X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Top College Basketball Betting Picks for Wednesday, February 5, 2020

NCAA college basketball CBB betting picks march madness

Nick Federline's NCAA college basketball betting picks for Wednesday, February 5th, 2020. He analyzes CBB Vegas lines and recommends the top expert bets including spreads and over/unders.

In this article every week, we'll be reviewing some of the top college basketball games of the day to see how we can beat Vegas.  Today's slate of games includes several Power Five conference showdowns, bubble teams, and under-the-radar mid-major conference races.

On Saturday, a 2-3 record was a bit of a letdown, with Oregon squandering a significant halftime lead, and the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles playing with an offense so poor that they should have had their red blood cells checked for anemia. Nevertheless, today is an opportunity to bounce back with a juicy slate of basketball games.

Here are some of the top college basketball expert betting picks for Wednesday, February 5. Let me know your thoughts, and follow me on Twitter @fredetterline. All game times below are Eastern Standard Time.

Featured Promo: Get any Props Premium Pass for 30% off using code NEW. Win more with our two new Props Optimizer tools -- one for PrizePicks Props, and one for Sportsbook Betting Props. Find optimal prop bets and get our recommended picks daily! Go Premium, Win More!

Season record to date: 22-19-1 (+0.4 units)

 

Clemson @ Virginia - 7:00 pm

Coach Brad Brownell's Clemson Tigers are a mixed bag and are a good reflection of just how disappointing the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) has been this season. Replacing four of five starters, expectations were low for the Tigers and yet they found a way to take down the extremely talented Duke Blue Devils, but have lost ten games and looked dreadful their last time out against Wake Forest. Sophomore guard John Newman and graduate transfer Tevin Mack, who arrived in Clemson, South Carolina, after previous stops at Alabama and Texas, are the players to watch for the Tigers as they seek to push the pace against a Virginia team that seeks to limit possessions.

Virginia is the top defensive unit in the country, by a longshot. Coach Tony Bennett, long considered a defensive mastermind, has his team competing fiercely on defense and allowing only 50.7 points per game (ppg). Early in the year, it seemed like Virginia would never hit an over. Now, it appears Vegas may have over-adjusted as the Cavaliers have gone over the total in seven of their past ten games.

Pick: Over 107

 

Hartford @ Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC) - 7:00 pm

The Hartford Hawks enter tonight's game on a three-game win streak and in a two-way tie for 2nd place in the America East conference. Coach John Gallagher has done a fantastic job this season with a team that had low expectations and only returned 4 scholarship players from a year ago. Graduate transfer Malik Ellison, who is the son of former NBA star Pervis Ellison, has thrived as the go-to player for the Hawks after previous stops at St. John's and Pitt. Helping Ellison out this year is a pair of star freshmen in guard Moses Flowers and Czech forward Miroslav Stafl. Presently, the Hawks and Stony Brook Seawolves look like the best two bets to take down Vermont from on top of the conference to represent the conference in the NCAA tournament.

UMBC enters the game in quite an opposite position. The Retrievers, who were the first 16-seed in an NCAA tournament to take down a 1-seed when they took down Virginia in March 2018, were picked to finish 3rd in the conference in the preseason poll but find themselves in a tie for last with a 2-6 conference record. Coach Ryan Odom's team has struggled largely due to its inability to rebound effectively, ranking 296th in rebounding. Luckily for the Retrievers, Hartford ranks 325th in the nation and plays large stretches of its games with the 6-foot-6 guard Ellison playing at power forward.

Pick: UMBC -3

 

George Washington @ Saint Bonaventure - 7:00 pm

George Washington University, named after our nation's first president, is in a transition year with new coach Jamion Christian at the helm. Christian, who comes to the District of Columbia after six years in charge of Mount Saint Mary's and one year in charge of Siena, is widely considered a rising star in the coaching stratosphere and quickly found his way to a well-regarded Atlantic 10 (A-10) program. The Colonials are going to be a team to watch in the future, with young freshmen forward Jamison Battle and guard Jameer Nelson Jr, son of the former Orlando Magic and St. Joseph's star of the same name, have emerged as the team's leaders. While these freshmen have endured their share of bumps and bruises, the immense potential they have shown should excite Colonials fans for the years to come.

