Top College Basketball Matchups of the Day: Florida vs. Mississippi State and More

If you still have the post-Super Bowl blues, Tuesday’s college basketball schedule should cure them quickly. There are three different matchups between top-25 teams, not to mention a slew of other intriguing matchups. This is exactly the type of day that can make everyone forget about football and get excited for the stretch run of the college basketball season. That’s why we’ve got a preview and a betting pick for some of the biggest college basketball games on Tuesday.

How impressive were the Gators over the weekend in that comfortable road win over Auburn? Obviously, there is always the threat of a letdown after a win like that, but perhaps not when Florida has another road game against a ranked team. Plus, Alijah Martin is expected to play Tuesday after missing the Auburn game with a hip injury, so the Gators will be at full strength against the Bulldogs. Keep in mind that despite being ranked, Mississippi State has lost five of its last eight games, going 1-7 against the spread during that stretch. Close wins over Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Georgia are MSU’s only victories over the past month. The Bulldogs haven’t held up well against the top teams in the SEC, which is why it’s safe to back Florida as a slight road favorite.

Pick: Florida -1.5

The Volunteers will be a little embarrassed about their loss to Kentucky last month, losing at home as a 10.5-point favorite. To their credit, the Vols have responded well to that loss with three straight wins and should be eager to redeem themselves. Meanwhile, their upset win over Tennessee is one of Kentucky’s few triumphs over the last few weeks. The Wildcats have lost four of their last six games, including three losses in which they were favored. While Rupp Arena is still a hard place for visiting teams, Kentucky’s home losses to Alabama and Arkansas show that it’s far from a fortress. Home or away, if the Volunteers are properly motivated in this game, they have the type of defense that can stifle the Wildcats enough to win and cover a few points on the road.

Pick: Tennessee -3

In a game that’s expected to be close, it’s hard to trust Michigan, especially as a slight favorite. The Wolverines have lost seven in a row against the spread despite being 5-2 straight-up during that span. That includes an embarrassing 91-64 loss to Purdue, as the Boilermakers were able to expose Michigan’s modest guard play with the Wolverines turning it over 22 times and shooting 21% from the perimeter. While Michigan should be better at home, the Wolverines have won their last three home games by exactly four points, all against mid-level or below Big Ten teams. There isn’t much evidence to suggest that Michigan is ready to go toe-to-toe with Purdue for 40 minutes.

Pick: Purdue +1.5

The Cyclones are hoping that a 30-point win over TCU this past weekend is enough to pull them out of a funk that saw them lose three in a row. Iowa State is also just 1-3 in its last four road games, so nothing can be taken for granted. But that should also help to keep the Cyclones focused and motivated against a UCF team they beat by 25 points last month. The Knights have problems of their own, losing six of their last seven games. Give of those six losses have come by double figures, showing the game that exists between UCF and the teams at the top of the Big 12. Whether they’ve been at home on the road, the Cyclones have been able to take care of business against the teams in the bottom half of the Big 12, which is why Iowa State should be able to build off the win over TCU and cover this spread comfortably.

Pick: Iowa State -7.5