Free College Basketball Picks For Today, Thursday 1/9/2025

I believe that Ohio State is somewhat overvalued, and the accolades they receive may not be entirely warranted. On the other hand, Oregon is a strong team with a history of successful performances on the road. Consequently, I would favor Oregon in this contest.

James Madison vs Marshall Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

James Madison at Marshall at 7 PM ET

During the game against Arkansas State on Saturday, the Dukes entered halftime trailing with a score of 39-33. However, following the break, James Madison significantly improved their performance, outscoring their opponents 34-23 to secure a comeback victory with a final score of 67-62. Leading the team in scoring was Xavier Brown, who contributed 18 points, along with five rebounds and two assists. Elijah Hutchins-Everett was the only other player to reach double figures, finishing with 17 points, six rebounds, and two steals.

Competing against Troy over the weekend, the Herd displayed a strong performance at halftime, leading 31-19. However, in the second half, Marshall struggled significantly, ultimately succumbing to a 58-57 loss with a final score of 39-26 against them. Obinna Anochili-Killen was the standout player, finishing with 17 points, nine rebounds, and five blocks. Additionally, Nate Martin contributed nine points and five rebounds, while Jakob Gibbs added eight points off the bench in 19 minutes of play.

The Pick:

In the recent defeat against Troy, Marshall recorded a shooting percentage of only 39.3 percent from the field, with a dismal 18.8 percent (3-of-16) from beyond the arc, and 58.8 percent (10-of-17) from the free-throw line. Additionally, the team committed 14 turnovers, which exacerbated their struggles. On a concerning note, the Herd has scored fewer than 67 points in each of their last three losses. However, there is a silver lining, as they have been within two points in two of those games. In contrast, JMU also faced shooting difficulties, achieving only 40.7 percent in their recent comeback victory against Arkansas State, while surrendering 15 turnovers that led to 18 points for the Red Wolves. The Dukes have shown inconsistency in their scoring, tallying fewer than 68 points in three of their last five games, resulting in a 3-2 record. If Marshall can establish a solid offensive rhythm, it is plausible that the Herd could maintain a competitive pace for a cover or victory.

Texas State vs Troy Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

Texas State at Troy at 7 PM ET

Texas State faced a loss in their latest game against Appalachian State, concluding with a score of 71-61. Tyrel Morgan was the leading performer for Texas State, averaging 16 points, five rebounds, and one assist. Additionally, Dylan Dawson contributed 14 points, along with two rebounds and two assists. The team is currently averaging 75.5 points per game, while their defense concedes an average of 68.9 points. In terms of rankings, the offense is placed 178th in the league, while the defense holds the 120th position.

In their latest game, Troy went head-to-head with Marshall in a match that proved to be very competitive, resulting in a slim victory of 58-57 for Troy. Tayton Conerway emerged as the leading player, scoring 20 points, along with several rebounds and three assists. Over the course of the season, Troy has averaged 73.7 points per game, while their defense has allowed 65.4 points on average. The offense is currently ranked 231st in the league, while the defense holds a more favorable ranking of 48th.

The Pick:

Troy is currently averaging 73.7 points per game, and the defense of Texas State poses a significant challenge. While Texas State’s offense is competent, they are likely to face considerable difficulties when playing away from home, which will ultimately be a decisive factor in this matchup. Troy is expected to secure a comfortable victory. However, consider backing Texas State against the spread.

Florida International vs Louisiana Tech Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

FIU at LA Tech at 7:30 PM ET

The FIU Panthers enter this matchup aiming to capitalize on their recent victory against Western Kentucky, where they secured an 85-66 win, bringing their season record to 7-8. Jayden Brewers stands out as the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.9 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, and 2.6 assists per game. Additionally, Vianney Salatchoum contributes significantly with an average of 10.2 points and 4 rebounds per game, making him the only other player on the team to reach double figures in scoring thus far this season.

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs are set to compete in this game with the intention of recovering from a 78-48 loss to New Mexico State, which has adjusted their overall record to 11-4 for the season. Leading the scoring for the Bulldogs is Daniel Batcho, who averages 18.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Amaree Abram contributes 13.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, while Kaden Cooper, with 12.2 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game, completes the group of players scoring in double digits for Louisiana Tech thus far this season.

The Pick:

The Bulldogs demonstrate a considerable advantage in scoring depth and are capable of performing better than their recent games suggest. FIU is known to encounter scoring lulls, whereas LA Tech arrives as the more experienced team for this contest. In summary, I expect Louisiana Tech to achieve a double-digit victory, thus I am inclined to support the Bulldogs in this scenario.

Old Dominion vs Louisiana Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

Old Dominion at Louisiana at 8 PM ET

The Old Dominion Monarchs have a current record of 6-9 after their recent triumph over Southern Miss, which ended with a score of 74-71. In this encounter, the Monarchs demonstrated a shooting accuracy of 46.3% from the field, 11.8% from three-point range, and 75.9% from the free-throw line. Robert Davis Jr. was the top scorer for Old Dominion, netting 18 points along with four assists, while Sean Durugordon added 16 points and secured nine rebounds.

After suffering a loss to Georgia State with a final score of 94-70, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns’ season record now stands at 4-11. During this game, the team recorded a field goal percentage of 35.7%, a three-point shooting percentage of 20%, and an impressive 82.4% from the free-throw line. Mostapha El Moutaouakkil was the leading scorer for Louisiana, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Kentrell Garnett contributed 13 points along with one assist.

