College Basketball Predictions, Picks & Odds Today: Saturday, 2/1

The excitement is building in college basketball as conference games heat up, and today’s schedule is packed with more important matchups that could impact the next set of rankings.
With intense rivalries and top 25 battles, fans and bettors have a lot to analyze. Let’s dive into the biggest games of the day and see which college basketball picks could lead to some wins at FanDuel Sportsbook!
College Basketball Predictions & Overview Today, 2/1
All eyes will be on Knoxville where #5 Florida aims to beat #8 Tennessee again after their strong victory earlier this season.
At the same time, North Carolina is heading into a tough environment to face #2 Duke in one of the biggest rivalries in college basketball, with the Tar Heels eager for a big statement win.
Rounding out our college basketball predictions today, #25 UConn will take on #9 Marquette in a challenging away game as both teams fight for the top spot in the Big East.
#5 Florida vs. #8 Tennessee Predictions & Picks
Florida has already beaten Tennessee once this season, and since the Volunteers are having an even tougher time recently than they were at that time, it seems likely that the Gators could do it again.
Tennessee has lost three out of their last four games, and their offense has been inconsistent, ranking 175th in points per game with only 75.0. To make things worse, Zakai Zeigler, who is arguably the top playmaker for the Vols, hurt his knee in their recent game against Kentucky. If he’s not fully healthy, Tennessee’s scoring problems could get even worse.
On the other hand, Florida has a strong offense, ranking 7th in the nation with 85.3 points per game, and they are also great at rebounding, sitting at 2nd overall. They really outplayed the Vols in their last matchup, limiting them to just 21.4% shooting in a 73-43 victory.
This upcoming game looks like it could be very close, but with Tennessee struggling, siding with Florida +4.5 (-106 at FanDuel) to start today’s college basketball predictions seems like a smart choice.
North Carolina vs. #2 Duke Predictions & Picks
One thing that stands out when analyzing UNC is that the Tar Heels have been really strong at the start of their games this season. They usually score a lot, averaging 81.7 points per game, and they tend to get off to quick starts in almost every game. Plus, since this is a rivalry game, they’ll definitely be focused right from the beginning.
On the other hand, Duke has a good overall record, but they’ve had some slow starts, like in their last game against NC State where they were behind at halftime, even though they won 74-64. Their defense is really good, ranking 5th in points allowed, but it usually gets better as the game goes on, which gives UNC a chance to stay close early on.
With RJ Davis leading the team, scoring 17.6 points per game and hitting over 87% of his free throws, UNC should be able to keep it competitive before halftime. Duke’s offense can be a bit shaky at the start, so getting UNC +7.5 in the first half (-104 at FanDuel) is a solid play for our college basketball predictions today in what should be a thrilling opening frame.
#25 UConn vs. #9 Marquette Predictions & Picks
Let’s ride with Marquette -6.5 (-118 at FanDuel) to cap off today’s college basketball predictions, as it seems like the best choice in this game. UConn has had a shaky season, and their recent games haven't been very encouraging.
They've lost three out of their last five games and have had a hard time covering the spread, only managing to do so once in their last 10 tries. Their offense hasn't been very dependable, and they struggle to finish off teams even when they win.
On the flip side, Marquette is on a roll, winning five out of their last six games. Their defense is strong, allowing only 67 points per game, and their offense is thriving thanks to players like Kam Jones and David Joplin.
With the home advantage at Fiserv Forum, where they are tough to beat, Marquette is likely to handle this matchup well.
College Basketball Odds & Betting Lines Today
Now that we've shared our official college basketball picks for today, it's time for the last part – looking at the betting lines!
Take a look at the college basketball odds for the games we just talked about, thanks to FanDuel Sportsbook:
- Florida Gators (+168) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (-205)
- Spread: Florida +4.5 (-106) vs. Tennessee -4.5 (-114)
- Game Total: Over 142.5 (-115) vs. Under 142.5 (-105)
- North Carolina Tar Heels (+740) vs. Duke Blue Devils (-1250)
- Spread: North Carolina +13.5 (-106) vs. Duke -13.5 (-114)
- Game Total: Over 149.5 (-105) vs. Under 149.5 (-115)
- UConn Huskies (+235) vs. Marquette Golden Eagles (-295)
- Spread: UConn +6.5 (-102) vs. Marquette -6.5 (-118)
- Game Total: Over 143.5 (-115) vs. Under 143.5 (-105)
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Player News
J.P. Crawford singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 11th as the Mariners edged the Yankees 2-1 on Tuesday.
Crawford was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts before his liner to left barely dropped into fair territory and plated the automatic runner in the 11th. It gave him his first RBI in nine games. He’s currently hitting .271/.378/.364 for the season.
Bryan Woo blanked the Yankees for 6 1/3 innings in a no-decision Tuesday.
Woo has come up big for the Mariners in pitching at least six innings every time out this season and going 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA. The 1-0 lead he left with tonight didn’t hold up, but the Mariners did prevail in extra innings to move to 6-2 in Woo’s starts. He’ll face the White Sox next time out.
Andrés Muñoz was charged with a blown save after giving up an unearned run in the ninth Tuesday against the Yankees.
Muñoz created his own trouble by hitting Paul Goldschmidt to start the ninth, but that was the only mistake he made as a pair of grounders went on to score pinch-runner Pablo Reyes. Muñoz still hasn’t given up an earned run this season.
Max Fried allowed one run over five innings before being lifted against the Mariners on Tuesday.
Fried needed 91 pitches to get his 15 outs, so he didn’t come back out for the sixth. Still, he was effective in allowing four hits and striking out five. He’ll take a 1.11 ERA into his next start, which will likely come Sunday against the Mets.
Devin Williams pitched a perfect 10th in a tie game Tuesday against the Mariners.
Williams followed Luke Weaver, who worked flawless eighth and ninth innings before the game went to extras. It’s Williams’ third straight scoreless appearance and sixth in seven games since he was pulled from the closer’s role. Weaver hasn’t had any issues, either, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Williams get a save chance sometime soon.
Robbie Ray allowed three runs over six innings and struck out nine in the Giants’ 10-6 win over the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
Ray joined Max Fried as the only pitchers off to 6-0 starts thus far this season, and the Giants have gone 9-0 in his outings. His peripherals are significantly worse than his 3.04 ERA, but he’s definitely performed better in his last four starts than he did in his first five, when he seemed more lucky than good. He’ll pitch at home against the Royals next time out.