College Basketball Picks Today:

Expert college basketball handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top college basketball picks today for Friday, December 5.

Check out Greg’s Daily College Basketball Lines and his Coast 2 Coast Hoops Podcast. Also, check out our College Basketball Betting Splits and become a VSiN Pro Subscriber to get your hands on this year’s College Basketball Betting Guide.

 

7:00 PM Eastern

Quinnipiac Bobcats vs. Iona Gaels

Iona should see negative regression from teams shooting only 26.9% from 3-point range against them, which ranks 18th in the nation. On offense, they should get plenty of second chances, as Quinnipiac is 331st in defensive rebound percentage with opponents grabbing 36% of their missed shots. Both teams are pushing tempo, with Quinnipiac 101st in possessions per game and Iona 24th.

Pick: Over 161.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 164.5)

South Alabama Jaguars vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers

South Alabama is daring teams to shoot from 3, with 61.8% of opponent field-goal attempts coming from beyond the arc, which is on pace to be the highest percentage this decade. ETSU is 172nd in 3-point shooting at 33.5%. Both teams have been solid in overall offensive execution, with ETSU 108th in points per possession and South Alabama 123rd. However, South Alabama is 323rd in total possessions per game, and ETSU is 28th in turnovers forced per possession.

Pick: Under 140.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 135.5)

Bryant Bulldogs vs. Brown Bears

Brown is playing at one of the slowest paces in college basketball, ranking 315th in possessions per game. They should see their current ranking of 301st in offensive efficiency improve with top returning scorer and rebounder Landen Lewis back in the lineup. Both teams should get plenty of good looks, with Bryant 328th in turnovers forced per possession on defense and Brown 204th in defensive rebound percentage.

Picks: Brown -5 and Over 128 (Greg’s Handicap: Brown -8 and Total 132)

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Kentucky Wildcats

Surprisingly, the Kentucky defense has been more efficient than the offense this season, ranking 11th in points per possession allowed and 30th in points per possession on offense. Even with forward Mouhamed Dioubate missing the past three games, the Wildcats are 18th in rebound percentage while Gonzaga is 16th. Both teams have struggled from 3, with Gonzaga shooting 32.2% (218th) and Kentucky 33.6% (169th), both due for positive regression.

Picks: Kentucky +4.5 and Over 157.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Kentucky -2 and Total 160)

Manhattan Jaspers vs. Fairfield Stags

Fairfield has done a nice job taking care of the ball, ranking 47th in turnovers per possession, but they’re simply not a good shooting team, ranking 217th in 3-point percentage and 290th in 2-point percentage. Manhattan should see positive regression after opponents have made 42.5% of their 3s against them—the highest percentage in the country.

Pick: Under 157.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 148.5)

Samford Bulldogs vs. VCU Rams

This game should feature plenty of clean possessions. Samford ranks 30th in fewest turnovers per possession on offense and 317th in turnovers generated on defense. VCU is playing uptempo, ranking 59th in possessions per game, and they are 43rd in home offensive-rebound percentage, grabbing 39.1% of their misses.

Pick: Over 151.5 (Greg’s Handicapped Total: 154.5)

South Carolina State Bulldogs vs. Bethune-Cookman Wildcats

South Carolina State has struggled in nearly every facet, ranking 342nd in points per possession on offense and 347th on defense. Bethune-Cookman should also control the boards, ranking 251st in rebound percentage while SCSU is 362nd.

Picks: Bethune-Cookman -10.5 and Over 148 (Greg’s Handicap: Bethune-Cookman -17.5 and Total 153.5)

NJIT Highlanders vs. High Point Panthers

The High Point offense is extremely efficient, ranking 24th in points per possession, but they allow plenty of second chances, with opponents grabbing 35.6% of their misses (301st). NJIT should see improvement from their current ranking of 350th in offensive efficiency with Sebastian Robinson—who averaged 12 points last season—returning from injury.

Picks: NJIT +28 and Under 153.5 (Greg’s Handicap: NJIT +23.5 and Total 149.5)

7:30 PM Eastern

Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Xavier Musketeers

Even though Cincinnati has sped up to 61st in possessions per game, it hasn’t helped their offense, which ranks 236th in points per possession and 296th in turnovers per possession. Their usual dominance on the glass will be tested by a Xavier team that ranks ninth in defensive rebound percentage, allowing opponents to grab only 20.9% of their misses.

Pick: Xavier -1.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Xavier -4)

10:00 PM Eastern

San Diego Toreros vs. San Jose State Spartans

San Jose State has struggled with interior defense, ranking dead last in opponent 2-point shooting percentage at 67.3%. They are 279th in points per possession allowed and 243rd on offense. San Diego should generate plenty of turnovers against an SJSU offense ranked 287th in turnovers per possession.

Pick: San Diego +7.5 (Greg’s Handicap: San Diego +3.5)