On December 1, expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top picks for a series of exciting matchups. Here’s a rundown of today’s key games and predictions.
Starting at 12:00 PM Eastern, the South Carolina State Bulldogs are set to face off with the Chicago State Cougars. Neither team has won a game this season, but under first-year coach Landon Bussie, Chicago State has shown some promise, particularly in generating turnovers, where they rank 161st in turnovers forced per possession. South Carolina State struggles in several areas, ranking 306th in turnovers per possession on offense and a dismal 345th in points allowed per possession. Peterson predicts Chicago State will cover the -2.5 spread and suggests an over bet on the total points at 150.5.
At 7:00 PM Eastern, the Iona Gaels take on the Delaware Blue Hens. Both teams are expected to see a decline in their current three-point shooting percentages. Delaware boasts a remarkable 40.9% from beyond the arc while Iona ranks 26th in defending against three-point attempts. However, Iona also has an edge in creating extra scoring opportunities due to Delaware’s struggles with turnovers and offensive rebounds. Peterson recommends Iona to win by -1.5.
In another matchup at the same hour, the Tarleton State Texans will challenge the Cincinnati Bearcats. After a strong start, Cincinnati’s offensive struggles have seen them revert to a slower pace, ranking 240th in points per possession. Tarleton State’s offense has significantly improved this season. Given these conditions, Peterson advises a bet on Tarleton State with a +17.5 spread and an under at 145.5.
Later in the evening, the St. Francis PA Red Flashes will play against the Xavier Musketeers. Although St. Francis has increased their pace, they have yet to translate that into effective scoring. Conversely, Xavier excels at limiting second-chance opportunities. Peterson sees value in betting the under at 152.5 in this matchup.
As for the North Alabama Lions versus the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, Jacksonville plays at a slower tempo, which could limit scoring. However, Peterson predicts an over on the total points at 134.5.
Shifting to the 7:30 PM matchup, the UAB Blazers are preparing to meet the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. UAB’s game plan focuses on attacking the basket, but with defensive inconsistencies on the road, Middle Tennessee may have the upper hand. Peterson advises betting on Middle Tennessee with a +3.5 spread and an over on the total at 155.5.
At 8:00 PM Eastern, Bowling Green will take on Kansas State. Both teams have strengths to exploit against one another, with Kansas State ranking high in three-point shooting while Bowling Green excels at forcing turnovers. Peterson recommends Kansas State covering a -12.5 spread.
Finally, the night caps with the Portland Pilots facing the Stanford Cardinal. Portland plays an accelerated game but suffers from turning the ball over frequently. Stanford’s controlled defense, combined with strong rebounding, could limit Portland’s scoring opportunities. Peterson predicts a Stanford win with a -16.5 spread and suggests an under on the total points at 155.5.
These matchups promise a compelling day of college basketball, with experts like Greg Peterson providing insights that could help bettors make informed decisions.