College Hoops Best Bets (Jan. 13): UConn Vs Seton Hall Highlights Intriguing Conference Matchups

Conference play is now in full swing across the college hoops landscape, and it brings a different betting approach than the nonconference slate. Familiarity within leagues, home-court advantage and favorable spots start to matter a bit more now, creating opportunities to find value in places the market may not fully account for.

(Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

With that in mind, here are our best bets for Tuesday’s packed college hoops slate.

All the odds I used can be found at DraftKings.

UConn at Seton Hall Prediction

• Under 130.5 (-105 DraftKings)

Expect a low-scoring, physical basketball game with points hard to come by in this Big East matchup Tuesday night in Newark.

According to KenPom analytics, both programs rank inside the top 10 nationally in defensive efficiency. Seton Hall, in particular, is a team I’m going to target for unders this season. The Pirates rank ninth in defensive efficiency and just 133rd in offensive efficiency.

UConn is dominant on both ends of the floor. Ranked 23rd offensively and fifth defensively, the Huskies are a phenomenal team but can sometimes find themselves in rock fights — especially on the road in conference play.

Dan Hurley’s high-powered squad isn’t necessarily a team I like involved in many unders this season, but this is a spot where it makes sense.

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UIC at Northern Iowa Prediction

• Northern Iowa -7.5 (-112 DraftKings)

There’s nothing I love betting more in college hoops than a spot play, and that’s exactly what this matchup looks like to me.

Northern Iowa has been one of the more impressive mid-major teams through the first two months of the season. Backed by the nation’s 24th-ranked defense, according to KenPom, the Panthers feature a veteran lineup and a balanced scoring attack that often sees multiple players step up offensively.

Things have slipped a bit lately with back-to-back losses to Belmont and Bradley, but there’s no reason to panic. Both defeats came against solid competition.

I trust the Panthers here, and this sets up as a classic bounce-back spot at home.

The spot looks even better considering UIC is coming off its first big win of the season, an overtime victory at home against in-state rival Illinois State. This feels like a classic letdown spot for a team in the Flames that hasn’t shown consistent play all year and relies on multiple young contributors.

Back the better, more experienced team with significantly more on the line and the motivation to respond at home.

Maryland at USC Prediction

• Maryland +9.5 (-115 DraftKings)

Despite a disappointing start to the season for Maryland, I see value on the Terps as road dogs.

Hiring Buzz Williams felt like it would immediately make this team competitive, but it just hasn't panned out. A major reason for the slow start can be pinned on the loss of star forward Pharrel Payne.

Payne followed Williams from Texas A&M to Maryland with the expectation of being the centerpiece on a winning team to close out his collegiate career. He is central to a Buzz Williams system that thrives on physical defense, limiting easy buckets, crashing the offensive glass and generating second-chance points.

It’s not out of the question that Payne returns to the lineup Tuesday night. Williams has been quiet, and injury timelines are notoriously difficult to track at the college level, but there has been some indication Payne could have been ready at the start of conference play. At this point, the expectation among the fan base and some local media is that he could return at any time, and we may not know until he takes the floor before tipoff.

USC has gotten off to a strong 13-3 start, with its only losses coming against quality opponents. However, the Trojans’ lineup took a significant hit three weeks ago when star guard Rodney Rice went down with a shoulder injury that is expected to sideline him for the remainder of the season.

Regardless of whether Payne plays, this Maryland lineup is experienced and well-coached, facing a solid USC team that I’m not completely sold on and is still adjusting to life without its top scorer. The 9.5 points feels like too many to lay in this spot.