College Basketball Picks Today:

Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Friday, December 19.

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6:30 PM Eastern

Seton Hall Pirates vs. Providence Friars

Seton Hall and Providence use opposite styles, with Seton Hall playing slow and defense-oriented, ranking 13th in points per possession allowed and 321st in total possessions per game. Providence, meanwhile, is 233rd in points per possession allowed and 12th in possessions per game, but has to deal with a Seton Hall defense that ranks sixth in turnovers forced per possession. Seton Hall also has the edge on the glass, ranking 101st in rebound percentage compared to Providence at 134th.

Picks: Seton Hall +2.5 and Under 153.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Seton Hall -4, Total 148.5)

7:00 PM Eastern

Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers vs. Drexel Dragons

Both offenses have struggled to get going, with Mount St. Mary’s ranking 312th in points per possession and Drexel 236th. Mount St. Mary’s has also had major issues in the turnover battle, ranking 362nd in turnovers per possession on offense and 345th in turnovers generated per possession on defense. Drexel has a clear edge on the glass, ranking 58th in offensive rebound percentage by grabbing 33.8% of its missed shots.

Picks: Drexel -4.5 and Under 141.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Drexel -6.5, Total 134.5)

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs. Florida State Seminoles

Both teams play at a very fast pace, with Mississippi Valley State ranking 36th in possessions per game and Florida State ninth. Florida State takes 53% of its shots from 3-point range, the seventh-highest rate in the country, and faces a Mississippi Valley State defense that ranks 358th in points per possession allowed and 323rd in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 37.5%. Florida State’s defense has also been shaky, ranking 248th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage and 152nd in points per possession allowed overall.

Pick: Mississippi Valley State vs. Florida State Over 157.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 162)

8:00 PM Eastern

Florida A&M Rattlers vs. Tarleton State Texans

Florida A&M plays fast, ranking 26th in possessions per game, but hasn’t made the most of those possessions, ranking 345th in points per possession on offense and 321st in points per possession allowed. The Rattlers also lead the country in turnovers per possession on offense in road games. Tarleton State ranks fifth nationally in turnovers forced per possession, and top scorer Dior Johnson returned in the previous game after missing four straight.

Pick: Tarleton State -13.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Tarleton State -20)

Southeastern Louisiana Lions vs. LSU Tigers

LSU ranks 15th in the nation in points per possession and should be able to exploit Southeastern Louisiana’s interior defense, as the Lions rank 246th in opponent 2-point shooting percentage. LSU ranks 14th in 2-point shooting percentage, while Southeast Louisiana has struggled offensively all season, ranking 354th in 3-point shooting percentage and 313th in points per possession.

Pick: LSU -22.5 (Greg’s Handicap: LSU -27.5)

9:00 PM Eastern

Belmont Bruins vs. UC Irvine Anteaters

Both teams play at a relatively fast tempo, with Belmont ranking 83rd in possessions per game and UC Irvine 138th. Both defenses have been strong, with Belmont ranking 45th in points per possession allowed and UC Irvine 15th. Neither team generates many second chances, as Belmont ranks 226th in offensive rebound percentage and UC Irvine 247th.

Pick: Belmont vs. UC Irvine Under 146.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 140)

9:30 PM Eastern

Abilene Christian Wildcats vs. BYU Cougars

Abilene Christian has been much improved on the glass compared to past seasons, ranking 60th in defensive rebound percentage while allowing opponents to grab just 25% of missed shots as offensive rebounds. The Wildcats continue to generate turnovers at a high rate, ranking 32nd overall and 26th in games played away from home. BYU owns a strong offense, ranking 32nd in points per possession, but does not play at a tempo conducive to covering a large number, ranking 172nd in possessions per game.

Pick: Abilene Christian +34.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Abilene Christian +27.5)

10:00 PM Eastern

Cal Poly Mustangs vs. UCLA Bruins

The tempos in this game are complete opposites, with UCLA ranking 299th in possessions per game and Cal Poly seventh. While Cal Poly ranks 350th in turnovers per possession, its defense has traveled well, ranking 146th in points per possession allowed away from home. UCLA ranks 75th in points per possession and does not show any clear strengths or weaknesses across most metrics.

Picks: Cal Poly +26.5 and Under 162.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Cal Poly +22.5, Total 158.5)

San Diego Toreros vs. UC San Diego Tritons

San Diego has struggled to defend the 3-point line, ranking 301st in opponent 3-point shooting percentage at 36.7%. UC San Diego ranks 21st nationally in 3-point shooting percentage at 39% and should also generate plenty of second chances, as San Diego ranks 356th in defensive rebound percentage, allowing opponents to rebound 38.1% of missed shots offensively.

Pick: UC San Diego -13.5 (Greg’s Handicap: UC San Diego -17.5)

11:30 PM Eastern

Seattle Redhawks vs. Washington Huskies

Washington has an edge on the glass, ranking 23rd in the nation in rebound percentage. Both teams have been strong in opponent 2-point shooting percentage in road and neutral-court games, with Seattle ranking 40th and Washington 22nd. While Seattle’s 3-point shooting has improved, ranking 10th nationally at 40.3%, regression is likely after ranking 306th last season. Seattle should still get clean looks against a Washington defense that ranks 300th in turnovers forced per possession.

Picks: Seattle +7.5 and Under 147.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Seattle +5.5, Total 139.5)