College Basketball: Top Picks for Saturday, April 4
As college basketball heads into a thrilling Saturday on April 4, expert handicapper Greg Peterson shares his top picks for the major matchups. Fans and bettors alike can tune in to Greg’s insights on his Coast 2 Coast Hoops Podcast and through El-Balad’s betting resources.
Top College Basketball Picks for April 4
Oklahoma Sooners vs. Baylor Bears
The matchup at 1:30 PM ET features the Oklahoma Sooners taking on the Baylor Bears. Both teams have shown strengths on offense while struggling defensively. Oklahoma ranks 250th in points per possession allowed, and Baylor is closely behind at 233rd.
- Baylor’s Strength: The Bears are effective on the boards, securing 35% of their missed shots, ranking 17th nationally.
- Oklahoma’s Edge: The Sooners excel in perimeter shooting, ranking 43rd with 36.4% from beyond the arc.
- Defensive Efforts: Oklahoma is 53rd in opponent 2-point shooting percentage away from home.
Picks: Oklahoma -1 and Over 157.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Oklahoma -3 and Total 159).
West Virginia Mountaineers vs. Creighton Blue Jays
At 4:00 PM ET, the Creighton Blue Jays meet the West Virginia Mountaineers. Creighton seeks to honor their departing coach, Greg McDermott, with a strong performance.
- Creighton’s Season: The Blue Jays rank 141st in points per possession on offense.
- West Virginia’s Defense: The Mountaineers are ranked 28th in points per possession allowed but struggle on the road.
- Free Throw Shooting: West Virginia ranks 318th at 68.4%, while Creighton is 45th at 76.3%.
Picks: Creighton Moneyline and Over 134.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Creighton -1 and Total 137).
Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Connecticut Huskies
Scheduled for 6:09 PM ET, Illinois faces Connecticut in a key matchup. Illinois excels at limiting opponents’ free throw attempts but struggles with generating turnovers.
- Illinois Shooting: They shoot 49.8% from beyond the arc, the 15th-highest percentage in Division I.
- Connecticut’s Defense: The Huskies rank 11th in opponent 3-point shooting percentage away from home at 29.7%.
Picks: Connecticut Moneyline and Under 139.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Connecticut -1.5 and Total 137.5).
Arizona Wildcats vs. Michigan Wolverines
The final game of the day pits the Arizona Wildcats against the Michigan Wolverines at 8:49 PM ET. Both teams exhibit strong balance in their play on both ends of the court.
- Arizona’s Ranking: The Wildcats are 8th in points per possession on offense and 6th in points allowed.
- Michigan’s Challenges: Despite being 4th in points per possession on offense, they rank 287th in turnovers per possession generated.
Picks: Arizona Moneyline and Under 157.5 (Greg’s Handicap: Arizona -1.5 and Total 154.5).
These matchups promise exciting basketball action and provide betting insights to make informed wagers for the day. Stay tuned to El-Balad for the latest updates and betting analysis.
