NCAA Basketball Best Bets: Betting Odds & Predictions Featuring No. 2 Arizona, No. 4 Iowa State, and No. 9 Gonzaga (Feb. 28)

College basketball fans are in for a treat today with 20 of the AP Top 25 in action, including five games featuring ranked opponents. It’s going to be great to watch and even better to bet on. That is why I’m recognizing the following games as today’s best NCAA basketball picks & predictions for Saturday, Feb. 28.

(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Arizona will want to get a little revenge on Kansas, since its earlier loss to the Jayhawks led to its fall from the No. 1 spot. The winner between Texas Tech and Iowa State will keep the pressure on Arizona. If anyone is going to unseat Gonzaga in the WCC, it’s Saint Mary’s.

So much to talk about; let’s get started.

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NCAA Basketball Best Bets & Predictions for Saturday, Feb. 28

No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks vs. No. 2 Arizona Wildcats (via Caesars)

• Spread: Kansas +10.5 at -110 | Arizona -10.5 at -110
• Moneyline: Kansas +420 | Arizona -550
• TOTAL: O/U 149.5 (-110/-110)

Kansas was arguably the hottest team in the country when it played Arizona a few weeks ago, having won its last seven games. The team's 82-78 win over the then-No. 1 Wildcats solidified that status, but it didn’t last long. They lost their next game, 74-56, to No. 5 Iowa State. A win over Oklahoma State followed (81-69), but then so did a loss to Cincinnati, 84-68, a game in which they were 8.5-point home favorites.

It was certainly a reason for alarm, but then they bounced back their last time out with a 69-56 win over No. 5 Houston.

The inconsistency in the last couple of weeks is troubling. But they have been one of the best teams in the Big 12 all season and have a proven track record against ranked opponents (6-4). However, it’s one thing to pull off an upset at home and another to do it on the road.

As for the Wildcats, the loss (along with the one to Texas Tech) may have been a timely kick in the pants. They bounced back with a win over No. 23 BYU, 75-68, and followed it with a seven-point victory against the Houston Cougars on the road and an 87-80 win over Baylor.

Arizona has been the more consistent team this season and typically plays its best at home (14-1 SU, 6-8-1 ATS); Kansas is 5-4 SU and ATS on the road. The OVER is 8-7 for Arizona at home and 3-6 for Kansas on the road. But the Wildcats will need to correct one major issue from the first matchup—fouls. Arizona led in almost every relevant statistical category but one in that game— free throws.

Kansas went 21-25 while the Wildcats went 8-14.

The Wildcats are still without star freshman Koa Peat, who remains out with an injury. But Jaden Bradley and Braden Burries have been picking up the slack. Kansas received great games from Flory Bidunga and Melvin Council Jr. (23 points each), and needs both to have standout performances if they're going to pull off another upset.

My NCAA Basketball Pick: Kansas +10.5 at -110

• Arizona is the better of the two teams, but I can’t see why the spread is so big. Yes, the Wildcats have been great at home, and Kansas has had some difficulty on the road. But Kansas did beat Arizona, and they will certainly not lay down for the Wildcats. It would be surprising to see another upset, but Kansas will keep the final score within single digits.

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No. 16 Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. No. 4 Iowa State Cyclones (via DraftKings)

• Spread: Texas Tech +10.5 at -105 | Iowa State -10.5 at -115
• Moneyline: Texas Tech +440 | Iowa State -600
• TOTAL: O/U 146.5 (-110/-110)

Texas Tech was starting to look like a team that could disrupt everything and make you think twice. Beating then-No. 1 Arizona, 78-75, can have that kind of impact on a team’s outlook and the perception people have of it. But then they lost superstar JT Toppin for the season to an injury.

They’ve gone 2-0 without him, beating Kansas State 100-72 and Cincinnati, 80-68. But those Wildcats and Bearcats are .500 teams on their best day. Iowa State has an elite defense (No. 14 in the country) and can put up 82 points per game.

Texas Tech has been a .500 team on the road this year, going 4-4 SU and ATS; the OVER is just 2-6 on the road for the Red Raiders. Iowa State is undefeated at home, going 15-0 outright, but is 8-6-1 ATS; the OVER is 7-8 for the Cyclones at home.

Losing Toppin has been tough for the Red Raiders, but they still have three players averaging double-digit points per game: Christian Anderson (19.6 points per game), Donovan Atwell (13 points per game), and LeJuan Watts (12.2 points per game).  Iowa State will need solid performances from its stars: Milan Momcilovic (17.4 points per game), Joshua Jefferson (16.6 points per game), and Tamin Lipsey (13 points per game).

My NCAA Basketball Pick: Texas Tech +10.5

• Iowa State’s defense should win the day for them at home, where they are undefeated, against a .500 road team in Texas Tech. But the Red Raiders have proven they are up to the challenge without Toppin in the lineup. They’ll make the Cyclones work for it and stay within single digits.

The NCAA Tournament is quickly approaching, and Ballislife has championship odds plus more NCAA basketball bets on our website.

No. 9 Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels (via FanDuel)

• Spread: Gonzaga -3.5 at -102 | Saint Mary’s +3.5 at -120
• Moneyline: Gonzaga -170 | Saint Mary’s +140
• TOTAL: O/U 143.5 at (-110/-110)

Gonzaga is rolling, winners of seven in a row. They just got revenge on the team that gave them their one conference loss, Portland. They crushed the Pilots on Wednesday at home, 89-48. While the Bulldogs have dominated the series, the Gaels are typically the one WCC team that gives them trouble.

When they played a few weeks ago, Saint Mary’s held a lead at the break, 38-34. But Gonzaga took over in the second, ultimately winning 73-65.

The Bulldogs have been solid on the road, going 9-1 SU and 7-3 ATS; the OVER is 3-7. As for Saint Mary’s, they are undefeated at home, 16-0 SU and 11-4 ATS (in games with a line). The OVER is 9-6 for the Gaels. Senior Graham Ike leads Gonzaga with 19.6 points per game and has had 20+ in six of seven games in February. Saint Mary’s is led by junior Paulius Murauskas, who averages 18.9 points per game.

My NCAA Basketball Pick: OVER 143.5

• Gonzaga will probably win, but I don’t see any value in the moneyline, and I’m not confident they’ll cover. At the same time, I can’t say that Saint Mary’s will keep it that close. However, while both teams have solid defenses, their respective offenses are good enough to put up 75+ points, pushing the final score OVER the TOTAL.