Our free College Basketball picks are out for Saturday, January 29th, 2022! Make sure you check our expert College Basketball picks before the action kicks off.
Look below to find our free College Basketball picks for the best games on today’s schedule!
#19 LSU @ TCU – 12pm ET
The Big 12 SEC showdown is in full force and this is just one of the highly anticipated featured matchups it’s bringing us. As the 19th ranked LSU Tigers travel to Fort Worth to play the Horned Frogs of TCU.
Marko Nadin
The TCU Horned Frogs had the best start in 12 years as they won 10 of the first 11 games but have failed to 13-4 and currently are 5th in the Big 12. They are coming off a 73-50 loss to Texas. That was TCU’s second loss in the last 10 games. They are 8-2 at home and 8-2 against the spread in the last 10 games. TCU is averaging 68.4 points per game which is not a lot but the fact is they allow three less on average. TCU is leading the Big 12 with 38.9 rebounds per game. Guards Shahada Wells and Maxwell Evans will miss the game against LSU.
The LSU Tigers had a tremendous start of the season winning 14 of the first 15 games but have dropped three of the last four. They are coming off a 70-64 win over Texas A&M and are currently 7th in the SEC with a 16-4 record. The Tigers have the best defense in the conference holding their opponents to only 58.4 points on 35.9% shooting from the field. LSU is 3-2 on the road and 14-6 against the spread. Xavier Pinson, Darius Days, and Adam Miller are out for the game against TCU.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: LSU (-142)
The Tigers are headed to Fort Worth to face TCU in the SEC/BIG12 Challenge tomorrow at 11 a.m. on ESPN2.
full preview » https://t.co/iJwvPidoin pic.twitter.com/NO4VfAfeij
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) January 28, 2022
Tony Battalio
The LSU Tigers put together a fantastic run in non-conference play, as they went 12-0 outside of SEC play. However, when they got into conference play is when the losses started piling up as they went 4-4 inside of the conference to bring their overall record on the season to 16-4. They are currently ranked 19th in the country and will be looking to add a big resume-boosting win in this contest on the road. The Tigers are currently on a one game winning streak after picking up a victory over Texas A&M that snapped a three game losing streak for LSU as well.
The Horned Frogs of TCU are experiencing the same issue as LSU as they put together a great run in nonconference but have struggled inside of a very deep Big 12 so far this season. TCU comes into this game with a record of 13-4 but three of those losses have come inside of the Big 12 as previously mentioned, they have struggled with conference play thus far only posting a record of 3-3 through six games. As for the result of this game, I have the SEC getting the first win in the challenge as I have LSU beating TCU in this one on the road.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: LSU (-142)
Michigan @ #10 Michigan State – 12:30pm ET
The rivalry hits the hardwood in this one. As Michigan travels to East Lansing looking for a huge upset of the Michigan State Spartans. Michigan comes into this one having a rough year, while the Michigan State Spartans come into this one ranked 10th in the nation.
Marko Nadin
The Michigan State Spartans lead the all-time series against the Michigan Wolverines 69-64 and they have won 5 of the last 7 against the state rival. The Spartans are third in the Big 10 with a 15-4 record including 8-1 at home but have lost two of the last three games. Their only loss at Breslin Center came against the Kansas Jayhawks in the opening game of the season. The Spartans are 17th in the country in three-point percentage with 38.5% and 24th in field goal percentage allowed with 39.4%. Steven Izzo and David Smith will not suit up against Michigan.
The Wolverines have had a pretty disappointing season so far with a 10-7 record that puts them 7th in the Big 10. Michigan started the year with three straight losses but has won the next three since then. They are 27th in the country with 48% shooting from the field and allow only 28.4 rebounds per game to their opponents. Still, the Wolverines will not be even close to defeating their state rival in this one.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Michigan State (-156)
Tony Battalio
The Michigan Wolverines had high expectations coming into the 2021-22 college basketball season. As we’ve passed the halfway point of the season it is clear that they have not lived up to the expectations that were set for them before the season began. They have been an absolute disappointment as they are crawling into this rivalry game with a record of 10-7 on the season. They have been even more disappointing inside of conference play as they are currently in the middle of the pack with a 4-3 record through seven games. However, they have won three in a row so only time will tell if it’s a fluke or a turnaround for Chris Weber’s Wolverines.
The Michigan State Spartans and Tom Izzo come into this game with a record of 15-4 on the season. They are currently ranked in the top 10 of the country at tenth in the nation as well. The Spartans currently find themselves in the second place of the Big Ten with a conference record of 6-2, they are a half a game behind the leaders, Wisconsin and Illinois. They were defeated in their last game by that same Illinois team as they lost by a single point on the road, but they also hold a head to head victory over Wisconsin. As for the result of this game I have the Spartans picking up another win, this time against their biggest rivals at home.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Michigan State (-156)
Oklahoma @ #1 Auburn – 2pm ET
The second featured game of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge involves the number one team in college basketball and a hungry and scrappy Oklahoma Sooners team. As the number one ranked Auburn Tigers will get ready to play their future SEC mate the Oklahoma Sooners in Auburn.
Marko Nadin
The Auburn Tigers are still the top ranked team in the nation as they have lost only once this season. Their only loss came in double overtime against Connecticut at the end of November and the Tigers haven’t lost in more than two months. They are 27th in the country with 79.4 points per game and 19th as they allow only 30% shooting from the three-point line to their opponents. The Tigers have covered the spread in 8 of the last 10 games and that will be the case when they face Oklahoma on Saturday night.