Saint Bonaventure has been an example of consistency for years in the A-10, with coach Mark Schmidt at the helm since the 2007-2008 season. The Bonnies are in somewhat unfamiliar territory, having lost stars Courtney Stockard and LaDarien Griffin to graduation with seemingly no well-planned replacement. Sophomore guard Kyle Lofton was the heir apparent but due to inconsistent three-point shooting and increased turnovers, the expected star-turn may need to wait a year.

Pick: George Washington +9.5

 

Sam Houston State @ Incarnate Word - 8:00 pm

Sam Houston State University, named after one of the iconic heroes of the Alamo, is the third oldest public college or university in Texas. The basketball program has experienced similar lengthy success with 19 of 20 seasons in the 21st century having winning records above .500. Coach Jason Hooten, in his tenth season at the helm of the Bearkats, has built a winning culture in Huntsville, Texas, and a passionate fanbase. Senior forward Kai Mitchell is the team's scoring and rebounding leader, but the team uses a deep rotation to tire out opponents.

Incarnate Word, a private Catholic university in San Antonio, was founded in 1881 by an order of Catholic nuns in 1881. The Cardinals have probably started prayer chains for an expedited end to what will go down possibly as their worst men's basketball season of all-time. Aside from a narrow win over lowly Houston Baptist, which we were on the wrong side on, the Cardinals have shown game-in and game-out that they would be better served playing in Division II or III this year. In a few years, coach Carson Cunningham's team may be competing, but for now, a team led by a band of lightly-recruited freshmen will continue to struggle in the Southland conference gauntlet.

Pick: Sam Houston 1st Half -7.5

 

Temple @ Memphis - 8:00 pm

This year marks a new beginning for Temple basketball. Fran Dunphy was a Division I basketball coach in Philadelphia for 30 years, split between Temple and Penn, and his absence this season has been felt. Dunphy's top assistant, and former Philadelphia 76er and Temple Owl, Aaron McKie has stepped in to replace his old retired boss. McKie is well-respected and well-known in Philadelphia basketball circles, already making his presence known by bringing in New Jersey freshman guard Josh Pierre-Louis, whose brother Nate is the team's best perimeter defender.

The Memphis Tigers have been an unmitigated letdown this season. Coach Penny Hardaway's team has all the talent in the world but cannot seem to play with any sense of urgency or consistency. The Tigers, who had the consensus #1 recruiting class in the nation and brought in five top-100 players, were dealt a blow with the loss of James Wiseman when he decided to depart school early to prepare for the NBA draft. The team is a top-10 team in terms of talent but is playing like a bubble team at the moment.

Pick: Temple +7.5

 

Thanks for reading, and remember to gamble responsibly.

More Fantasy Basketball Analysis

POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Miguel Vargas

Homers Against The Twins On Thursday
Hunter Goodman

Delivers In Game 1 On Thursday With Two Hits
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Christopher Morel

Home Run Seals Victory For Rays
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Zach Neto

Hits Go-Ahead Home Run On Thursday
Yandy Díaz

Yandy Diaz Tallies Three Hits In Win Against Arizona
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Pete Fairbanks

Picks Up Fourth Save On Thursday
Carlos Estévez

Carlos Estevez Picks Up Save On Thursday
Corbin Burnes

Picks Up Eight Strikeouts In Thursday's Start
MacKenzie Gore

Strikes Out Eight In Loss On Thursday
Cade Povich

Picks Up Win On Thursday
Bobby Witt Jr.

