from sharp bettors and the statistical advantages of each team. Whether you’re looking for favorites or underdogs, there’s no shortage of intriguing storylines to follow in these games. So grab your popcorn and get ready for some thrilling college basketball action.