Saturday college basketball odds are part of a huge sports betting day. Noteworthy matchups drop throughout the day and well into the night.
Among them are an SEC clash and two Big 12 battles: No. 22 Tennessee at No. 18 Kentucky, West Virginia at No. 9 Kansas, and No. 21 Texas at No. 15 Iowa State.
Multiple sportsbook insiders provided insights on opening/current lines and action in the Saturday college basketball odds market. Check back throughout the day for action updates and additional games.
Saturday College Basketball Odds And Betting Action
No. 4 Auburn vs Mississippi
UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET: PointsBet USA opened Auburn a 7.5-point road chalk and just moved to -7 a few minutes ago. Ticket count is 3/1 Auburn, but money is 2/1 on underdog Ole Miss. The total also ticked down a notch, from 139.5 to 139, though the Over is drawing 87% of tickets/70% of money. Tipoff is at 8:30 p.m. ET.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Like its SEC brethren LSU, Auburn has been a great bet this season, standing 15-1 SU and 12-4 ATS. Since a Nov. 24 neutral-site loss to UConn, the Tigers have ripped off 12 consecutive wins while going 10-2 ATS, cashing in their last five. At Alabama on Tuesday night, Auburn snagged an 81-77 win as a 3.5-point pup.
Ole Miss (9-6 SU, 7-8 ATS) is having a much more modest season and has lost three of its last four. The Rebels were 5.5-point ‘dogs at Texas A&M on Tuesday and lost 67-51.
Auburn went up as a 9-point chalk at DraftKings on Friday night, quickly dipped to -8, rose to -8.5 this morning, then returned to -8 by lunchtime. Ticket count is 3/1 and money just shy of 2/1 on the Tigers. The total bounced around a bit, from 139.5 to 138.5, then up to 140, and it’s now 139.5. But practically all the tickets and money are on the Over, several hours ahead of this 8:30 p.m. ET contest.
Oregon at No. 5 USC
UPDATE 6:45 P.M. ET: The Trojans landed on PointsBet USA’s Saturday college basketball odds board as 6.5-point favorites and haven’t moved. USC is garnering 69% of spread money and 59% of spread handle. Likewise, the total is stable at 141.5, though practically all the tickets and money are on the Over for this 11 p.m. ET tipoff.
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Southern Cal blasted off to a 13-0 SU start this season and was expected to make it 14-0 Tuesday night, giving 6.5 points at Stanford. But the Trojans stumbled in a 75-69 loss. USC (14-1 SU, 8-7 ATS) rebounded Thursday night with an 81-71 win over Oregon State, failing to cover as a 14-point home chalk. The Trojans are 2-5 ATS in their last seven outings.
Oregon (10-6 SU, 5-10 ATS) opened the season No. 13 in the AP poll, but dropped out by Week 3 and has been lousy for point-spread bettors. But the wounded Ducks just might be on the mend, entering this contest on a four-game SU win streak. Oregon went to UCLA as a 9.5-point underdog Thursday and emerged with an 84-81 overtime victory.
USC hasn’t budged off -6.5 in DraftKings’ Saturday college basketball odds market. That’s despite the Trojans taking 86% of early tickets/72% of early cash for this 11 p.m. ET Pac-12 tipoff. Likewise, the total hasn’t moved off 141.5, though practically all the early tickets and dollars are on the Over.
West Virginia vs No. 9 Kansas
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET: Thirty minutes pre-tip, Kansas is an 11.5-point chalk at PointsBet USA, after opening -11.5 and spending a couple hours today at -12. Underdog West Virginia taking the bulk of tickets and money, at 62% and 83 percent, respectively. The total is down to 141 from a 143.5 opener, with 60% of tickets/85% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET: Kansas (13-2 SU, 7-7-1 ATS) was sitting at 12-1 SU and was a 7-point favorite at Texas Tech last Saturday, then lost outright 75-67. The Jayhawks rebounded — barely — on Tuesday, edging Iowa State 62-61 but falling well short of cashing as 13.5-point home faves.
