This article is part of our College Basketball Picks series.
We've got a loaded college hoops slate on tap for Saturday. Several contending teams are taking the court, facing off against teams with similar aspirations, with each outcome likely affecting seed positioning come March. Here are my predictions for a trio of games tipping off later on Saturday.
Top College Basketball Best Bets for Today
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North Carolina 
vs. Ohio State 
The most significant weak link in this matchup is Ohio State's defense, which ranks 56th in adjusted efficiency. Its most concerning trait heading into Saturday is its weakness defending the paint, allowing opponents to make nearly 50 percent of its two-point attempts (124th). This is noteworthy because the Tar Heels are at their best when they attack the basket, having made 58 percent of two-point attempts, the 47th-highest mark. North Carolina is also proficient at collecting offensive boards and drawing contact, ranking 76th in offensive rebounding and 62nd in free-throw attempt rate.
At the other end of the court, the Buckeyes are similarly skilled at inside scoring, having made 63 percent of two-point attempts, the fifth-highest among all D-1 teams. However, the difference is that the Tar Heels have elite interior defense. North Carolina has held opponents to under 41 percent on 2-point attempts, the third-best mark in the nation. The Tar Heels also rank among the top six teams in the nation in effective field goal percentage allowed and free-throw attempt rate allowed.
Considering North Carolina's defensive strengths and its offensive skill set, especially how it matches up against Ohio State, I gotta take the Tar Heels in this spot.
College Basketball Best Bet: North Carolina -3.5
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Northwestern 
vs. Butler 
This matchup contains perhaps the most significant mismatch on Saturday's slate. Butler's offense, a solid unit that ranks 47th in adjusted efficiency, is driven by its aggressiveness on the glass, where it has the 16th-highest offensive rebounding percentage among all D-1 teams. At the same time, Northwestern has struggled defensively, ranking 102nd in adjusted efficiency. Its primary issue is its inability to defend the glass; it ranks 276th in defensive rebounding percentage. Butler will likely make the most of any second-chance opportunities, as the Bulldogs rank 86th in effective field goal percentage.
Northwestern's offense is comparable to Butler's in efficiency, but it pales in comparison on the glass, ranking 152nd in offensive rebounding. One of the Wildcats' strengths has been drawing contact, ranking 58th in free-throw attempt rate, but the Bulldogs are outstanding at getting stops without fouling, ranking seventh in free-throw attempt rate allowed.
If Northwestern were not awful at securing defensive boards, this pick may be different, but it's hard to pass up on an opportunity when finding such a glaring discrepancy. I'm taking the Bulldogs.
College Basketball Best Bet: Butler -1.5
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Arkansas 
vs. Houston 
Houston isn't the sharpest shooting team, but it makes up for it by protecting the ball and actively attacking the glass. The Cougars rank 36th in offensive turnover percentage and 21st in offensive rebounding percentage, two areas where the Razorbacks are noticeably weak on the defensive end. Arkansas has a respectable defensive efficiency rating, but it's not generating turnovers (234th) and is not protecting the glass, ranking 196th in defensive rebounding percentage. The latter might be the key to this matchup, as Houston will likely see numerous second-chance opportunities assuming it can collect its usual number of boards.
Arkansas, meanwhile, is great at shooting, but unfortunately for the Razorbacks, Houston is among the best at forcing mistakes and difficult shots. The Cougars have established themselves as one of the premier defensive programs in the country under head coach Kelvin Sampson, and this year's team is no exception. Houston boasts the seventh-best adjusted defensive rating among all D-1 teams, and it ranks eighth in effective field goal percentage allowed and seventh in turnover percentage.
Given the Cougars' massive rebounding advantage over the Razorbacks' defense, I gotta go with Houston in this one.
College Basketball Best Bet: Houston -4.5
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Saturday College Basketball Best Bets:
Here's a recap of my best college basketball bets for Saturday:
- North Carolina -3.5
- Butler -1.5
- Houston -4.5
For up-to-date information on the latest college basketball betting odds and props from multiple sources, check out the college basketball odds page on RotoWire.
