The ACC/SEC Challenge heats up on Wednesday, as several more teams enter the fray. Here are my predictions for another round.
Top College Basketball Best Bets for Today
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Clemson 
at Alabama 
The Crimson Tide has already earned a pair of impressive wins in defeating St. John's and Illinois, but it's not without its flaws. It lost by seven-plus points to both Purdue and Gonzaga, and after taking a closer look, it's easy to see why.
Alabama can score as well as any team in the country, but its defense has been highly vulnerable. Specifically, the Tide does not take the ball away, ranking 343rd in defensive turnover percentage, and it doesn't secure the defensive glass, ranking 177th in rebounding percentage. These two areas play right into Clemson's hand, as the Tigers rarely commit a giveaway, ranking 12th in offensive turnover percentage, and they are active on the offensive glass, ranking 59th in rebounding percentage. The latter was perhaps the most significant reason Alabama suffered both losses, as it allowed Purdue to collect 19 offensive boards and Gonzaga to collect 20.
At the other end of the court, Clemson might not be elite defensively, but it's been solid, especially in the paint. The Tigers rank 12th in defensive rebounding and 19th in effective field goal percentage allowed, underscoring their consistent effort to deny opponents open looks and second-chance opportunities.
Going against Alabama at home might feel daunting given its offensive firepower, but Clemson has already proven it can win this type of game. The Tigers won their last road trip to Tuscaloosa, 85-77, in November 2023 against an Alabama squad that would go on to make the Final Four in March.
College Basketball Best Bet: Clemson +11.5
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North Carolina State 
at Auburn 
The Wolfpack's defense got lit up by Seton Hall and Texas during the Maui Invitational, causing its adjusted defensive efficiency rating to plummet to 94th.
N.C. State's worst defensive trait is, by far, its inability to get stops without fouling. The Wolfpack ranks 337th in the nation in free-throw attempt rate allowed, which is a key issue going into any matchup. In this case, the Tigers' offense ranks 44th in free-throw attempt rate, so it's a good bet that Auburn will take frequent trips to the charity stripe on Wednesday.
The other issue plaguing N.C. State is its interior defense. The Wolfpack is allowing opposing teams to make 53 percent of shot attempts inside the arc, 211th among all D-1 teams, while the Tigers have made almost 58 percent of two-point attempts, the 54th-best mark.
N.C. State's saving grace has been its scoring ability, demonstrating a potent offense despite the lack of stops on the other end. Still, considering the location of Wednesday's game and each team's weaknesses, I'm betting Auburn will pull away in the second half. I'm laying the points with the Tigers.
College Basketball Best Bet: Auburn -6.5
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Virginia 
at Texas 
The weakest link in this game is Virginia's defense. The Cavaliers rank 80th in adjusted efficiency, a poor standing for an ACC team, and they rank outside the top 200 teams in defensive turnover percentage, rebounding percentage, and free-throw attempt rate. Texas, on the other hand, is proving to have a potent offensive attack. The Longhorns rank 36th in adjusted efficiency, and they rank in the top 75 teams in effective field goal percentage, turnovers, rebounding, and free-throw attempt rate.
When playing in the other direction, the Longhorns haven't had the same success, but they're well-equipped to counter Virginia's best skill, snagging offensive boards. The Cavaliers boast the highest offensive rebounding percentage in the nation, but Texas ranks 21st in both defensive rebounding and two-point field goal percentage allowed (44 percent), so Virginia is unlikely to see its usual number of put-back opportunities.
Given a short spread, I gotta roll with the home team in this one.
College Basketball Best Bet: Texas -2.5
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Wednesday College Basketball Best Bets:
Here's a recap of my best college basketball bets for Wednesday:
- Clemson +11.5
- Auburn -6.5
- Texas -2.5
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.