The Sooners are 13-7 for the season and 2-3 on the road. They were on a five-game losing streak before defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers in the last game. Oklahoma is 8th in the nation with 49.4% from the field and 38th in allowed rebounds per game with 28.2. Oklahoma is third in the Big 12th with almost 15 assists per game. The Sooners scored 66 points per game as many as they allow. Forward Ethan Chargois will not suit up against Auburn.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Auburn (-530)
Hey #AuburnTwitter, where you at?#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/P4fjPRfRSE
— Auburn Basketball 🦚 (@AuburnMBB) January 28, 2022
Tony Battalio
The Auburn Tigers have finally reached the top of the mountain. After weeks of hanging around in the top five of the country, they are finally the top ranked team in the sport according to the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. Now Auburn will have a target on their back they will need to defend the rest of the way out. Auburn comes into this game with a record of 19-1 on the season. They haven’t lost a game since November either, as they are currently on a sixteen game winning streak. They are currently 8-0 inside of the SEC as well.
The Oklahoma Sooners come into this game with a record of 13-7 on the year. They have fought hard all year long but always seem to come up short in the big resume building games. The Sooners snapped a four game losing streak in their last game with a double digit ten point victory over the West Virginia Mountaineers on the road. Now they will be looking to grab a huge top 25 win in this one on the road as well. However as for the result of this game I don’t see it happening as I have the Auburn Tigers cruising their way to another victory and covering the spread in the process.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Auburn -9.5 (-114)
#21 Xavier @ Creighton – 2pm ET
This Big East matchup has all the potential to be one of the best games of the evening, in a night full of them. As the 21st ranked Xavier Musketeers travel to Creighton to play a hungry and upset minded Blue Jays squad. It will be the second meeting in two weeks between these two programs.
Marko Nadin
The Creighton Bluejays had a promising start of the season but have dropped significantly in the past two weeks. They are currently at 12-6 including 7-2 at home. The 7’1’’ center Ryan Kalkbrenner is having a good season averaging 12.1 points and 7.1 rebounds with 68% shooting from the field. The Bluejays are coming off a tough 72-55 loss to Butler in the last round in a game that saw them shooting only 35.6% from the field and even worse 2-of-22 from the three-point line. They are shooting only 30% from deep for the season which puts them outside of the top 300.
The Xavier Musketeers are 14-5 for the season and that record looked even better before they dropped the last two games against Providence and Marquette. But the Musketeers are built for big things this season and they will most definitely get out of the hole in the match against Creighton. Xavier is recording almost 74 points per game, nine more than they allow. Xavier is 3-7 against the spread in the last 10 games and this one will also be close but the Musketeers will put an end to their losing streak.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Xavier (-122)
Tony Battalio
The Xavier Musketeers are looking like one of the favorites in the Big East conference at the moment. They come into this game with a record of 14-5 on the season. Despite losing their last two games to Providence and Marquette I still think they are one of the best teams in this conference and they just happened to have a couple of off nights. They will be looking to rebound in this one and complete the sweep of Creighton after beating them 80-73 two weeks ago at home. They are currently ranked 21st in the nation.
The Creighton Blue Jays are 12-6 coming into this game. They will be looking to split the season series with the Musketeers and get their season back on track. The Blue Jays have lost three of their last five games to Butler, this previously mentioned Xavier team, and the Villanova Wildcats. They will be looking to add a big resume building victory and a top 25 upset in this one at home. However, as for the result of this game that is not something I can see happening as I have the Xavier Musketeers completing the sweep and breaking their current two game losing streak with a win in this one.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Xavier (-122)
#12 Kentucky @ #5 Kansas – 6pm ET
This one is going to be the best game of the night, weekend, and potentially the season. As two of the Bluebloods of college basketball are set to face off on Saturday evening. As the 12th ranked Kentucky Wildcats meet the 5th ranked Kansas Jayhawks.
Marko Nadin
The cheapest tickets for this game are at a price of $200 which speaks enough of how exciting this game will be. Kansas are on top of Big 12 with a 17-2 record but the game against Kentucky will be a big challenge for the Jayhawks. Kansas is 12th in the country with 81.g points per game and 10th with 49.3% shooting from the field. The last time Kansas lost was on January 7 against Texas Tech and the Jayhawks have won the last five games. They are only 3-7 against the spread in the last 10 games.
The Kentucky Wildcats are second in the SEC with a 16-4 record and are coming off an overtime win over the Mississippi State. The Wildcats are 5th in the nation in field goal percentage with 49.5% and 9th in scoring with 82.3 points per game. They are the 12th best rebounding team with 38 per game, 11 more than they allow which ranks them 5th in the nation. Guard Tyty Washington Jr., who is averaging 13.6 points per game, will not suit up against Kansas which is a huge blow for the Cats.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Kansas (-205)
Kentucky and Kansas.
Saturday, the two all-time winningest programs in men’s college basketball meet again. pic.twitter.com/CbBMkBv7KF
— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 29, 2022
Tony Battalio
The Kentucky Wildcats were playing some hot basketball until they ran into the white hot Auburn Tigers and some injuries for the Wildcats started to pile up. Now Kentucky comes into this clash of the bluebloods with a record of 16-4 on the season. The Wildcats bounced back quickly from the Auburn loss by downing Mississippi State 82-74 in overtime at home in their last game. Now they will look to add a huge win to their resume with a victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on the road in this one. Kentucky is currently ranked 12th and would likely jump into the top ten with a win.
The Kansas Jayhawks are hoping to do the same thing the Auburn Tigers did and that is beat Kentucky. In fact it was the Kentucky win that put Auburn on top and if Kansas can win this one at home they will likely catapult into the top three of the nation up from where they currently sit at number 5. The Jayhawks come into this game with a record of 17-2 on the season. They are currently on a five game winning streak and will be looking to make six straight with a huge win in this one. As for the result of this game that is exactly what I expect as I have the Kansas Jayhawks picking up the victory in this one over Kentucky at home.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Kansas (-205)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
