Dylan Buell/Getty Images. Pictured: Micah Potter.
We have officially made it through the workweek, which only means one thing: It’s time to celebrate with college basketball.
Just one day before the big college football slate, our college hoops staff broke down its three favorite games on Friday’s docket.
Check out our experts’ full betting analysis below, starting with No. 4 Wisconsin vs. Marquette at 7 p.m. ET followed by No. 21 Oregon vs. Seton Hall at 9 p.m. ET.
How to Bet Friday’s College Basketball Slate
Here’s a rundown of our favorite betting spots on Friday’s slate of games:
All listed odds have been updated as of Friday morning and via DraftKings. Specific bet recommendations at the end of each matchup breakdown come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing.
Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.
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Marquette (+3.5) vs. #4 Wisconsin
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| Marquette Odds | +3.5 [BET NOW] |
| Wisconsin Odds | -3.5 [BET NOW] |
| Moneyline | +140 / -175 [BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 138 [BET NOW] |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
The Golden Eagles had to say goodbye to one of college basketball’s best over the last decade in Markus Howard.
However, it’s not all bad news, as it’s bringing in a top-20 recruiting class and one of the most sought after transfers in DJ Carton from Ohio State. Based on KenPom ratings, they are not expected to have a major drop off (projected 34th versus 31st last season). Howard had the highest usage rate of any player in college basketball last season, so it’ll be interesting to see how a more team-based approach on offense will look for Marquette going forward.
However, with the addition of Carton, the Golden Eagles should improve greatly on defense. KenPom has Marquette going from the 73rd-ranked defense to the 24th in terms of efficiency.
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Last season, Wisconsin was heading nowhere before ripping off eight straight wins to end the season. That run has led to a top-four ranking, as it also has almost all of its key contributors back this season.
The story of the Badgers’ late run was their defense, which ranked 17th in defensive efficiency. However, the offense struggled at times, finishing with only the sixth-best offensive efficiency in the Big Ten, mainly due to their reliance on the 3-point shot. Out of all of the Badgers’ points, 39.8% points came from behind the arc last year, which was the highest mark in the Big Ten.
The key for the Badgers in this game is to get high-quality looks. Marquette’s defense has greatly improved from giving up 77 points when these two met early last season, and if Wisconsin doesn’t shoot a high percentage, it could be in for a long night in Milwaukee.
I only have Wisconsin projected as -0.79 favorites on the road, so I think there’s value on the Golden Eagles at +3.5.
Pick: Marquette +3.5.
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#4 Wisconsin (-4) vs. Marquette
By Reed Wallach
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| Wisconsin Odds | -3.5 [BET NOW] |
| Marquette Odds | +3.5 [BET NOW] |
| Moneyline | -175 / +140 [BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 138 [BET NOW] |
| Time | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
The battle of I-94 headlines the Friday night college basketball slate with the No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers traveling to Marquette to face the Golden Eagles.
Marquette looks a bit different this year without Markus Howard in the lineup. Howard posted the highest usage rate in the country in 2019, but coach Steve Wojciechowski found a sound replacement to take a good chunk of that with Ohio State transfer D.J. Carton.
Carton is a speedy guard who is going to be a force in the Big East, and while he may have some familiarity with the Badger backcourt from his Big Ten play, he won’t be able to do it by himself. This is a Badger defense that was a top-20 unit in 2019 and currently slates at No. 4 in 2020.
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Carton will be checked by the likes of D’Mitrik Trice and Brad Davison, and I envision issues for Marquette’s impressive freshman big man Dawson Garcia, who will have to deal with Wiscy big Nate Reuvers.
Garcia is a bit too thin to deal with the experienced Reuvers, who possesses some of the best footwork and shot-blocking prowess in the country.
Something clicked with the Badgers in February and March, and I think this is a spot where the club makes its early national statement. Winners of its final eight games last season, Wisconsin rolled to a Big Ten regular-season title.
This season seems to be an extension to one of the hottest teams in college ball that brings back nearly all key contributors to the 2019 version.
Wisconsin will control the pace — ranking 346th in the country this year — and grind out an impressive road win. I like Bucky up to -5.
Pick: Wisconsin -4 (down to -5).
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#21 Oregon (-1) vs. Seton Hall
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| Oregon Odds | -2.5 [BET NOW] |
| Seton Hall Odds | +2.5 [BET NOW] |
| Moneyline | -161 / +135 [BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 143.5 [BET NOW] |
| Time | 9 p.m. ET |
| TV | FS1 |
The Oregon Ducks suffered a tough loss to the Missouri Tigers Wednesday night. They shot just 19-for-42 from inside the arc to Missouri’s 21-for-34. The line closed at Oregon -3, and it lost by eight.
However, I’m expecting a big bounce-back game from the Ducks tonight. Oregon is missing Payton Prichard a lot, but the Seton Hall Pirates are in free-fall.
Seton Hall is 1-2 to begin the season. In their first three games, the Pirates have turned the ball over nine, 15 and 14 times, respectively. Taking into account their 35 total assists, this adds up to a less-than-stellar .92 assist-to-turnover ratio.
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Meanwhile, Oregon does not turn the ball over. It was top-80 in Turnover Percentage last season and ranks 27th through one game this season, per KenPom. The Pirates, however, fall outside the top 150 in Opponent Turnover Percentage.
Additionally, the Oregon offense is still fairly effective. Dana Altman’s 2019-20 team finished sixth in the nation in KenPom offensive efficiency. Oregon had a lot of roster turnover, but it did just score 75 points on a Missouri defense that ranks higher than Seton Hall in KenPom defensive efficiency.
All-in-all, I expect Oregon to have more high-quality possessions than Seton Hall. Moreover, Altman’s squad is 15-5 against the spread in its last 20 games as a favorite, while Kevin Willard’s team is just 1-4 straight up in its last five games.
I see the Ducks squeezing out a hard-fought victory and would bet this line up to Oregon -2.
Pick: Oregon -1.
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