NCAA Hoops Best Bets (Jan. 14): Michigan vs Washington Betting Odds, Other Top Picks

Wednesday night’s NCAA basketball slate has some fun conference matchups. Arguably the best team in college hoops is looking to bounce back after its first loss. Plus, a ranked program on a 12-game win streak faces a tough test against a streaky conference rival.

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

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

Michigan At Washington Prediction For January 14

There’s a reason Michigan (+400 at DraftKings) leads the odds to win a national championship in March.

The Wolverines are loaded with talent at every position and features impressive depth. Multiple bench players could be starting on other Big Ten rosters.

According to KenPom analytics, Michigan is the top-ranked team in the country. Dusty May's team pairs the nation’s best defense with the seventh-ranked offense. Those metrics shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Can Michigan's efficiency be sustained?

The Wolverines have produced those numbers against a very demanding schedule. Michigan is the most battle-tested group among the top 10 teams in KenPom’s rankings, owning the nation’s fourth-toughest strength of schedule.

What stands out most is that Michigan’s top-ranked defense has maintained its success against the fourth-best collective offenses it has faced this season.

The Wolverines have also taken down elite programs by wide margins, including Gonzaga, Auburn and USC.

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Watch the Wolverines as they look for a bounce-back performance

Michigan is coming off its first loss and worst performance of the season after falling to Wisconsin at home.

The latest result also cost the Wolverines their the No. 1 spot in the AP rankings. That loss could create a buy-low opportunity, especially for an elite team that has played well on the road.

On Tuesday night, Michigan heads west to face a Washington program that has impressed more this season than in recent years. Still, this is not a matchup that should seriously threaten the Wolverines. The Huskies enter with above-average metrics, ranking 61st offensively and 54th defensively in the NCAA.

They’ve been competitive and tested against quality NCAA opponents, but outside of Purdue, they haven’t faced an elite team on Michigan’s level.

• Pick: Michigan -12.5 (-115 DraftKings)

Lay the points here and expect the Wolverines to bounce back in a big way after their first loss of the season.

TCU AT BYU Prediction For January 14

BYU has put together an impressive season to this point. It enters Wednesday's game at 15-1 with its only loss coming against UConn. The Cougars are led offensively by a strong three-man group in AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders and Robert Wright III.

Dybantsa is an elite difference-maker for the Cougars

Dybantsa, in particular, presents a major challenge for opposing defenses. The freshman forward is averaging 22.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and nearly two steals per game.

Simply put, the Cougars are legit. They can score, and they’ve been excellent on the defensive end as well, ranking 17th nationally. in the NCAA

That said, this could be a letdown spot coming off a close rivalry game over the weekend. There’s also a chance the market is overlooking a TCU team that has been up and down for much of the season.

Expect two programs with top-rated defenses to battle in this early Big 12 matchup

A quick look at TCU’s schedule shows a wide range of results that don’t always make sense. The Horned Frogs have beaten Florida, Wisconsin and Baylor, while also playing Michigan and Kansas to 4-point losses. On the other hand, they’ve also dropped games to New Orleans and Notre Dame.

It’s been difficult to get a firm read on who this TCU team really is, but it feels like a group that often plays to the level of its competition.

There are two metrics in particular that make me a believer in the Horned Frogs in this spot. First, TCU has the defensive ability to slow down BYU’s attack, ranking 26th nationally in defensive efficiency. Second, the Horned Frogs have shown they can perform away from home.

They are 2-1 on the road, with wins at Florida and North Texas, and their lone loss coming in a 104-100 overtime heartbreaker at Kansas last week.

• Pick: TCU +13.5 (-115 DraftKings)

Overall, we’ve seen both the ceiling and the floor from this TCU team. Coming off two straight losses, this road matchup against a ranked opponent sets up as a spot where we could see the Horned Frogs at their best.