Best NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions (1/9): Friday College Hoops

Nate Hornung

Written by: Nate Hornung

Published: Fri Jan 09, 2026, 1:40 pm ET

Read Time: 5 minutes

Chad Baker-Mazara and the Trojans have a tough matchup against the Badgers this weekend - Wisconsin USC Picks

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The weekend is officially here, and as we prepare for the 149 college hoops games loaded up for Saturday's slate, we still have spots to bet on today! Sure, there aren't nearly as many contests in the NCAA Basketball world on Friday, but our CBB experts dove into the board and found their favorite picks. Let's have ourselves a day.

  • NCAA Basketball YTD
  • 87-81 (51.8%)
  • +1.12u
  • Average Odds: -105

Friday's best bets are below. Keep reading for the analysis.

Go check out what else I've got on my daily card, and view the latest odds at the best online sportsbooks.

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Best NCAA Basketball Picks and Predictions January 9

IU Indy Jaguars vs. Green Bay Phoenix NCAA Basketball Picks

Doug Gottlieb and Green Bay are favored by a touchdown over the IU Indy Jaguars tonight - NCAA Basketball Picks

Doug Gottlieb and Green Bay are favored by a touchdown over the IU Indy Jaguars tonight

Best Bet: IU Indy/Green Bay Over 158.5 (-108) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook

Normally I'm an under guy, but we don't discriminate around these parts. This is the lowest total of the season for the IU Indy Jaguars who are the fasted team in the nation. Now, should that give me pause and make me worried about this one? Possibly, but most advanced analytics websites have this game closer to 170 total points, well over the current number. And for good reason!

Like I said, the Jaguars are literally the fastest team in the nation. The hosts are one of the slowest. Typically, I lean with the home team controlling the pace of the game, but when you play a speedy ball club, I expect some extra possessions in this game, helping both teams score.

Plus, both defenses are HORRENDOUS. And yes, that adjective needed to be capitalized.

Green Bay is north of 300 in adjusted defensive efficiency, north of 315 in opponent eFG%, and No. 262 in free throw rate defense. They cannot defend inside the arc, and don't really do a good job of defending the perimeter either. However, the Phoenix are No. 8 in the country at getting to the stripe, shooting free throws on over 48% of possessions. IU Indy is even worse. The Jaguars are bottom 20 in free throw rate defense and offensive rebounds allowed, but they drop to bottom 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency and are fourth worst in opponent eFG%.

Two bad defenses with an increase of possessions, I think this game soars over 158.5.

USC Trojans vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAA Basketball Picks

USC looks to bounce back against the Gophers before heading back to Los Angeles - NCAA Basketball Picks

USC looks to bounce back against the Gophers before heading back to Los Angeles

Best Bet: USC +4 (-111) Lucky Rebel Sportsbook

My good friend and co-host, Colby Marchio, wrote about this game in advance and snagged a bad line. You can check out his full breakdown here, but if he likes the Trojans at +2.5 (or outright), I think the the +4 is more than safe. This USC team just played two very tough Big Ten games in their first time leaving the West Coast this season (besides going out to Maui during Feast Week). But in between their beatings from Michigan and Michigan State, USC stayed in the Midwest so being sluggish from travel shouldn't be an issue.

USC likes to run, they lead the nation in free throw rate getting there over 52% of the time, and they will certainly take the Golden Gophers out of their comfort zone and force them to defend for some extra possessions they are not used to. The Trojans defend the perimeter very well, which is an integral part of the Gophers offense, ranking top 120 in 3P Rate, but even at home, they shoot just 34% from beyond the arc, which is in the bottom half of the country.

To add to all of that, USC is coming off two very tough, forgivable losses, and are trying to pick themselves back up, while the Gophers are coming off upsetting the Iowa Hawkeyes at home… where they stormed the court… Fade. The. Storm (credit to Colby for the system).

Still Didn't Get Your NCAA Basketball Fix?

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Nate Hornung
Nate Hornung

Nate has been a recreational sports bettor for about 5 years. In that time, he has grown to love the pursuit of winners and sticking it to The Man. Nate loves data and uses his understanding of numbers to help him be a more profitable sports gambler, however he will be the first to tell you this game is about more than just stats.

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