Scores Three Runs, Steals A Base On Thursday
Alex Bregman

Homers In Loss To Seattle
Mike Yastrzemski

Homers, Drives In Two On Thursday
Salvador Perez

Notches Four Doubles, Four RBI In Thursday's Doubleheader
Jordan Beck

Homers Three Times On Thursday
Jameson Williams

Lions Didn't Entertain Trade Offers For Jameson Williams
Dalton Rushing

Homers In Four-Hit Game
Qadir Ismail

Raiders Sign Qadir Ismail
New York Giants

Giants Plan To Exercise Kayvon Thibodeaux's Fifth-Year Option
Russell Wilson

Will Be Giants Starting Quarterback
Max Muncy

With A Pair Of Doubles Back At Triple-A
Michael Lorenzen

Tosses Quality Start
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs Close Out The First Round With Josh Simmons
Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Trade Up One Spot In First Round To Select Jihaad Campbell
A.J. Puk

Likely To Miss Multiple Months
Marquis Grissom Jr.

Notches Fifth Save At Double-A
Buffalo Bills

Bills Address Secondary And Take Maxwell Hairston With 30th Overall Pick
Félix Bautista

Felix Bautista Records Third Save
NFL

Eagles, Chiefs Swap First-Round Picks
Washington Commanders

Josh Conerly Jr. Goes At No. 29 Overall To Commanders

Giants Trade Up For Jaxson Dart At No. 25
Detroit Lions

Tyleik Williams Taken By Lions At No. 28 Overall
Baltimore Ravens

Ravens Go With Malaki Starks At No. 27 Overall In NFL Draft
Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Takes Donovan Jackson No. 24 Overall
NFL

Rams Trade The 26th Pick In The 2025 NFL Draft To The Falcons
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Trade Back Into First Round To Draft James Pearce Jr. At No. 26 Overall

Matthew Golden Selected No. 23 Overall By Green Bay
NFL

Texans Trade The 25th Pick In The 2025 NFL Draft To The Giants

Omarion Hampton Taken No. 22 Overall By Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers

Pittsburgh Selects Derrick Harmon At No. 21 Overall
Denver Broncos

Broncos Build Secondary By Selecting Jahdae Barron At No. 20

Buccaneers Add Emeka Egbuka At No. 19
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Isaiah Stewart

Remains Out For Game 3
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Rasmus Ristolainen

To Miss Training Camp
Jonas Siegenthaler

Returns To Practice
Aliaksei Protas

Traveling With Capitals
Gabriel Vilardi

Still Out On Thursday
Max Pacioretty

Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Linus Ullmark

Attempts To Overcome Playoff Struggles Thursday
Anthony Cirelli

A Game-Time Call Thursday
Logan Thompson

Comes Up Big In Game 2
Connor McMichael

Strikes Twice In Wednesday's Win
Anze Kopitar

Tallies Four Points In Game 2 Victory
Adrian Kempe

Notches Two Goals, Two Assists In Wednesday's Win
Tyler Seguin

Gives Stars Series Lead With Overtime Winner
Tyler Herro

Scores Game-High 33 Points In Wednesday's Loss
Donovan Mitchell

Fires In 30 Points In Game 2 Win
Paolo Banchero

Notches 32 Points In Game 2 Loss
Jaylen Brown

Posts 36-Point Double-Double Wednesday
Jalen Green

Erupts For 38 Points In Game 2 Victory
Brandin Podziemski

Limited To 14 Minutes Wednesday
Jimmy Butler III

Set For MRI Thursday
Brandin Podziemski

Upgraded To Available
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Michael Porter Jr.

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Davion Mitchell

Moves Into Starting Lineup Wednesday
Brandin Podziemski

Picks Up Questionable Tag
Al Horford

Starts Game 2
Michael Porter Jr.

Practices On Wednesday
Jayson Tatum

Out On Wednesday
Isaiah Stewart

May Miss Another Game Thursday
Jaren Jackson Jr.

Posts Team-High 26 Points In Tuesday's Loss
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Notches 27 Points Despite Poor Shooting
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Pascal Siakam

Scores Team-High 24 Points In Game 2 Win
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF