Five College Basketball Bets Worth Riding Into the Weekend

The final Friday before Christmas brings a strong slate of college basketball, with power conference matchups, buy-game blowouts, and a sneaky mid-major showdown to close the night. After a rough Thursday, it is time to reset, refocus, and look for value across the board as teams push toward the heart of the season.
 Florida State Seminoles forward Chauncey Wiggins
Florida State Seminoles forward Chauncey Wiggins | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Happy Friday, college basketball fans. With the holidays right around the corner and conference play quickly approaching, Friday night offers a perfect opportunity to build momentum heading into a massive Saturday slate.

It was not pretty for us on Thursday, but we salvaged one. We are 110-102-1 on the season.

Let’s get back on track and close the week strong. Be sure to follow all of our college basketball picks all season long at BetStamp.

Seton Hall Pirates at Providence Friars

A quality Big East matchup tips off the night. Seton Hall enters with an impressive record, but Providence returns home after a draining double-overtime loss and should be highly motivated. The Friars have been better at home and tend to thrive in physical conference games. Expect the energy inside the building to matter in a tight contest.

Betting Pick: Providence Friars -2
Final Score Prediction: Providence 80, Seton Hall 75

Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils at Florida State Seminoles

Mississippi Valley State has struggled mightily this season, and this sets up as a difficult road spot against a Florida State team looking to find its footing. The Seminoles have not played to expectations, but this is the type of matchup where depth and athleticism can show up early and often.

Betting Pick: Florida State Seminoles -39.5
Final Score Prediction: Florida State 100, Mississippi Valley State 50

Florida A&M Rattlers at Tarleton State Texans

Tarleton State continues to stack wins and has been reliable in games it is expected to control. Florida A&M has not shown the consistency needed to hang around for forty minutes, especially on the road. If this game stays close early, look for Tarleton State to separate in the second half.

Betting Pick: Tarleton State Texans -13.5
Final Score Prediction: Tarleton State 82, Florida A&M 65

Villanova Wildcats at Wisconsin Badgers

This neutral-site matchup in Milwaukee should feel much closer to a Wisconsin home game. Both teams are well-coached and disciplined, but the Badgers’ physical style and ability to control tempo give them an edge. Expect a competitive first half before Wisconsin gradually pulls away.

Betting Pick: Wisconsin Badgers -4.5
Final Score Prediction: Wisconsin 78, Villanova 70

Florida Atlantic Owls at Saint Mary’s Gaels

The nightcap features two strong mid-major programs. Saint Mary’s is tough at home and rarely beats itself, but Florida Atlantic’s athleticism gives it a chance to stay within striking distance. Even if the Gaels close stronger late, the Owls should remain competitive throughout.

Betting Pick: Florida Atlantic Owls +13.5
Final Score Prediction: Saint Mary’s 75, Florida Atlantic 73

Enjoy the games and best of luck on your Friday night bets. Have a great weekend, stay safe, and enjoy the basketball. Be sure to follow all of our picks at BetStamp all season long.

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations