Today’s College Basketball Predictions:
Greg Peterson, an expert handicapper in college basketball, has shared his best picks for Friday, March 21.
For more insights, explore Greg’s Daily College Basketball Lines and listen to his Coast 2 Coast Hoops Podcast. Don’t forget to check our College Basketball Betting Splits.
12:40 PM Eastern
Robert Morris vs. Alabama
Alabama plays at the fastest pace in college basketball and can lead to either a dominant win or a surprising upset depending on their three-point shooting. They take 46.2% of their field goals from beyond the arc, ranking 41st nationally. However, Alabama’s defense has been struggling, allowing 79 points or more in nine of their last 11 games. Robert Morris, on the other hand, excels in rebounding, collecting 36.2% of their missed shots as offensive rebounds on the road, good for seventh in the nation.
Pick: Robert Morris +22.5 (Greg’s Assessment: Robert Morris +17.5)
2:00 PM Eastern
Colorado State vs. Memphis
Both teams exhibit strong three-point shooting skills, with Colorado State hitting 36.6% and Memphis making 38.5% of their threes away from home. Memphis faces a setback with the injury to Tyrese Hunter, who contributes 13.7 points per game on 40.1% shooting from three. However, PJ Carter can provide a solid replacement with a 39.7% shooting percentage. Hunter’s absence may also affect defense, as he averages 1.5 steals per game.
Pick: Colorado State vs. Memphis Over 146 (Greg’s Predicted Total: 149)
4:05 PM Eastern
North Carolina vs. Ole Miss
Ole Miss struggles with rebounding, ranking 322nd in the nation for rebound percentage. North Carolina may not be dominant in the paint this year, but Ven-Allen Lubin has stepped up recently, recording a double-double in four of the last five games and averaging 13.8 points and 8.1 rebounds over that span. This improvement has propelled North Carolina to a 7-2 record in recent games.
Pick: North Carolina -2 (Greg’s Prediction: North Carolina -3)
4:35 PM Eastern
Maryland vs. Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon struggles with turnovers, ranking 275th in turnovers per possession, and while they play quickly, they only manage to score moderately, ranking 136th in points per possession. Their three-point shooting is deficient, hitting just 29.4% of their shots on the road, ranking 331st in the country. They now face a Maryland team that excels on defense, ranking sixth in points allowed per possession and 29th in offensive points allowed per possession.
Pick: Maryland -10 and Under 150.5 (Greg’s Assessments: Maryland -12 and Total 148)
7:10 PM Eastern
Troy vs. Kentucky
Kentucky is missing Jaxson Robinson, who averages 13 points per game, but they’ve had backcourt injuries throughout the season. Still, Kentucky maintains a well-balanced scoring effort with five players scoring over 10 points per game and ranks 15th nationally in points per possession. They should be able to handle a Troy team shooting a low 27.3% from three-point range away from home, which is the worst among NCAA tournament teams.
Pick: Kentucky -11 (Greg’s Assessment: Kentucky -14.5)
