Our free College Basketball picks are out for Sunday, March 6th, 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!
#14 Houston @ Memphis – 12pm ET
This American Athletic Conference matchup is going to be a huge one. As the 14th ranked Houston Cougars travel to Memphis to play the Memphis Tigers. Both of these teams will be looking for a big win to close out the regular season.
Marko Nadin
The Memphis Tigers are third in the American Conference with an 18-9 record and will have a chance to add another win against one of the best teams in the country in the final game of the regular season. The Tigers are 12-2 at home and have won 9 of the last 10 games losing only to SMU in that span. Memphis is coming off a 73-64 win over South Florida. Memphis won the first match against Houston this season 69-59 in February. The Tigers have covered the spread in the last 5 games and 6 of the last 7 games against teams with a winning record.
The Houston Cougars are on top of the American Conference with a 26-4 record. They have won the last 6 games and are coming off an 84-46 win over Temple in a match in which they held the opponent to only 31% shooting from the field. Houston is indeed the best team in the nation in that segment allowing only 36.8% shooting from the field and third-lowest 58.4 points per game. Houston has won 3 of the last 4 games against Memphis but has lost the last one. The underdog has covered the spread in the last 6 games between Memphis and Houston and the road team has done so in the last 4 games.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Houston (-130)
Tony Battalio
The Houston Cougars come into this game ranked 14th in the nation. They currently have a record of 26-4 on the season. They won the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship with a conference record of 15-2. This means that Houston will have the number one seed in the American Athletic Conference Tournament. The Cougars are currently on a six-game winning streak that they will be looking to extend to seven games to finish the season. They will also look to get revenge after Memphis beat them at home by ten earlier this season.
Good day on road to Memphis#ForTheCity x #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/sYeVWhbUZb
— Houston Men’s Hoops 🏀 🐾 (@UHCougarMBK) March 5, 2022
The previously mentioned Memphis Tigers performed way below expectations this season. Despite that, they are still able to make the NCAA tournament. However, they will need a win in this one to greatly improve their chances. They will also need to win a couple of games in the American Athletic Conference conference tournament as well as they come into this game with a record of 18-9 on the season. Memphis is currently in third place in the conference. As for the result of this game I have the Houston Cougars getting the victory.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Houston (-130)
Noah Dunlap
The Houston Cougars travel to Memphis to take on the Tigers in this regular-season finale, and it could have massive implications on the NCAA tournament field. Houston is solidly in, as they’ve been one of the best teams in the country for much of the year, and they enter at number 14 in the latest polls. The only thing this win can do for the Cougs is to potentially help their seeding, but it does nothing else outside of that.
Memphis, on the other hand, is on the bubble when it comes to the tournament, and this could easily be a must-win. They’re 18-9 on the year, but they’ve played much better as of late, and have put together a decent strength of schedule, which have helped their tournament hopes. They’ve already knocked off this Houston team earlier this year, and a win in this one would be massive. With this one in Memphis, in front of what should be a loud, hostile crowd, I’m going to lean Memphis by a nose. Give me the Tigers in a tight one.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Memphis (+108)
Michigan @ #23 Ohio State – 12:30pm ET
The rivalry is renewing on the basketball court for the second time this season. In the first meeting between the two, it was Ohio State who won by double digits in Ann Arbor. Both of these teams could use a win in this one to keep their tournament hopes alive.
Marko Nadin
The Ohio State Buckeyes are fourth in the Big Ten with a 19-9 record including 13-2 at home. They put an end to a two-game winning streak in the last game defeating Michigan State 80-69. The Buckeyes are a solid shooting team as they are ranked among the top 40 teams in the nation in every shooting category. Ohio State has covered the spread in 5 of the last 6 games against teams with a winning record and 5 of the last 7 home games. They have played under the total points margin in 5 of the last 6 games against a team with a losing road record and 4 of the last 5 games following a win.
