With the regular season wrapping up and the hullaballoo of conference tournaments looming, Saturday college basketball odds are fully in the sports betting spotlight. And there’s no shortage of consequential games on the docket.
One of the day’s final contests might very well be the best, with No. 17 UCLA hosting No. 16 USC. But No. 7 Kentucky at Florida is an intriguing early tip, and there’s no getting around the elephant in the room: North Carolina at No. 4 Duke.
Multiple oddsmakers provided insights on opening/current lines and action in the Saturday college basketball betting market. Check back throughout the day for action updates.
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Saturday College Basketball Odds and Betting Action
No. 16 USC vs No. 17 UCLA (10 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET: Thirty minutes before tipoff, UCLA is back at BetMGM Nevada’s opener of -8.5, after spending time at -7.5. “Tickets are just over 2/1 in favor of USC, and money is almost 6/1 in favor of USC,” BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said, noting a $25,000 USC +7.5 bet skewed the money split. “If not for that bet, it’d be much closer on money, but still a little bit more on USC.” The total dipped from 136.5 to 134.5 and is now 135.5. “Tickets are dead even, money is 2/1 on the Under. Sharp play on the Under,” Shelton said.
UPDATE NOON ET: USC had a nice little late-season run, peeling off six straight wins, including a 70-69 victory at Oregon as a 4.5-point underdog last Saturday. But then this week, the Trojans (25-5 SU, 14-16 ATS) ran into Arizona, which over the course of the season played itself from dark horse to legit NCAA championship contender. The result: USC got rolled at home 91-71 catching 5 points Tuesday night.
From an ATS standpoint, that was par for the course of late. The Trojans are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 starts, including 1-4 ATS in their last five. However, it was the first time in six games this season that USC failed to cover as an underdog.
UCLA (22-6 SU, 15-12-1 ATS) enters this crosstown rivalry game on a 5-1 SU and ATS surge. On Monday at Washington, the Bruins nabbed a 77-66 victory, barely cashing as 8.5-point favorites. UCLA earned that win despite not having leading scorer Johnny Juzang, who has missed three straight games with an ankle injury and is questionable Saturday.
These two teams met Feb. 12 at USC, where the Trojans won 67-64 as 4.5-point home pups. In fact, USC has taken the last five meetings (3-2 ATS). The Under has hit in five straight and seven of the last eight in this rivalry.
UCLA opened as a 7.5-point chalk in TwinSpires’ Saturday college basketball odds market, and that number is unchanged early on. But there’s still 10 hours until tip time. USC is taking 53% of tickets, while UCLA is netting 52% of cash.
“Liability and tickets are right down the middle. It’s a very evenly bet game,” TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.
The total is down to 134.5 from a 136 opener, with 64% of tickets/60% of money on the Over.
North Carolina vs No. 4 Duke (6 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET: Earlier today at TwinSpires Sportsbook, North Carolina was taking a modest majority of tickets and money, but Duke was holding steady at -11.5. Now, the Blue Devils are down to -11, with a slight bump up in the Tar Heels’ ticket and money percentages, at 59% and 58%, respectively. “UNC is a public ‘dog. We’ll need Duke,” TwinSpires’ Zachary Lucas said, an hour before tipoff. The total dipped from 153 to 152 and is now at 152.5, with 58% of tickets/60% of cash on the Over.
UPDATE NOON ET: It’s the final home game for renowned Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who’s retiring after 42 years at the helm of the Blue Devils. Duke (26-4 SU, 17-11-2 ATS) has won its last seven games (4-3 ATS), including Tuesday’s 88-56 wipeout of Pittsburgh as a 14.5-point road chalk.
Meanwhile, unranked North Carolina (22-8 SU, 14-15-1 ATS) could certainly use a statement win to shore up its NCAA Tournament hopes. The Tar Heels have won four in a row and six of their last seven (4-2-1 ATS). On Monday, North Carolina beat Syracuse 88-79 in overtime to narrowly cash as an 8-point fave.
Four weeks ago, Duke went to Chapel Hill and drubbed North Carolina 87-67 as a 3.5-point favorite. But the Tar Heels are 7-2 ATS in the last nine clashes. The Over has been the play in each of the past five meetings between these college hoops bluebloods, following a 6-0 Under run.
Six hours before game time, Duke remains at the opening number of -11.5 at TwinSpires, with double-digit ‘dog North Carolina taking 58% of early bets/55% of early dollars.
“UNC is a public ‘dog. As of right now, we’ll be rooting for Duke to cover,” TwinSpires’ Zachary Lucas said.
The total dipped from 153 to 152, with the Over seeing 57% of tickets/58% of money.
