College Basketball Best Bets New Years Day: High Point Covers vs Kentucky; Niagara and Quinnipiac Go Under

If you’re looking to finish up your 2021 bets on a high note, look no further, as there are some college basketball games this afternoon to wet your whistle before we all settle in for the College Football Playoff and then ring in the New Year. Personally, we’re hoping for fewer COVID-19 cancellations in college hoops so we can have a somewhat normal season of fun conference rivalry matchups in 2022, which starts Saturday, incidentally, when No. 1 Baylor visits a fellow undefeated team in eighth-ranked Iowa State.

For today, Kentucky is the only top-25 team in action, so we’ll take a look at the Wildcats’ 2021 finale and some other games that might not be on your radar for our final best bets in NCAA men’s college basketball of the year.

High Point Panthers vs. (18) Kentucky Wildcats

The Bet: High Point +25.5

High Point chose to challenge itself to close out 2021, as they played at No. 10 Michigan State on Wednesday and now visit Rupp Arena to play No. 18 Kentucky. The Panthers fared decently against the Spartans, losing 81-68 in a game that was actually tied with nine minutes remaining, and High Point easily covered a 22.5-point spread.

In fact, when looking at the Panthers’ schedule, Michigan State was their greatest challenge, but they have competed well, as four of their other six losses came by one point or in overtime, and they also lost by just nine to Notre Dame. 

The Wildcats have won three-straight since they themselves lost to Notre Dame earlier this month. Oscar Tshiebwe is scoring 16 points and bringing down 16 rebounds per game, and John Michael Wright leads High Point with 20 points and four assists per game. 

While Kentucky (10-2)  has won each of its last three games by at least 27 points (including a 29-point win over North Carolina two weeks ago), it will be interesting to see if John Calipari goes deeper into his bench for this one, as Kentucky already started SEC play with a win over Missouri on Wednesday and then take on No. 16 LSU next Tuesday. The Wildcats are 25.5-point favorites and are 0-4 ATS when they’ve been favored by at least that amount this season. The Panthers, meanwhile, are 7-3 ATS on the season, and we like them to compete and cover at Rupp.

Niagara Purple Eagles vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats

The Bet: Under 134.5

There’s plenty of action in the MAAC today, including the Niagara Purple Eagles visiting Connecticut to take on the Quinnipiac Bobcats. Niagara has won two-straight coming in, and the Bobcats are on a three-game winning streak. 

But while Quinnipiac is a slight two-point favorite at home, we like the under here. Looking at prior games this season, the Bobcats have gone under the over-under total in all five of its home games this year, and Niagara has done so in four of its five games away from home. 

The Purple Eagles are the better defensive team, holding teams to 64 points per game, but they have kept teams below that average in four of their last five contests. Quinnipiac, meanwhile, hasn’t allowed more than 73 points per game in their last five, including holding Maine to 47 in their last game. 

A result here in the 60s isn’t a stretch, which would likely go under the spread of 134.5.

Northeastern Huskies vs. William & Mary Tribe

The Bet: William & Mary +8.5

Colonial Athletic Association action takes place in Williamsburg, Virginia, as Boston’s Northeastern Huskies travel south to face the William & Mary Tribe on New Year’s Eve.

The Tribe have struggled this year, posting a 2-12 record, but are 1-0 in the CAA after beating Hofstra 63-62 on Wednesday. It was quite a large upset, as the Pride were 16.5-point favorites, and it was the first win against the spread all year for William & Mary.

Northeastern, meanwhile, is 6-6 after back-to-back losses to Elon and Davidson. Shaquille Walters leads the Huskies with 13 points per game, and Chris Doherty is bringing in 9.5 rebounds per game. 

Northeastern is allowing 67 points per game, five fewer than the Tribe, but the Huskies have allowed over its average in each of its last four games. W&M, on the other hand, has kept teams to fewer than its defensive average in its last four games. 

We’re thinking William & Mary found something in its win over Hofstra, and they are also 10-3 straight up in its last 13 home games against Northeastern (who are on a six-game road losing streak overall), so we like the Tribe to build up a streak and cover its second-straight game.