Valentine’s Day is here, and who can’t be romantic about college basketball this late in the season? The beautiful sport has the potential to see another day filled with buzzer-beating plays and insane upsets.
We have a new best team in the country, and the bubble is littered with teams desperate to prove themselves. With time running out on the season, who will be the teams to make a statement on Valentine’s Day?
Five ranked teams are playing on Tuesday, including a game between ranked opponents. We also have the SEC playing three games with teams hoping to make the NCAA Tournament.
Cupid shot his arrow on these three games, because I love these betting picks for Tuesday night. Let’s start with two teams with different trajectories in the SEC.
Missouri Tigers vs. Auburn Tigers
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – 07:00 PM EST at Neville Arena
Both of these teams played on Saturday, and they couldn’t have had more opposed nights. Auburn hosted Alabama, the best team in the country, and lost by eight points. Missouri traveled to Tennessee and upset the Vols on a buzzer-beating three.
The worst part for Auburn was that they played the best game you could have hoped for. They dominated from the free-throw line, rebounded well and made more perimeter shots than the Crimson Tide. Alabama just kept chipping away at the lead, and star players took over when the game got close.
Bruce Pearl has come out and begged the fans to pack the stadium for this game. He knows that this is a must-win for the Auburn Tigers, and he realizes the power that Missouri is coming into this game with.
The Pick
Auburn remains the heavy favorite at the NCAAB odds boards, but I don’t see it happening in this game. Missouri proved that they can play in any environment, and they have the talent to beat the Tigers in a shootout. Missouri has one of the best offenses in college basketball, and that offense is capable of traveling anywhere in the country.
In this battle of the Tigers, give me Missouri.
NCAAB Pick: Missouri +6.5 (-110) at BetMGM
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – 09:00 PM EST at Gallagher-Iba Arena
Kansas may have won the championship last year, but they are not the favorites at this point in the season. Still, they are a good team with the ability to beat anyone in the country.
The Jayhawks are 8-4 in conference play, a record that is below their standard. They will now travel for the second straight game and play Oklahoma State, a team that has won seven of their last eight games.
The Pick
The last time these teams played, OSU almost stole a win on the road. Now, they host the Jayhawks. Because Oklahoma State is on fire and at home, I like them to pull off the upset outright.
You can take the home team to cover if you don’t want to take the risk, or you can go for OSU to win with a moneyline bet. I like the Cowboys on Tuesday either way.
NCAAB Pick: Oklahoma State +2 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
Kansas State Wildcats vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – 09:00 PM EST at Lloyd Noble Center
Oklahoma has an underrated home advantage, and this team has played well against some of the top teams on the schedule. They beat Alabama and lost close games to Texas and Kansas. This could be another example of that.
The line for this game is hovering around a pick ‘em, which makes sense considering the fact that Kansas State is the better team but playing on the road. No matter which way this spread swings, I like Kansas State.
Since beating Alabama, the Sooners have lost every game. They did not look competitive whatsoever in the last loss against Kansas despite almost beating them on the road earlier this year. This team has taken a step back, and I think they are about to spiral out of control.
The Pick
With tougher games ahead and no momentum, I can’t pick the Sooners in good conscience. Give me the ranked Wildcats to come in and win this game.
NCAAB Pick: Kansas State PK (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
