Monthly Archives: February 2025

Men’s College Basketball Picks Against the Spread for February 22, 2025

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Rolling Out of Bed with College Basketball Picks

Matty D here from CollegeBasketballItest.com, and I’m back again with another round of early college basketball picks. This approach worked well for me last week, and I’m looking to keep the momentum going. Let’s dive into some suspect spreads and intriguing matchups from today’s slate.

Tennessee vs. Texas A&M

Texas A&M is favored by 1.5 points in this matchup against Tennessee. This might come as a surprise considering I’ve been high on Texas A&M as a potential championship contender at 40 or 50 to 1 odds. However, despite my faith in the Aggies, I think Tennessee is the better team. The Vols haven’t played to their full potential over the last month, but I see this as a good spot for them. I’m taking Tennessee and the 1.5 points here.

Oregon vs. Wisconsin

Oregon is an 8.5-point underdog against Wisconsin. The Badgers have been playing strong basketball recently, but Oregon is fighting for a tournament spot, and 8.5 points is a lot to be giving up. I like Oregon to cover in this one.

Florida State vs. Louisville

Louisville is favored by 13.5 points against Florida State. The Seminoles have struggled lately, and with Louisville’s up-tempo style of play under head coach Pat Kelsey, I think they have the potential to cover the spread. They’re a top-25 team, and with their current momentum, they could handle this one convincingly.

Texas Tech vs. West Virginia

West Virginia is laying 11.5 points against Texas Tech. This is a tough game to call, especially with West Virginia missing one of its key players, Tucker DeVries, whose father, Darian DeVries, is the team’s head coach. If I had to pick, I’d lean toward West Virginia, but this might be a game to avoid altogether.

Iowa State vs. Houston

One of the marquee matchups of the day features Iowa State taking on Houston. Both teams are elite defensively and could make deep tournament runs. Surprisingly, Iowa State is getting 11.5 points. In what should be a low-scoring defensive battle, that’s a big number to be receiving. I like Iowa State to cover, especially since they might be looking for a bounce-back performance after a disappointing showing recently.

Georgia vs. Auburn

Auburn is a 16.5-point favorite against Georgia. The Bulldogs have been a tough out for some SEC teams this season, making this a tricky game. I’m staying away from this one because I don’t want to be sweating in the final moments to see if Auburn covers or not.

Clemson vs. SMU

SMU put on an offensive clinic against Notre Dame recently, so I’m surprised to see them as an underdog at home against Clemson. With SMU getting 1.5 points, I’m taking them in this spot.

Oklahoma State vs. Kansas

Kansas is giving 14.5 points to Oklahoma State, and I don’t think they should be laying that many points to anyone right now. The Jayhawks have been inconsistent, especially during their trip out west against Utah and BYU. I’ll probably stay away from this game entirely, but if I had to pick, I’d take Oklahoma State with the points.

Florida vs. LSU

Florida is favored by 10.5 points against LSU. The Tigers are one of the few SEC teams unlikely to make the tournament, while Florida is in contention for a No. 1 seed. I believe Florida can cover the spread here, as they have much more at stake.

Kentucky vs. Alabama

This game was an instant classic when these two teams faced off in Lexington on MLK weekend. Now, Kentucky is a 10.5-point underdog as they travel to Alabama. That spread seems a bit high, but I’ll be holding off on making a final call until I see more developments.

St. Mary’s Visits Gonzaga as a 6 Point Favorite

St. Mary’s and Gonzaga battled things out about a month ago with St. Mary’s hosting as a slight underdog. In a bizarre display of many missed free throws, the Gaels survived an ugly contest. I just think Gonzaga is overdue for a good showing here at home and a quality win to solidify a tournament berth as a lower seed than we’re used to seeing the Bulldogs. My guess is that they’ll finish the season as a 9 or 10 seed.

St. Mary’s has a son of a former NBA star on its roster. Can you name him?
👶Click here for the list of sons of NBA players in the 2025 Men’s College Basketball Season👶

College Basketball Against the Spread Picks – Closing Thought

That wraps up my early thoughts as I roll out of bed, checking for suspect spreads. Be sure to check out my website, CollegeBasketballItest.com, as well as my YouTube and Twitter for more picks and insights. Let me know what you’re seeing today, and enjoy the action!

Matty D’s ATS Record this Season for 2025 College Basketball Picks

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This blog started over 10 years ago with the goal of spotting human interest stories, huge underdogs, and sharing opinions across the college basketball ecosystem. Lead blogger Matty D. has delivered a few outstanding longshot picks over the years and on this website. That includes spotting UCONN 50-1 when Kemba Walker graced the Garden as a champion, Wichita State at 100-1 when it made the Final Four as a 9 seed, and also listed FAU as a season-long best underdog the year it made a Final Four as a 9 seed.

