Free College Basketball Picks For Today 12/21/2024
UCLA vs. North Carolina College Basketball Pick Prediction 12/21/2024
UCLA vs. North Carolina Team Profiles
UCLA vs. North Carolina 3PM ET—Game played at Madison Square Garden. UCLA is 10-1 following a home win to Prairie View A&M. The have notable wins to Arizona and Oregon on the road and opened Big Ten play at 2-0. Their loss came to New Mexico on a neutral court. North Carolina is 6-5 after a 90-84 defeat to Florida in Charlotte. The have a home loss to Alabama and on the road to Kansas. In Maui they beat Dayton and dropped games to Michigan St as well as Auburn.
The Pick with the Explanation
North Carolina has struggled on the offense glass and from three where they convert just 31.3%. They don’t force turnovers defensively and allow 34% from three. UNC does not have size. The Bruins sit fourth in defensive efficiency by allowing 29% from three and 46% inside. They are the best in the nation at forcing turnovers. Offensively they convert 35% from three and 55% inside and rebound effectively. They have covered 7 of 9 in the non-conference. Their recent form has been strong. Play UCLA -1.5.
Ohio St vs. Kentucky College Basketball Pick Prediction 12/21/2024
Ohio St vs. Kentucky Team Profiles
Ohio St vs. Kentucky 8:30PM ET—Game played a Madison Square Garden. Ohio St is 7-4 after their home win to Valparaiso by 22. They dropped a home game to Pittsburgh with true road losses at Texas A&M and Maryland by double digits. They were blown out on a neutral court to Auburn. Kentucky checks in at 10-1 with their 93-85 home win to Louisville. Their loss came at Clemson by four in a true road game. Notable wins came to Duke and Gonzaga on neutral courts.
The Pick with the Explanation
The Wildcats sit eighth in offensive efficiency as they secure the basketball plus convert on 37% from three and 59% inside. They are 28th in effective field goal defense by surrendering 27.5% from three and 47.5% inside. The Buckeyes have been banged up with Johnson and Bradshaw questionable. They are 1-3 to the spread away from home as they have shot 38%. Play Kentucky -8.5.
California vs. San Diego St College Basketball Pick Prediction 12/21/2024
California vs. San Diego St Team Profiles
California vs. San Diego St 10:30PM ET—Game played at San Jose. San Diego St is 7-2 following their 81-75 home victory to Cal Baptist. They dropped a home game to Gonzaga and to Oregon on a neutral court. They posted neutral site wins against Creighton and Houston with a true road win at Fresno St in the MWC opener. Cal checks in at 7-4 after their 85-66 home win to Northwestern St. This broke a three-game losing streak. The Golden Bears dropped home games to Stanford and Cornell with true road defeats at Missouri as well at Vanderbilt.
The Pick with the Explanation
California is 290th in the nation in effective field goal defense by allowing 37% from three and 53% inside. They are a sloppy high turnover team offensively. San Diego St is 9th in effective field goal defense by allowing 30% from three and 41.6% inside. They secure the basketball offensively and nail 36% from three. Cal defensive form is poor in their past five games by allowing 50% shooting. The Aztecs in this period are shooting 48% and allow 37%. They have covered three of four away from home. This team has good size. Play San Diego St -5.