Iowa State vs No. 3 Baylor (6 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 5 P.M. ET: Baylor landed on TwinSpires’ Saturday college basketball odds board as a 12-point favorite and has spent most of today at -12.5. The underdog Cyclones are drawing 55% of spread bets, while the favored Bears are taking 59% of spread cash. “Great two-way action. Sharp play on Baylor -12,” TwinSpires’ Zachary Lucas said. The total rose from 132 to 133, with 65% of bets/57% of money on the Over.
UPDATE NOON ET: Baylor is putting together a solid late-season run, going 6-1 SU (4-2-1 ATS) in its last seven games, including a current four-game win streak. On Monday night at Texas, the Bears (25-5 SU, 16-12-2 ATS) posted a 68-61 victory giving 1.5 points.
Iowa State opened the season strong, winning its first 12 games (8-4 ATS), but it has since leveled off significantly and is now 20-10 SU (16-14 ATS). And just when it looked as if the Cyclones might be getting back on track with a four-game win streak, they laid their biggest egg of the year Wednesday night. Iowa State closed as a 4.5-point home favorite against Oklahoma State and was suffocated in a 53-36 loss.
These two teams last met on New Year’s Day, with Baylor nabbing a 77-72 road win and Iowa State covering as a 7.5-point ‘dog. The Cyclones have cashed the last three in this rivalry, but Baylor is 8-1 SU (5-4 ATS) in the last nine meetings.
Baylor nudged from -12 to -12.5 at TwinSpires, while taking 56% of spread money, but Iowa State is getting 57% of spread tickets. The total is up to 133 from a 132 opener, with 65% of tickets/57% of money on the Over.
No. 21 Texas vs No. 6 Kansas (4 p.m. ET)
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET: WynnBet pegged Kansas a 6.5-point favorite when this line opened Friday, and the Jayhawks haven’t budged off that number, remaining -6.5 an hour before tipoff. Bettors are definitely backing underdog Texas, to the the tune of 80% of spread tickets and 70% of spread dollars. The total opened at 140 and is down to 138, with 70% of tickets and practically all the money on the Under.
UPDATE NOON ET: Kansas hit a little late-season speed bump on a road trip over the past week, then made amends at home — barely. Last Saturday, the Jayhawks (24-6 SU, 13-16-1 ATS) blew an early double-digit lead at then-No. 10 (and now No. 3) Baylor, falling 80-70 as a 3-point road ‘dog. No real shame in that loss. But Kansas followed that with Tuesday’s stunning 74-64 loss at TCU as a 6.5-point road fave.
Two nights later at Allen Fieldhouse, Kansas again took on TCU and again had its hands full. But the Jayhawks escaped with a 72-68 win, falling way short as 11.5-point favorites for their third straight ATS setback.
Texas (21-9 SU, 12-18 ATS) has been hit-and-miss of late, going 3-3 SU and 1-5 ATS in its last six games. Monday night was a miss at home against Baylor, with the Longhorns falling 68-61 as 1.5-point underdogs.
Texas knocked off the Jayhawks 79-76 getting 1 point at home on Feb. 7, the Longhorns’ third straight win in this Big 12 rivalry. They’re now 3-0-1 ATS in the last four meetings. The Over has cashed in each of the last three head-to-head matchups.
Kansas hasn’t moved off -6.5 in TwinSpires’ Saturday college basketball odds market, while attracting 65% of spread tickets and 62% of spread cash.
“The public is siding with Kansas,” TwinSpires’ Zachary Lucas said.
The total is down a point to 137, with 62% of tickets on the Over/59% of money on the Under.
“Sharp play on Under 138,” Lucas said.
No. 7 Kentucky vs Florida (2 p.m. ET)
UPDATE NOON ET: Kentucky is right near the top of the college basketball championship odds board, yet is only laying 4.5 points against unranked Florida. The Wildcats (24-6 SU, 13-16-1 ATS) are 9-2 SU in their last 11 games, but just 4-6-1 ATS. On Tuesday against Mississippi, Kentucky coasted to an 83-72 win, but failed to cash as a 16.5-point chalk.
Meanwhile, Florida (19-11 SU, 15-15 ATS) is trying to play its way off the bubble and into the NCAA Tournament. The Gators are on a 3-1 SU and ATS upswing, which started with a noteworthy 63-62 upset win over Auburn as a 3.5-point home underdog. Most recently, Florida topped Vanderbilt 82-78 as a 1-point road pup Tuesday.
Kentucky boat-raced Florida 78-57 laying 10.5 points at home on Feb. 12. The Wildcats have won five of the last six meetings SU and four of the last five ATS. The Under is 11-3 in the last 14 series clashes.
TwinSpires opened Kentucky -5 and is down a notch to -4.5, two hours before tipoff. The Wildcats are drawing 63% of bets, but Florida is seeing 57% of money.
“Sharp play on Florida +5,” TwinSpires’ Zachary Lucas said.
The total dropped from 141.5 to 139.5, with 66% of bets/57% of money on the Over.