The Michigan Wolverines are 7th in the Big Ten with a 16-13 record. They have lost 3 of the last 5 games and are coming off an 82-71 loss against Iowa. Michigan has lost 7 of the last 10 games against Ohio State. The Wolverines have covered the spread in 5 of the last road games following three or more consecutive home games and in 17 of their last 24 games following a double-digit loss at home. Michigan has played over the total points margin in 5 of the last 6 road games and 6 of the last 8 games following an against-the-spread loss.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Ohio State (-178)
Tony Battalio
The Michigan Wolverines come into this game having played well below the expectations that were set for them this season. They have been without head coach Juwan Howard for four games already and those games have been split as Michigan has gone 2-2 since the Wisconsin loss. The Wolverines season is hanging on by a thread as they come into this one with a record of 16-13 and will need a win in this one and a deep run in the Big Ten conference tournament if they want any shot at making the NCAA tournament.
Ga❌eday#BeatTTUN
— Ohio State Hoops (@OhioStateHoops) March 6, 2022
A couple of weeks ago the Ohio State Buckeyes were a lock for the NCAA tournament. Now they are hanging on by a thread after a bad stretch that included losses to Nebraska and Maryland. They do have a few huge resume-worthy wins like a victory over Illinois, Duke, and Wisconsin. But they also have bad losses like the previously mentioned Nebraska and Maryland defeats. They counted back nicely in their last game against Michigan State and as for the result of this one I look for them to complete the sweep over Michigan.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Ohio State (-178)
Noah Dunlap
Which Ohio State team shows up? That’s the biggest question in this one. If the Buckeyes team that has played much of the season shows up, then I think they get the win with relative ease. If the OSU team that has played more recently arrives again, then I think they could be looking at more issues, as that’s a team that has recent losses to Maryland and Nebraska in their last three.
The good news is that they’re taking on a Michigan team that has struggled for much of the year, and has spent the last two weeks of the season without head coach Juwan Howard, who will miss this one as well. They’re not a tournament team, sitting at 16-13, and right now their biggest concern should just be trying to make the NIT, which is likely, but not a guarantee. They’ve fallen a long way since their lofty preseason expectations, and it seems as if they just want this season to be over with, so I’m taking the Buckeyes here, with not too many issues. Ohio State rolls.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Ohio State (-178)
Nebraska @ #10 Wisconsin – 2pm ET
In the second featured Big Ten clash of the Sunday afternoon slate the Nebraska Cornhuskers travel to Madison to play the Wisconsin Badgers. As Nebraska will be looking to play spoiler to Wisconsin’s hopes of getting a top-two seed in the NCAA tournament.
Marko Nadin
The Wisconsin Badgers are on top of the Big Ten conference with a 24-5 record including 13-2 at home. They have won the last five games and are coming off a 70-67 win over Purdue. Their confidence is at the highest possible level and will prove that against Nebraska once again to finish the regular season at the top of the conference. The Badgers have won the last 7 and 8 of the last 10 against Nebraska. They have covered the spread in 4 of the last 5 games and in 11 of the last 15 games following at the spread win.
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are 14th in the Big Ten with a 9-21 record. They have won only three games in 2022 including the last two against Penn State and Ohio State. The last time Nebraska defeated Wisconsin was in 2018. The Cornhuskers have covered the spread in 7 of the last 8 games against teams with a winning record and 4 of the last 5 teams against teams with a winning record over 60%. Nebraska has played over the total points margin in 5 of the last 6 games following a win and 5 of the last 7 games on the road.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Wisconsin (-850)
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have had a very rough year up until this point of the season. With one game left the only way they will get in the NCAA tournament is by making a miracle run through the Big Ten conference tournament and winning it, which to be honest is very unlikely. They come into this game with a record of 9-21 on the season. They do have an upset win over Ohio State but that has been one of the few bright spots they have had this season. Nebraska will finish last place in the Big Ten conference this season.
Let’s run it back. Outright.@AreaRED and Badger Nation, we need you one last time this season at the Kohl Center. Let’s send our guys off right!
Be in your seats by 12:30pm/ct for a pregame Senior Day celebration pic.twitter.com/pmyPh5hMIH
— Big Ten Champs 🏆 (@BadgerMBB) March 5, 2022
The Wisconsin Badgers are currently ranked inside the top ten of the country at tenth in the nation. They are coming into this game with a record of 24-5 on the season. With a victory in this one, they will officially clinch first place and win the Big Ten regular-season conference championship. If they can manage to win the double and claim the Big Ten conference tournament championship they may have a real shot at getting a number one seed in the NCAA tournament as well. As for the result of this game I have Wisconsin getting the win.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Wisconsin (-850)
Noah Dunlap
Badgers. All-day long.
