Happy Thursday, sports fans.
Wednesday we went 1-4.
On the season we are now 149-141-4.
As always, be sure to follow all of our picks throughout the season on BetStamp.
Here is a look at our best bets for Thursday.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Illinois Fighting Illini
You can turn the lights out early on this one. Illinois is simply on a different level, especially at home. Rutgers is going to have a difficult time keeping pace offensively, and once Illinois gets rolling, this could snowball quickly. Expect the Illini to push the tempo, score in bunches, and turn this into a comfortable win.
Betting Pick: Illinois -21.5 over Rutgers
Final Score Prediction: Illinois 90, Rutgers 60
Utah Tech Trailblazers at California Baptist Lancers
Cal Baptist has been a bit snake-bitten in conference play after a strong start to the season. This matchup sets up well for a bounce-back performance at home. Look for the Lancers to control the game early, then stretch the lead into double digits late as they climb back toward the middle of the WAC standings.
Betting Pick: Cal Baptist -8.5 over Utah Tech
Final Score Prediction: Cal Baptist 72, Utah Tech 62
Seattle Redhawks at Oregon State Beavers
Seattle comes into this game battle-tested after back-to-back matchups against Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s. While they could not close either game, the experience should pay dividends here. Oregon State does not present the same level of challenge, and if Seattle strings together a full 40-minute effort, the Redhawks should be able to pull away late.
Betting Pick: Seattle -4.5 over Oregon State
Final Score Prediction: Seattle 71, Oregon State 65
Ohio State Buckeyes at Oregon Ducks
Oregon is searching for consistency, but this is a strong opportunity to steady the ship at home. The Buckeyes are dealing with a long road trip, and that matters in this spot. Expect a competitive game throughout, but Oregon’s ability to protect its home floor should be the difference in the closing minutes.
Betting Pick: Oregon -2 over Ohio State
Final Score Prediction: Oregon 80, Ohio State 75
Santa Clara Broncos at Gonzaga Bulldogs
Santa Clara is quietly one of the more dangerous teams in the West Coast Conference. While Gonzaga clearly has the higher ceiling, the Broncos are capable of hanging around for long stretches. Expect Gonzaga to eventually assert control, but Santa Clara should do enough early and midgame to stay within the number.
Betting Pick: Santa Clara +14.5 over Gonzaga
Final Score Prediction: Gonzaga 88, Santa Clara 75
Check back daily as we continue breaking down the board and finding value across the college basketball landscape. As always, get all our picks at BetStamp!