NCAAB odds, picks & previews for Feb. 17 college basketball

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Saturday’s college basketball schedule features No. 1 UConn vs. No. 4 Marquette, the Big East’s best teams and potential Final Four teams.

Feb. 17 College Basketball odds, picks and best bets: UConn vs. Marquette pick & more for Saturday

Below are Feb. 17 college basketball odds, previews and picks for all seven of the above matchups:

Virginia vs. Wake Forest odds, preview and pick: Wake Forest +3.5 (-110 or better)

This is a great matchup between the third-place and fourth-place ACC teams, behind North Carolina and Duke. No. 21 Virginia relies on its defense, ranked third in the nation, allowing 58.4 points per game. Virginia won the first meeting on the road, 66-47, on Jan. 13.

The Cavaliers are 19-6, 10-4 ACC, 14-11 against the spread. Wake is 16-8, 8-5 ACC and 12-11-1 ATS.

Wake Forest’s offense will pose a threat to the Cavaliers. Wake averages 80.3 points per game, 44th in the nation. The Demon Deacons have three potent guards – Hunter Sallis (18.7 points per game), Kevin Miller (15.7) and Cameron Hildreth (14.0).

Wake is one of those under-the-radar teams that will give the Cavaliers some problems.

Houston vs. Texas odds, preview and pick: Texas + 11.5 (-110 or better)

Houston is the nation’s top-ranked defensive team allowing 54.7 points. Texas averages 76.8 points (94th in the nation), so something has to give.

Houston is 21-3, 8-3 Big 12, 11-12-1 ATS. Texas is 16-8, 5-6 Big 12 and 9-15 ATS). Houston defeated host Texas, 76-72, in overtime on Jan. 29. Only Kansas (78 points) has scored more on Houston than Texas this season.

Defense and home court will carry Houston, but we like Texas to cover.

North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech odds, preview and pick: North Carolina -11.5 (-110 or better)

No. 7 North Carolina has lost two of three since defeating Duke, not the right trend for a team with Final Four aspirations.

The Tar Heels are 19-6, 11-3 ACC, 13-11-1 ATS. Virginia Tech is 14-10, 6-7 ACC, 10-13-1 ATS.

Expect North Carolina to regroup with a strong performance against the Hokies.

UConn vs. Marquette odds, preview and pick: UConn -7 (-110 or better)

Defending national champion UConn has earned its No. 1 ranking. The Huskies are 25th in the nation in scoring (82 points per game) and 18th in defense (64.1). The Huskies are 23-2, 13-1 Big East, 15-10 ATS and have won 13 consecutive games.

Marquette is 19-5, 10-3 Big East, 14-9-1 ATS. The Golden Eagles have won eight consecutive games. The game is in Hartford, not on UConn’s campus, so a big crowd will be on hand — along with a big-time home team.

Maryland vs. Illinois odds, preview and pick: Illinois -2.5 (-110 or better)

Illinois has won four of five games. Maryland is 14-11, 6-8 Big Ten, 10-15 ATS. Illinois lost at home to Maryland, 76-67, on Jan. 14. No. 14 Illinois is 18-6, 9-4 Big Ten, 13-9-2 ATS.

The Terrapins are desperate to improve their NCAA standing.

Auburn vs. Kentucky odds, preview and pick: Auburn -7.5 (-110 or better)

Auburn is coming off a 40-point victory over South Carolina — its largest margin of victory ever against a Top 25 opponent. The Tigers shot 61% from the field and 60% from 3-point range in the victory.

Auburn is 20-5, 9-3 SEC, 16-7-2 ATS. Inconsistent Kentucky is 17-7, 7-3 SEC and 14-10 ATS). Auburn has won 14 consecutive home games.

Arizona vs. Arizona State odds, preview and pick: Arizona State +18.5 (-110 or better)

Arizona is 19-5, 10-3 Pac-12, 16-8 ATS, and has won five consecutive games. The Wildcats had the week off to prepare. Arizona has the nation’s second-best offense, averaging 90.1 points.

ASU is 13-12, 7-7 Pac-12, 11-14 ATS. The Sun Devils have won two consecutive games. ASU allows 72.1 and will need a decent defensive performance to cover against Arizona.

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Chuck Bausman is a sports betting writer at Gaming Today. Bausman has worked 30+ years in journalism and is a former executive sports editor of the Philadelphia Daily News and managing editor of Philly Hockey Now. He is a journalism professor at Rider University.