The ACC/SEC Challenge tips off on Tuesday, and we've also got an unofficial Big East--Big 12 Battle going down in Lawrence, Kansas, giving us a trio of big-time matchups to consider.
Top College Basketball Best Bets for Today
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Florida 
at Duke 
Long-term, Florida looks like a good bet to be a contender in March, although it has a few glaring flaws that may be its undoing on Tuesday.
First, the Gators have struggled with long-range shooting. They're making under 28 percent of their three-point attempts this season, 320th in the nation. Duke is holding opponents to 26 percent from beyond the arc this season, the 17th-best percentage allowed among all D-1 teams, so the Blue Devils are unlikely to allow many open looks.
Second, the Gators have one of the best defensive efficiency ratings in the nation, currently ranked 10th, but they seldom force turnovers and struggle to get stops without fouling. Florida ranks 304th in defensive turnover percentage, so Duke will likely get a shot off on most possessions. And if the Blue Devils don't record a field-goal attempt on a possession, the most likely outcome is a trip to the charity stripe. Florida ranks 274th in free-throw attempt rate allowed, while Duke ranks 71st in free-throw attempt rate.
On top of the notes above, Alex Condon, Florida's star forward, missed the team's previous game due to a head injury, giving Duke another advantage if Condon remains sidelined. The latest reports suggest that Condon will likely return on Tuesday, but it's another note to keep in mind.
Either way, Duke appears well-built to exploit all of Florida's weaknesses. I'm laying the points with the Blue Devils in this spot.
College Basketball Best Bet: Duke -7.5
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Connecticut 
at Kansas 
First and foremost, it's worth checking the status of Kansas superstar freshman Darryn Peterson. On Monday, Dec. 1, coach Bill Self told the media that he still doesn't have an answer on Peterson's status, "but we'll be able to say something definitively (on Tuesday) morning."
It's understandable to pass on this game if Peterson remains out, but I'm still picking it regardless of his status.
The Jayhawks were undoubtedly a sharper offensive team with Peterson on the court, but they've still managed to get the job done without him. This was most evident in their final game at the Players Era Festival, where they defeated Tennessee and its elite defense, 81-76.
UConn, meanwhile, appears to be a much better defensive team this season, though I'm still not entirely sold for a few reasons.
The first one being: the Huskies have yet to leave the Northeast. Five of their games were at home, and the other two, played in New York City and Boston, are considered "semi-home" games according to KenPom.
The other reason I'm not sure about UConn's defense is that it was awful defensively last season, ranking 75th in adjusted efficiency, and this year's team ranks 19th in minutes continuity from last season. I'm sure it's improved since last year, but right now the Huskies rank eighth in defensive efficiency, and I'm not yet convinced it will stay in the top-10 throughout the season.
It's not very often we get an opportunity to take Kansas in a virtual pick 'em when it's playing at Allen Fieldhouse. I gotta rock chalk with the Jayhawks in this one.
College Basketball Best Bet: Kansas +1.5
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North Carolina 
at Kentucky 
The Tar Heels looked like title contenders when they defeated Kansas in the second game of the season, 87-74, but then looked overmatched when they lost to Michigan State on Thanksgiving.
The Wildcats, similarly, have scored at least 88 points in five of seven games this year, but then they struggled to get stops against their only two challenging opponents, Louisville and Michigan State.
I was initially inclined to take the points with UNC, but ultimately I'd rather not go against Kentucky at home, where it's averaging 95 points per game.
Instead, I prefer our odds of seeing a high-scoring game. Kentucky head coach Mark Pope consistently pushes his teams to play at a fast tempo, ranking 15th in the nation in average offensive possession length, up from 42nd a season ago. North Carolina is known for a similar playing style, ranking in the top 40 in average possession length in each of the previous two seasons, with this current squad ranking 53rd.
Given the inconsistent defensive performances of both teams and the tempos that they both prefer, I'm taking the over.
College Basketball Best Bet: Over 161
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Tuesday College Basketball Best Bets:
Here's a recap of my best college basketball bets for Tuesday:
- Duke -7.5
- Kansas +1.5
- UNC at Kentucky - Over 161
For up-to-date information on the latest college basketball betting odds and props from multiple sources, check out the college basketball odds page on RotoWire.