If you want to see this year’s top 5 picks for high value future underdogs to win a championship, click here:

To see Matty D’s resume for this season, read on.

Picks are posted before noon every Saturday. Those picks are given the appropriate hashtag “Suspect Spreads Saturday,” as we are looking for games where the sports books have the wrong numbers when it comes to their idea of a fair handicap for that game.

Here’s a running tally of this season’s record: 72-66 ATS Overall:

7-4 ATS on March 20th with this article
3-5 ATS on March 15th with a blog article
10-10 ATS on March 8th with this Tweet
5-10 ATS on March 1st with this Tweet
7-7 ATS on February 22nd with this Tweet
9-3 ATS on February 15th with this Tweet
7-7 ATS on February 8th with this Tweet
7-10 ATS on February 1st with this Article
17-10 to Start the Season with these picks

Men’s College Basketball Picks for Saturday, February 15, 2025

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The Super Bowl is over a new wave of sports fans is turning its attention to the college basketball season. It’s been an above .500 showing for Matty D. and the College Basketball Eye Test picks thus far in 2025. Let’s see if we can continue the momentum!

As we settle into the action, let’s take a look at some of the most compelling matchups of the day and what they mean for the landscape of college hoops.

Clemson vs. Florida State: Two Teams in Opposite Directions

One of the early matchups on the schedule sees Clemson traveling to Florida State, and these programs are heading in very different directions. Florida State is in transition, with Coach Leonard Hamilton announcing that this will be his final season at the helm. The Seminoles have struggled to find consistency, and their season has reflected the uncertainty surrounding the program’s future.

Clemson, on the other hand, is surging and might just be establishing itself as the second-best team in the ACC behind Duke. A key piece of their success has been Victor Lakhin, a transfer from Cincinnati who has bolstered the team’s defense. He currently leads the conference in blocked shots, adding an intimidating presence in the paint. With momentum on their side, I expect Clemson to take care of business on the road in what could be another statement win for the Tigers.

Texas A&M vs. Arkansas: Can the Aggies Cover the Spread?

Another game to watch is Texas A&M hosting Arkansas, where the Aggies are favored by eight points. While I’m high on Texas A&M overall, that spread feels too large given their style of play. Coach Buzz Williams likes to go deep into his bench, routinely playing 10 or 11 guys. While that’s a great strategy for building depth, it doesn’t always translate into blowout wins, especially against a team like Arkansas that is still fighting for a tournament berth.

Arkansas has had an up-and-down season, but they are still a dangerous team under Coach John Calipari. While they have struggled to stay consistent, they have enough talent to keep things interesting. I like Texas A&M to win outright, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Arkansas keeps it closer than expected.

Michigan State vs. Illinois: The Best Bet of the Day?

One of the most intriguing matchups of the day is Michigan State traveling to Illinois. Oddsmakers have Illinois as a heavy favorite, but I don’t quite understand that line. This matchup plays right into the strengths of Michigan State, and I think Coach Tom Izzo’s squad has a real shot at pulling off the upset.

Illinois has been plagued by turnovers, sometimes making inexplicable mistakes that could prove costly against a disciplined, well-coached opponent like Michigan State. Meanwhile, one of Illinois’s biggest strengths is their ability to crash the offensive boards, but Michigan State is built to neutralize that advantage. The Spartans are a tough, physical team that won’t allow Illinois many second-chance points, and that could be the deciding factor in this game.

If Michigan State does win, it would be a huge validation of their spot near the top 10 rankings. Keep an eye on this one—it could be the upset of the day.

Final Thoughts

With March Madness fast approaching, every game matters. Clemson looks like a force in the ACC, Texas A&M needs to prove they can cover a big spread, and Michigan State might just be the best underdog bet of the day. Whatever happens, today’s action is sure to have major implications for the tournament picture.

Enjoy the games, and let me know what you think about today’s matchups!

College Basketball Picks Against the Spread for February 8, 2025

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We are spotting a bunch of Suspect Spreads on this Saturday, but also a handful of 2 or 3 point favorites where we don’t want to flirt with the points.

The headline game for the day is the Florida Gators getting 9 1/2 points visiting the number 1 overall ranked team in America, Auburn. Gator point guard Watler Clayton Jr. is not listed on an injury report, so I’m rolling with the Gators to compete for a 1 seed in the tournament here.

Here are the picks for today:

My picks are listed as the first team mentioned in each row.