West Virginia (13-2 SU, 8-7 ATS) was dealt a New Year’s Day loss at Texas, then bounced back with a couple of Big 12 home wins. Most recently, the Mountaineers went off as 2.5-point favorites Tuesday against Oklahoma State and won 70-60.
Kansas opened -11.5 at DraftKings and initially dipped to -11 Friday night. But the number stretched to -12 this morning for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff. That said, bettors are taking the points with West Virginia, which is landing 63% of spread tickets/65% of spread money. The total dropped from 143.5 to 141, but betting splits weren’t available.
No. 21 Texas vs No. 15 Iowa State
UPDATE 1:30 P.M. ET: PointsBet USA pegged Texas a 2-point favorite at the outset, initially dipped to -1.5 Friday night, and has been at -2.5 since late this morning. Iowa State is drawing 65% of spread bets as a short home ‘dog, while Texas is getting 58% of spread money. The total moved from 121 to 122.5 by midmorning, but is now back to 121. However, almost all the action is on the Over, at 88% of bets/95% of money.
UPDATE 11:30 P.M. ET: Iowa State turned some heads with a 12-0 SU start, including a blowout win over Iowa as a 5.5-point home underdog. But Big 12 play has proven a bit more difficult for the Cyclones (13-3 SU, 10-6 ATS). Iowa State dropped three of its last four games, though it put up a strong fight Tuesday night at Kansas, falling 62-61 as a 13.5-point pup.
Texas (13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS) stubbed its toe last Saturday at Oklahoma State, halting a six-game win streak in a 64-51 loss as a 3.5-point road chalk. The Longhorns rebounded at home against Oklahoma on Tuesday, winning 66-52 as 7-point favorites.
Texas is a short road chalk for this 2 p.m. ET start. The Longhorns hit DraftKings’ Saturday college basketball odds board at -2, shortened to -1 Friday night, then moved out to -2.5 this morning. Iowa State is nabbing 68% of spread tickets, while 52% of spread money is on the Longhorns. Oddsmakers expect this to be a defensive battle, as the total opened at 120.5. From there, it got to 122.5 a couple times, but it’s now 121. Splits weren’t available.
Arkansas vs No. 12 LSU
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET: Louisiana State is scorching hot this season, at 15-1 SU and an extremely respectable 13-3 ATS. The Tigers have more ATS wins than any team in the nation, and their 81.25 spread-covering percentage is fifth in the nation. On Wednesday, LSU was a 3-point ‘dog at Florida and won outright 64-58.
Arkansas (11-5 SU, 7-9 ATS) reached the Elite Eight in last year’s NCAA Tournament, falling to eventual champion Baylor. After a 9-0 SU start this season, the Razorbacks went on a 1-5 SU and ATS slide. But the Hogs bounced back Wednesday with an emphatic 87-43 blasting of Missouri as 14-point home favorites.
LSU opened -7 on PointsBet USA’s Saturday college basketball odds board, spent a couple hours this morning at -6 and is now -6.5. The Tigers are nabbing 61% of bets/55% of cash on the spread for this 2 p.m. ET tipoff. The total is down to 144.5 from a 146 opener, with 75% of bets/55% of money on the Over.
No. 22 Tennessee vs No. 18 Kentucky
UPDATE 11:30 A.M. ET: Kentucky (13-3 SU, 8-8 ATS) has been a middling team for bettors on the year, though it has been better of late. The Wildcats enter this SEC showdown on a 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS run. On Tuesday, Kentucky took care of Vanderbilt 78-66 laying 7.5 points on the road.
Tennessee (11-4 SU, 9-6 ATS) got out of the gate 9-2 SU (7-4 ATS), then alternated SU wins and losses over its last four. But the Vols coasted Tuesday night against South Carolina, posting a 66-46 win as 15.5-point favorites.
Kentucky dipped from -5.5 to -4.5 Friday night in DraftKings’ Saturday college basketball odds market, then nudged up to -5 in just the past few minutes for this 1 p.m. ET tipoff. Ticket count is 5/1 and money 3/1-plus on the Wildcats. The total opened at 142.5, made a couple trips to 141.5, and is now 142, with the Over seeing 71% of tickets/61% of money.
