Free Picks: NCAA College Basketball Best Bets and Money Line Selections For 1/17/22

Yesterday was a great bounce back from a very average Saturday. We are very big Illinois State Redbird fans, after they came storming back from a 16-point first half deficit, to beat Bradley. That allowed us to cash our Best Bet of the Day and improve our record to 16-6 in that category. The Money Line was also very good for us as we were 8-1 yesterday. That keeps us rolling along with a 79-26 record, betting winners. There are several matinee games today coinciding with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but most of the big boys are not on the schedule.Let’s see what we are betting on.

Papa Dudes Best Bet for College Basketball Today

Pennsylvania 6-11 at Princeton 13-3 (-4): On paper and at first glance, this look like a gimme. But, when you dig deeper the records of these two teams are deceiving. The Quakers have played a much tougher schedule, playing teams such as Villanova, Florida State, Temple, Arkansas, and Davidson. Princeton’s best opponents are Minnesota, South Carolina, and Oregon State. So, this is a tricky game to pick and the line keeps going down. There is one common opponent that I’m keying on in placing this bet. The Tigers played Columbia at home on Jan.7th and thumped them 84-69. The very next night Penn played the same Columbia team at the Palestra and lost 73-69. That, and the fact the game is at Princeton, is enough for me.

PAPA DUDES BEST BET: Princeton -4

Money Line and Score Projections for the Rest of the College Basketball Slate:

#7 Purdue at #25 Illinois (-2): The phrase toss-up was invented for this game.. – THE PICK: Purdue 75 Illinois 74

George Mason 7-6 (-6) at George Washington 4-10: Neither George was a five-star. – THE PICK: George Mason 74 George Washington 71

Notre Dame 10-6 (-11) at Howard 6-7: Rare non-conference game in January. – THE PICK: Notre Dame 72 Howard 64

LaSalle 5-8 at St.Joseph’s 7-7 (-7.5): Who are these guys? – THE PICK: St.Joseph’s 70 LaSalle 64

Murray State 14-2 (-21) at Eastern Illinois 2-13:: The Racers are a very good mid-major. –THE PICK: Murray State 82 Eastern Illinois 64

Indiana 12-4 (-9) at Nebraska 6-12: Hoosiers better be ready. This could get close. – THE PICK: Indiana 75 Nebraska 70

Wyoming 12-2 at Nevada 8-6 (-2.5): This is another tough game to gauge. – THE PICK: Nevada 73 Wyoming 70

Weber State 11-5 (-10.5) at Idaho State 3-11: Weber is strong, but not as good as usual. – THE PICK: Weber State 73 Idaho State 66

Belmont 13-4 (-14.5) at SIU-Edwardsville 7-8: Belmont is always good. Belmont 81 SIU 70