Wisconsin comes in at 21-5 and has virtually locked up the regular-season Big Ten title. Now they take on a bad Nebraska team, which they should dismantle with ease, as they get ready for the Big Ten conference tournament next week. They have a few really good wins on the year, and while this wouldn’t be one this would still be a massive step in terms of confidence for next week.
Nebraska is just not good, and they haven’t been all year long. They enter at 9-21, and their only quality win came in their last outing, against Ohio State. Every other game they’ve played against quality opponents has ended in near-blowouts, and I could see this one having the same result. They’ve got nothing to play for, except to play spoiler, and that’s not something I think they get done here, so give me the Badgers with ease.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Wisconsin (-850)
#24 Iowa @ #20 Illinois – 7:30pm ET
The third and final featured Big Ten matchup of the Sunday slate features two ranked teams going at it. The 24th ranked Iowa Hawkeyes will take on the 20th ranked Illinois Fighting Illini. Both of these teams will be looking for a big win to close out the regular season.
Marko Nadin
The Illinois Fighting Illini are second in the Big Ten with a 21-8 record including 12-3 at home. They have won 3 of the last 4 games and are coming off a 60-55 win over Penn State. Illinois has won the last 4 games against Iowa. They are facing mahout injury issues before the last regular-season games as Jacob Grandison, Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk, RJ Melendez and Austin Hutcherson will not play against Iowa. Illinois has covered the spread only once in their last 5 home games and only once in their last 9 Sunday games.
The Iowa Hawkeyes are 4th in the Big Ten with a 22-8 record. They have won 8 of the last 9 games losing only to Michigan in that span but it was payback time in the last game as they defeated the Wolverines 82-71. Iowa has covered the spread in 4 of the last 5 games and 12 of the last 16 Sunday games. They have played under the total points margin in 4 of the last 5 games and 11 of the last 15 games against teams with a winning home record.
Marko’s College Basketball Pick: Illinois (-170)
Tony Battalio
The Iowa Hawkeyes are coming into this game ranked 24th in the nation. They are in fourth place in the Big Ten conference with a conference record of 12-7. With a win in this game, they will likely get a double-bye in the conference tournament. Iowa has an overall record on the season of 22-8 which likely already locks them in the NCAA tournament. They are currently on a five-game winning streak as they will look to end the season on a high note with a victory over a ranked Illinois team.
NOTES | #Hawkeyes Travel to No. 20 Illinois For Regular Season Finale Sunday Evening
LINK: https://t.co/aY6lup1WI9 pic.twitter.com/yXlVUwEEHW
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) March 4, 2022
The previously mentioned Illinois Fighting Illini come into this game ranked 20th in the nation. They are in second place in the Big Ten conference and could win the regular-season championship with a win and a Wisconsin loss. They have an overall record on the season of 21-8. They are currently on a two-game winning streak at the moment. As for the result of this game I have the Iowa Hawkeyes out dueling Kofi Cockburn and the Illinois Fighting Illini and getting the victory in this game.
Tony’s College Basketball Pick: Iowa (+140)
Noah Dunlap
This one gives us a top-25 matchup, though it’s two teams that have underperformed just a bit this year, especially the Fighting Illini from Illinois. They entered the year with high hopes, but have since seen those hopes fade just a bit, as they’ve struggled for much of them a year. They do have a player of the year candidate in Kofi Cockburn, but outside of that, they haven’t gotten much from the rest of their team, which is certainly not what they were expecting this year.
Now they take on an Iowa team that has been decent this year but has arguably had a bit of a disappointing year so far. They enter at 22-8, but more importantly, they’ve won five straight as we get to the most important part of the year. That hot streak that they’re currently on is why I’m taking them to go on the road and get the win over Illinois, potentially upping their seeding for the NCAA tournament by a spot or two. Hawkeyes get a big win, but it does come close.
Noah’s College Basketball Pick: Iowa (+140)
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*Odds and spreads correct at time of publication, courtesy of FanDuel.