2025 Handicapping Recap for College Basketball Eye Test to Date: 

Overall ATS Record: 17-10, 9-1 on teasers 

First Picks of 2025 was only dipping my toe in the water with this teaser card that went 9-1 overall: 

Midseason Eye Test with Picks for Saturday, January 18th NCAAB Game Picks

Second Picks of 2025 went 10-4: https://x.com/CBBEyeTest/status/1883193353107538381 

Third picks of 2025 went 7-6: https://x.com/CBBEyeTest/status/1885693133544989091 

College Basketball Predictions: Key Matchups as February Begins

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It might be February first, but March Madness tournament resumes are starting to crystalize for some of college basketball’s most hopeful teams. Here are my picks combined with some recent analysis powered by Chatgpt-4.

Florida Gators (UF) +5 vs. Tennessee Volunteers

The Florida Gators are set to face the Tennessee Volunteers today. In their last meeting, Florida secured a significant 30-point victory over Tennessee. The Volunteers will be seeking revenge in this matchup. We like Florida because of their strong defensive rebounding and ability to control the tempo against physical opponents.

Missouri Tigers (#Mizzou) +6 vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs

The Missouri Tigers, currently ranked 20th, are on the road against the 14th-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs. Mississippi State is favored by 6.5 points in this matchup. We like Missouri because they have shown resilience in close games and have an effective perimeter shooting attack.

NC State Wolfpack +6 vs. Clemson Tigers

NC State is hosting the Clemson Tigers in a mid-afternoon game. The Wolfpack will look to leverage their home-court advantage in this ACC matchup. We like NC State because of their aggressive defensive pressure, which often forces turnovers and creates transition opportunities.

Auburn Tigers -5.5 vs. Ole Miss Rebels

The top-ranked Auburn Tigers are visiting the 23rd-ranked Ole Miss Rebels. Auburn is favored by 6.5 points in this SEC showdown. We like Auburn because of their deep rotation and ability to wear down opponents over 40 minutes.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights +5.5 vs. Michigan Wolverines

Rutgers is hosting Michigan in a Big Ten matchup. The Scarlet Knights will aim to capitalize on their home advantage against the Wolverines. We like Rutgers because of their tenacious perimeter defense and ability to defend the three-point line effectively.

Kansas Jayhawks (#KUBBall) +2.5 vs. Baylor Bears

The 11th-ranked Kansas Jayhawks are on the road against the Baylor Bears. Baylor is favored by 2.5 points in this Big 12 clash. We like Kansas because of their disciplined half-court offense and experience in high-pressure matchups.

UCF Knights -2 vs. BYU Cougars

UCF is hosting BYU in an evening matchup. The Knights are favored by 2 points in this contest. We like UCF because of their strong interior presence and ability to dominate in the paint.

Texas Longhorns -1.5 vs. Oklahoma Sooners

Texas is visiting Oklahoma in a Big 12 rivalry game. The Longhorns are slight favorites with a 1.5-point advantage. We like Texas because of their balanced scoring and ability to handle defensive pressure.

North Carolina Tar Heels (UNC) +13.5 vs. Duke Blue Devils

The Tar Heels are facing their arch-rivals, the 2nd-ranked Duke Blue Devils, at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke is heavily favored by 13.5 points in this storied rivalry. We like North Carolina because of their fast-paced offense and ability to push the tempo against elite teams.

UConn Huskies +6.5 vs. Marquette Golden Eagles

UConn is on the road against Marquette. The Huskies are 6.5-point underdogs in this Big East matchup. We like UConn because of their disciplined defense and efficient guard play.

South Carolina Gamecocks +5 vs. Texas A&M

We like South Carolina because Texas A&M mixes and matches lineups so often that it never runs away with a game.

Kentucky -11 vs. Arkansas

South Carolina is visiting the Kentucky at Rupp Arena with a highly anticipation return for former Wildcats coach John Calipari. Kentucky is favored by 11 points in this SEC contest. We like Kentucky because Arkansas has been playing poorly all season and we don’t expect this high pressure environment to change that.

St. Mary’s Gaels +1.5 vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs

In a late-night West Coast Conference showdown, St. Mary’s is hosting the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Gonzaga is favored by 1.5 points in this closely contested matchup. We like St. Mary’s because of their methodical offensive execution and ability to control the pace of the game.

Your selections encompass a mix of underdogs and favorites, reflecting a strategic approach to today’s diverse slate of college basketball games. Monitoring each team’s recent performances and current form will be crucial as the day’s action unfolds.

These picks were tweeted early Saturday morning to X. Follow us there!