College Basketball Underdog Betting Odds and Picks

  • In Ross Benjamin
  • Sat, Jan 12th, 2019 1:23:37 pm
  • By Ross Benjamin


Prominent professional sports handicapper Ross Benjamin shares 3 college basketball underdog picks on Saturday’s huge card. Go inside to find out who those picks are on and why he’s chosen to wager on them today.

I always enjoy the challenge of identifying college basketball underdogs with ample betting value on these massive Saturday cards. There are plenty of options to choose from and any professional sports handicapper chomps at the bit when these situations take place. Although it’s a more tedious and time-consuming handicapping process, the results can prove to be consistently profitable when knowing what to look for.

Nevada Wolfpack @ Fresno State Bulldogs 8:00 PM ET
Game# 739-740

At this present time, Bovada is listing Fresno State as a 4.5-point home underdog against #10 ranked Nevada.

FresnoState NCAA pickNevada hasn’t shot the ball well in 3 conference games this season. During that stretch, the Wolfpack has shot just 42.4% and converted on a dismal 28.2% of its 3-point shot attempts. Nevada suffered their only defeat of the season in one of those contests during an embarrassing 85-58 loss as a 14.5-point favorite at New Mexico.

Fresno State enters Saturday’s Mountain West Conference tilt with an imposing 12-3 record. As a matter of fact, the Bulldogs have won 10 of their last 11 games and are 3-0 in conference play. Throughout those trio of games, Fresno State has shot a stirring 47.5% and knocked down 40.9% of its 3-point shots.

I wouldn’t be shocked to see a Fresno State outright upset, but I’ll gladly take the points for one of my college basketball picks.
Pick: Fresno State +4.5


Gonzaga Bulldogs @ San Francisco Dons 10:00 PM ET
Game# 757-758

The college basketball betting odds at Bookmaker is show Gonzaga as a 9.5-point favorite. The Bulldogs have certainly played a much tougher non-conference schedule than San Francisco has faced. Nonetheless, that’s already been factored into today’s point-spread.

I’m always a bit hesitant when it comes to betting against Gonzaga when they’re facing a fellow West Coast Conference team. Nevertheless, there was no such hesitancy in this instance.

San Francisco is off to a great start to their 2018-2019 regular season campaign. The Dons are 14-2. It’s also important to note, they’ve gone 10-0 at home with a decisive average victory margin of 19.7 points per game. This is an optimum opportunity for the Dons to prove they’re for real and should be taken seriously. Calling for an upset to occur might be a low probability proposition. However, the home team staying within this substantial number isn’t.
Pick: San Francisco +9.5


St. Mary’s Gaels @ Loyola-Marymount Lions 10:00 PM ET
Game# 759-760

st marys vs loyola marymountAccording to 5Dimes, Loyola is a 6.5-point home underdog on Saturday night.

St. Mary’s has played much better of late. In any event, this isn’t the vintage St. Mary’s teams that have contended with Gonzaga for West Coast Conference supremacy on an annual basis for the past decade or so.

Loyola-Marymount a noteworthy 13-3 at this point, and that fact by itself is enough to validate a reason for researching the home underdog even further. Loyola possesses a an unscathed 10-0 record at home and they’ve outscored those opponents by a plentiful 18.0 points per contest. Additionally, the Lions are very good defensively while holding their opponents to just 60.6 points per game.

One of my golden rules for seriously considering college basketball underdogs are good defensive teams with a winning record from game 15 of their season and beyond. Loyola-Marymount certainly qualifies in that regard.
Pick: Loyola Marymount +3.5

Ross Benjamin is a top sports analyst and one of the sports industry's most respected handicappers. Follow him on Twitter:@RossBenjamin1 or visit his website at RBWins.com


Sign-up for the OSGA Newsletter!

Every week get news and updates, exclusive offers and betting tips delivered right to you email inbox.