Bet 5 Ranked College Hoops Teams

With college basketball back in the spotlight following the completion of Super Bowl 51, collegiate hoops bettors are going to be treated to a trio of upcoming college hoops matchups featuring five nationally-ranked title contenders.

The third-ranked Baylor Bears will look to void the upset against the red-hot Oklahoma State Cowboys while the Villanova Wildcats and Xavier Musketeers hook up in a hug  Big East pairing of top 25 contenders.

Last but not least, the 19th-ranked St. Mary’s Gaels will look to hand the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs their first loss of the season when they meet in their West Coast Conference clash on Saturday.
Now, let’s find out where the value is in all three matchups.

College Basketball Picks This Week Include Five Ranked Teams

What: No. 3 Baylor Bears (20-3) at Oklahoma State Cowboys (15-8)
When: Wednesday, February 8
Tip-off: 7:00 PM ET
Where: Stillwater, OK
Stadium: Gallagher-Iba Arena
Watch: ESPNU

Analysis: Heading into Monday, the Oklahoma State Cowboys were riding an impressive five-game winning streak that includes their convincing 82-75 win over No. 12 West Virginia. On the flip side of the coin, the third-ranked Baylor Bears are sure to see their national ranking drop after losing their second straight game by falling to Kansas State 56-54 on Saturday.

While Baylor has a bunch of athleticism, right now, Oklahoma State is playing its best basketball of the season and will be lying in wait to knock of their second straight nationally-ranked title contender after dispatching the Mountaineers this past weekend.

Oklahoma State has  pair of likely future NBA performers in leading scorer Jawun Evans and leading rebounder Jeffrey Carroll and will get the outright win against Baylor to avenge their narrow 61-57 home loss to the Bears just over a year ago.

Pick: Oklahoma State 77 Baylor 72

What: No. 4 Villanova Wildcats (22-2) at No. 25 Xavier Musketeers (17-6)
When: Saturday, February 11, 2017
Tip-off: 2:30 PM ET
Where: Cincinnati, OH
Stadium: Cintas Center 
Watch: FOX

Analysis: No. 4 Villanova has won three straight since suffering their second loss of the season and hit the new week coming off n emphatic 92-79 beatdown of St. John’s on Saturday s NBA-bound shooting guard Josh hart scored a game-high 26 points.

No. 25 Xavier has also won three straight heading into the new week including their thrilling 82-80 road win over No. 22 Creighton on Saturday in which four players scored 15 points or more.

While the Musketeers are playing solid basketball and are coming off a big win against a nationally-ranked title contender, the fact of the matter is that Villanova has won eight of the last nine meetings against Xavier and pounded the Musketeers in their 79-54 road blowout on January 10.

The Musketeers will go all-out to beat the defending national champs, but I think they come up just short because of Villanova’s rock-steady play late in tight games.

Pick: Villanova 77 Xavier 74

What: No.1 Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-0) at No. 19 St. Mary’s Gaels (21-2)
When: Saturday, February 11, 2017
Tip-off: 8:15 PM ET
Where: Moraga, CA
Stadium: McKeon Pavilion
Watch: ESPN

Analysis: The Gonzaga Bulldogs remained unbeaten by slapping the Santa Clara Broncos senseless in their 90-55 rout on Saturday as five players reached double digits in scoring.

St. Mary’s hit the new week riding a six-game winning streak that included its insane 71-27 smackdown of San Diego on Saturday as the Gaels allowed just one San Diego player to reach double digits in scoring while harassing the Toreros into a horrific 9-for-46 (19.6 percent) shooting effort.

While Gonzaga is ranked 12th in scoring (85.4 ppg) and ninth in pints allowed (61.7 ppg), I love St. Mary’s second-ranked defense (56.6 ppg) and I believe they’re going t find a way to hold down the first at home to hand the Bulldogs their first loss of the season.

Pick: St. Mary’s 72 Gonzaga 70