Free Picks: NCAA College Basketball Best Bets of the Day 1/4/22

No.15 SETON HALL 9-3 (0-2) at BUTLER 8-4 (1-0)

This is a matchup featuring two teams from the Big East that are battling COVID issues but in different ways.

Seton Hall: The Pirates have played the last two games against No.21 Providence and No.22 Villanova, with only 8 available players because of COVID protocols. That is not expected to change for the Butler game. They are led by 6’6″ Jared Rhoden who is averaging 16.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. They are a tough, physical team and, when they have all of their players they are a to team to beat. Their best wins are over Michigan and Texas.

Butler: The Bulldogs are at full strength, but have played only 1 game in the last 17 days because their opponents have had to postpone scheduled games for COVID. In that one game, they held on for a 63-59 win over DePaul. They have balanced scoring led by their 3 guards, Chuck Harris, Jayden Taylor, and Jair Bolden. Defense is their strength and they have rebounded from a 3-3 start to win 5 of their last 6.

Seton Hall is a 3.5-point favorite. Seton Hall is short-handed and Butler is tough to beat in historic Hinkle Fieldhouse. Will they be able to score enough to win?

Best Bet: Butler +3.5

FLORIDA STATE 7-4 (1-1) at WAKE FOREST 11-3 (1-2)

This game features two teams from the ACC and both are needing a win in this one.

Florida State: The Seminoles are coming off an 83-81 win over NC State on the road. They are averaging 75 points per game and are led in scoring by Malik Osborne and Caleb Mills. Other than the NC State win, they have only one other good win and that came against a very average Missouri team. At this point, Florida State is not as good as they have been.

Wake Forest: The Deacons won 11 of their first 12 games with their only loss coming against an excellent LSU team. None of the eleven wins came against top-ranked opponents, and they are coming off of a 2-game losing streak, with losses against Louisville and Miami, both in conference and on the road. They are attempting to bounce back and get this conference game on their home court. They are scoring 81 points per game and are led by 6’5″ Senior guard, Alondes Williams who is scoring 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists per game.

Wake Forest is a 1.5 point favorite. I like this spread a lot and I am pretty confident the Deacons will win this game over a Florida State team that is not the caliber of teams they have had in the past.

Best Bet: Wake Forest -1.5