College basketball is at the top of the menu for sports bettors on Wednesday, with marquee matchups such as No. 11 Auburn vs. No. 4 Tennessee topping a list of riveting rivalry matchups:
Feb. 28 College Basketball odds, picks and best bets: Auburn vs. Tennessee predictions & more for Wednesday
Feb. 28 college basketball picks: No. 11 Auburn vs. No. 4 Tennessee odds, preview and predictions
This is one of the best matchups of the season between two of the best teams in the SEC.
Auburn is fifth in KenPom’s rankings and holds opponents to just 38.4% shooting, including 29.6% from 3-point range. They’re also strong on the glass and shoot just under 47% as a team while averaging 82.7 points per game, all while keeping their turnovers low.
Tennessee enters the matchup riding a four-game win streak and is sixth in KenPom’s rankings. The Vols also have an elite defense that holds opponents to 38% from the field, the second-lowest mark in the nation, and give up less than 60 points per game on their court. They love to play fast on offense behind senior guard Dalton Knecht (20.1 points, 5.0 rebounds) and won three of their last four games by 29 points or more.
This is going to be an outstanding matchup between two teams with the potential to win a national title. While Auburn has players that will present matchup issues, Tennessee gets the nod because of their brilliance in Knoxville.
Pick: Tennessee -5.5 (-118 or better)
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NCAAB Picks Today: Seton Hall vs. No. 12 Creighton odds, preview and pick
Seton Hall is one of numerous teams that are still fighting to secure an invitation to March Madness. They beat UConn and Marquette but already lost to Creighton (by 3 points at home), though they won three straight and five of their last six games. They’re a horrible 3-point shooting team (31.6%) but play intense defense that is tough to get past.
Creighton is a jump-shooting team through and through, launching 3s on 47% of its total shot attempts. They beat UConn by 19 but then immediately lost to St. Johns by 14 points in a perfect representation of the dichotomy that exists -- and that depends on whether their shots go in or not. They like to put up points but aren’t as concerned with their level of defensive solidarity.
Creighton is very much a boom-or-bust team. They absolutely have the ceiling to blow Seton Hall out, but their inconsistent defensive focus could give a bad opponent the chance they need to stick around.
Pick: Seton Hall +8.5 (-105 or better)
Feb. 28 NCAA basketball predictions: Minnesota vs. No. 13 Illinois odds, preview and pick
Minnesota is an absurd 23-4 against the spread this season, far ahead of even second-place Cal State Northridge (20-7). That said, the Gophers lost by 18 points to Nebraska their last time out and have just one win against a Quad 1 team. They’re relatively average on both sides but hold opponents to 3.7% from beyond the arc.
Illinois is another top-10 team according to KenPom, ranking exactly 10th. While the Illini are nothing special (and barely above average) on defense, they play with outstanding offensive efficiency. They’re also sixth in the nation in rebound rate and control the game through their ability to close out possessions and create second-chance looks.
Illinois should have no problem putting up points against Minnesota’s defense, but the real question is whether or not it can beat a team that has found unrelenting success against the spread — believe it or not, we believe they will.
Pick: Illinois -11 (-105 or better)
College Basketball Feb. 28 best bets: No. 6 Arizona vs. Arizona State odds, preview and pick
The Wildcats won seven of their last eight games and are fourth in KenPom’s rankings, ranking sixth in adjusted offense and 13th in adjusted defense.
Caleb Love has been much more consistent with his jumper than he was at UNC, though he still tends to jack shots he should pass on. Oumar Ballo dominates the glass with 10 boards per night, helping the team rank third in rebounding differential.
The Sun Devils are 14-14 but lost nine of their last 13 games. They beat No. 21 Washington State by 12 points their last time out but are just 116th in KenPom’s rankings thanks to their 206th-ranked offense. They also allow opponents to shoot better than 44.4% from the field and haven’t played noticeably better at home than on the road.
Although the Wildcats will have to cover a large line, they’re more than good enough to do that against a weak opponent.
Pick: Arizona -12.5 (-102 or better)
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Grant is a Virginia-based writer for Catena Media who graduated from Virginia Tech in 2021 with a degree in sports media & analytics. He has contributed to well-known publications such as Forbes, and appeared on the VSiN TV network. You can keep up with Grant's work here or by checking out his YouTube channel "The Sitch With Grant Mitchell.”