The Pick:

The Ragin’ Cajuns have experienced a pattern of alternating victories and defeats in their last seven matches, failing to secure consecutive wins. In contrast, Old Dominion has triumphed in three of their previous four encounters, including a recent road victory against ULM. Both teams exhibit comparable statistics for the season, and their defensive capabilities are notably lacking, leading me to favor the Over in this matchup.

Washington vs Michigan State Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

Washington at Michigan State at 8 PM ET

The beginning of the season has been inconsistent for Washington, culminating in a defeat in their most recent game. They managed to score 77 points; however, their defense faltered, yielding 81 points, which ultimately led to their loss. DJ Davis stood out with a notable performance, scoring 31 points and grabbing one rebound. On average, Washington has recorded 74.4 points per game this season, while their defense has allowed 69.4 points. The offense is positioned at 213th in the rankings, while the defense is ranked 126th.

Michigan State’s latest game was against Ohio State, where they managed to score 69 points, with their defense restricting the opponent to 62 points, resulting in a win. Szymon Zapala showcased his skills by scoring 15 points, along with two rebounds and one assist. This season, Michigan State has an average of 81.1 points per game, while their defense allows an average of 66.7 points. The offense is currently ranked 66th in the league, and the defense holds a ranking of 67th.

The Pick:

Michigan State’s offensive average stands at 81.1 points per game, while Washington’s offense is also noteworthy, averaging 74.4 points per game. They are expected to have no trouble accumulating points in this encounter. Although Michigan State’s defense has shown strength this season, I doubt their ability to effectively limit the Huskies’ scoring. This will likely be a key factor, as Washington is expected to keep the game competitive. It would be wise to back Washington against the spread.

Arkansas State vs South Alabama Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

Arkansas State at South Alabama at 8 PM ET

The Arkansas State Red Wolves triumphed over Old Dominion but faced a loss against James Madison. The team is presently averaging 79.3 points, achieving a shooting accuracy of 41.9 percent while allowing 70.4 points at a shooting percentage of 38.5. Taryn Todd is the standout player, averaging 16.4 points and 4.8 rebounds, while Kobe Julien adds an average of 13.6 points and 1.7 assists to the team’s performance.

The South Alabama Jaguars secured victories against both Georgia State and Georgia Southern. Currently, the team is averaging 75.1 points per game with a shooting percentage of 45.7, while they permit an average of 60.9 points on 37.9 percent shooting. Myles Corey contributes significantly with an average of 16.7 points and 2.5 rebounds, whereas Barry Dunning Jr. averages 12.7 points and 1.7 assists.

The Pick:

Arkansas State recently suffered a defeat against James Madison while playing as the favored team. This marks the third consecutive away game for Arkansas State. In contrast, the South Alabama Jaguars have achieved seven victories on the road and have successfully covered the spread in their last four games. Given South Alabama’s superior form and the advantage of playing at home, I will support the Jaguars.

Northern Arizona vs Montana Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

Northern Arizona at Montana at 9 PM ET

In the matchup with Weber State on Saturday, the Lumberjacks held a slight advantage of 41-38 as they returned from halftime. Northern Arizona continued to compete fiercely, concluding the game with a 39-39 run, which allowed them to clinch the win at 80-77. Trent McLaughlin was the leading scorer for the team, amassing 30 points along with seven rebounds and two assists. Furthermore, Jayden Jackson delivered a strong performance, contributing 21 points and four rebounds over 36 minutes. Oakland Fort was notable off the bench, scoring nine points and providing four assists.

During the game against Idaho on Saturday, the Grizzlies faced a difficult situation, entering halftime with a 32-29 deficit. Nevertheless, they mounted a comeback, outscoring their opponents 44-39 in the second half to secure a 73-71 victory. The team was led in scoring by Money Williams and Malik Moore, who each tallied 18 points; Williams also recorded four rebounds and three steals, while Moore contributed five rebounds and four assists. Additionally, Joe Pridgen achieved a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Kai Johnson added 10 points as a bench player.

The Pick:

The Grizzlies have shown a notable scoring ability in recent games, reaching 69 or more points in nine of their last ten outings, resulting in a 7-3 performance during this stretch. On the other hand, Northern Arizona achieved a solid shooting percentage of 50.9 against Weber State in their previous game and has also been scoring well, with 80 or more points in three of their last four contests, all of which were victories. I foresee this game being quite high-scoring and competitive, with Montana emerging victorious in the final moments.

Liberty vs Sam Houston State Prediction 1/9/25 College Basketball Picks

Liberty at Sam Houston State at 9 PM ET

The Liberty Flames currently hold a record of 13 wins and 2 losses this season, placing them 5th in the USA standings. Recently, Liberty achieved a victory against Middle Tennessee, finishing the game with a score of 73-63. The Flames have performed well against the spread, with a record of 9-3, and have a 5-7 record in over/under betting, alongside an undefeated 2-0 record in away games. Kaden Metheny is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 14.7 points per game, while Owen Aguino contributes with an average of 10 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.

This season, the Sam Houston Bearkats have achieved a record of 7-8, placing them in 9th position within the USA rankings. They recently experienced a loss to UTEP, finishing the game at 72-81. The Bearkats’ performance against the spread stands at 3-9, while they have a record of 9-3 in over/under betting, and they remain undefeated at home with a 4-0 record. Lamar Wilkerson is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 18.8 points and 3.4 rebounds, with Cameron Huefner contributing 14.6 points and 5.1 rebounds.