This article is part of our College Basketball Picks series.
We've got plenty of high-major action on tap for Wednesday, but we're going off the beaten path with today's picks. I have my eyes set on one key SEC matchup, as well as the Atlantic 10 and Mountain West.
Top College Basketball Best Bets for Today
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Texas 
at Kentucky
The Longhorns are proving to be a dangerous offensive team. On the strength of their scoring abilities, they recently defeated Alabama (on the road) and Vanderbilt. Texas is challenging to guard against because they excel in multiple areas. It ranks among the top 20 teams nationally in adjusted efficiency, offensive rebounding, and free-throw attempt rate, with the latter being the highest among all D-1 teams.
The Wildcats posted decent defensive numbers during the non-conference season, but haven't played at the same level against league competition. During SEC conference play, Kentucky's defense ranks ninth in efficiency and is in the bottom four in effective field goal, two-point field goal, and three-point field goal percentages allowed.
There's a chance the Longhorns' defense gets torched, but the Wildcats' offense has been inconsistent during conference play. They were held to 74 points against Alabama and 68 points (at home) against Missouri, so it's not a given that Kentucky will outscore Texas on Wednesday.
All things considered, I'm taking the points in this spot.
College Basketball Best Bet: Texas +7.5
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Rhode Island 
at Richmond 
The Rams don't have great offensive numbers overall, but they do two things well that should give them an edge in this matchup.
First, they're active on the glass, recording an offensive rebounding percentage that ranks among the top 100 nationally. This strength has continued into conference play, as they rank seventh in the Atlantic 10 (out of 14 teams) in offensive rebounding. In the same span, Richmond has not been boxing out against league competition, posting the fourth-worst defensive rebounding percentage in the league.
Second, Rhode Island is highly proficient at interior scoring. The Rams are making 58 percent of two-point field goal attempts, a mark that ranks in the top 40 nationally. They're also putting up similar numbers against conference foes, making 56 percent, the third-highest mark in the A10. This area has been a significant weak spot for Richmond's defense all season. The Spiders are allowing opponents to make 54 percent of two-point attempts (247th), and they have not improved during the conference season. Richmond is allowing A10 opponents to make 56 percent of two-point attempts, the fourth-worst in the league.
Both teams have performed better at the other end of the court; however, Rhode Island still has the upper hand. For the full season, the Rams' defense outranks the Spiders' offense in adjusted efficiency (82nd vs. 114th), turnovers (11th vs. 43rd), and rebounding (217th vs. 299th).
Given Rhode Island's key advantages in this matchup, I gotta take the points in this one.
College Basketball Best Bet: Rhode Island +2.5
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San Diego State 
at Grand Canyon 
The Aztecs have two significant facts going in their favor.
First, they are the better offensive team. They rank 83rd in adjusted efficiency, which isn't ideal for a team with March Madness aspirations, but it's substantially better than Grand Canyon's 154th ranking. These stats have also carried over into the conference season, where San Diego State has posted the fourth-highest offensive efficiency rating in the Mountain West, notably higher than Grand Canyon's, which ranks seventh.
Second, San Diego State has a key defensive advantage over Grand Canyon. Part of the Antelopes' offensive challenges stems from their struggles to score from the perimeter. They have made just 30 percent of three-point attempts, among the top 40 worst teams, and they haven't really improved in recent weeks, making 31 percent against conference opponents. Without a long-range attack, Grand Canyon is forced to rely on foul shots and two-point shots for production, but these are two areas where San Diego State's defense excels. The Aztecs have held Mountain West opponents to 43 percent on two-point field goal attempts, the best mark in the conference, and they've held league opponents to the third-lowest free-throw attempt rate.
Overall, San Diego is the better team, and with a short spread to work with, I'm going with the Aztecs in this one.
College Basketball Best Bet: San Diego State -1.5
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Wednesday College Basketball Best Bets:
Here's a recap of my best college basketball bets for Wednesday:
- Texas +7.5
- Rhode Island +2.5
- San Diego State -1.5
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.
