Friday College Basketball Betting Preview: Insights and Predictions

LAS VEGAS, Nev. — As February comes to a close, College Basketball fans have 23 games to choose from on Friday, offering a chance to leverage betting insights from sharp money trends. Key matchups for this evening include Coastal Carolina versus Old Dominion, Appalachian State against Marshall, and Nevada taking on UNLV.

In the first matchup, Old Dominion (11-19) has been struggling, losing six consecutive games, including an 83-66 defeat to Marshall, where they failed to cover as 9.5-point underdogs. On the flip side, Coastal Carolina (10-20) is on a positive trajectory, having won two of their last three games, including a recent 80-74 victory against Georgia State as 3.5-point home underdogs. This game’s line opened as a pick’em, but betting trends show sharps favoring Coastal Carolina, pushing the line to a 1.5-point favorite.

Ken Pomeroy‘s analytics indicate Coastal Carolina will edge out Old Dominion in a close matchup, projecting a 70-68 score. The Chanticleers’ betting data reveals they are attracting 62% of moneyline bets and an impressive 90% of total moneyline dollars at DraftKings, indicating a strong inclination among high-stakes bettors towards a Coastal Carolina victory.

Coastal Carolina leads in offensive metrics with a better efficiency rating at 267th compared to Old Dominion’s 279th, and they also excel in offensive rebounding, limiting their opponents to 115th nationally.

The second key matchup features Appalachian State (17-12) looking to turn their fortunes around after dropping three of their last four games, including a narrow loss to Georgia Southern, 61-59. Conversely, Marshall (18-12) has seen a resurgence, having secured three consecutive victories, including a dominant win over Old Dominion. The line for this matchup opened favoring Marshall as a 3-point home favorite, now adjusted to -3.5 or even -4 at some sportsbooks due to steady action from bettors.

Marshall is generating substantial interest, receiving 67% of spread bets and a whopping 97% of the total spread dollars at Circa Sports. Ken Pomeroy’s projections suggest Marshall will narrowly win by one point, 67-66, leading many savvy bettors to consider a conservative approach with a moneyline bet on Marshall at -175.

Defensive metrics also favor Marshall, who ranks higher in offensive efficiency (202nd) compared to Appalachian State (264th). Notably, Marshall has averaged 76 points per game, while Appalachian State has struggled, averaging only 69 PPG.

Lastly, Nevada (16-12) aims to keep its momentum after breaking a two-game losing streak with an 84-61 victory over Wyoming. Meanwhile, UNLV (15-13) also finds itself on an upswing with four wins out of its last five games, including an 82-73 win over San Jose State. This matchup sees Nevada listed as a 1.5-point road favorite, but public sentiment leans toward UNLV, with 59% of spread bets favoring the Rebels. However, despite this, the line has moved in favor of Nevada, shifting to -2.5.

Sharp bettors seem to back Nevada, which is evidenced by the 58% of spread bets they are receiving alongside 92% of the spread dollars at Circa. This discrepancy highlights a clear preference for the Wolf Pack among heavy hitters in the betting community.

Observers note Nevada’s superior offensive statistics, ranking 66th in efficiency and demonstrating a strong ability to force turnovers compared to UNLV’s 90th ranking. With these trends and statistics in mind, bettors eyeing the Wolf Pack on the moneyline at -130 could find value in this matchup.