NCAA Basketball Best Bets (Feb. 3): Indiana at USC Betting Odds & Top Picks

As conference play hits its stride in February and NCAA basketball teams begin separating themselves, experience and offensive efficiency become even more important. Tuesday's slate of games features a red-hot Big Ten team thriving away from home, while the other highlights a MAC offense that continues to push pace and pile up points.

You can find all the odds used in my predictions at FanDuel.

(Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Indiana at USC prediction for February 3

With the way Indiana has been trending lately, there’s little reason to fade the Hoosiers heading into this West Coast matchup.

Ever since its football team did the unthinkable, Indiana athletics as a whole seems to have caught fire — and the basketball program is no exception. The Hoosiers enter this game riding a three-game winning streak, picking up impressive victories at Rutgers, at home against Purdue, and most recently on the road at UCLA.

Veteran Leadership Showing Up at the Right Time

Led by Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries, The Hoosiers boast one of the most experienced rosters in the Big Ten.

Their eight-man rotation features six seniors, one junior and a lone freshman who logs the fewest minutes. That level of experience matters this time of year, especially in close games and late-game situations.

It’s no surprise Indiana is finding its stride now, as veteran teams often peak during the heart of conference play.

USC’s Ceiling Without Myles Rice

USC is a good team, but it’s been difficult to fully buy in since star guard Myles Rice went down earlier this season. As the year has gone on, the Trojans’ résumé hasn’t aged particularly well either.

Their top wins against Wisconsin and Seton Hall looked strong early, but both have lost some value as the season progresses. While USC plays a relatively tough schedule, it’s hard to argue this team has a high ceiling without its primary playmaker. That has to be considered when making bets in games featuring USC.

• Pick: Indiana ML at -111 (FanDuel)

Trust the Hoosiers to finish out their West Coast trip with a win.

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Akron at Eastern Michigan prediction for February 3

Coasting into February with an 18-4 record, the Zips have been one of the more entertaining teams in the MAC this season.

Trust Akron’s offense

When it comes to Akron this year, the offense has been the story.

The core of Tavari Johnson, Amani Lyles and Shammah Scott has consistently scored at will, and this matchup against Eastern Michigan sets up as another opportunity for a big scoring night.

Pace and Efficiency Point to Points

From a betting perspective, Akron profiles as an “over” team nearly every time it takes the floor.

The Zips rank 32nd nationally in offensive efficiency, but that scoring ability is paired with a defense that sits just 129th. Add in the fact that Akron plays at the 35th-fastest tempo in the country, and you get a combination that naturally leads to inflated totals. This is valuable information for bettors when considering Akron.

Eastern Michigan Can Do Just Enough

Eastern Michigan’s offense isn’t particularly strong, but it doesn’t need to be in this spot. Akron’s pace and scoring output should do most of the heavy lifting, with the Eagles contributing just enough to push this one past the number.

• Pick: Over 152.5 at -110 (FanDuel)

Expect a lot of points from Akron and just enough from the Eagles to get over this total.