College Basketball Thursday Picks: Feb 19th Best Betting Predictions

While zero schools in the men’s basketball Top 25 are playing Thursday night, multiple mid-major conference leaders are set to seize the TV exposure.

The women’s side features numerous marquee matchups, too, thanks to a stacked SEC that houses three games between ranked programs.

Let’s get to the best bets for tonight’s action.

MEN: FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL AT LIBERTY, 6 P.M. ET

It’s trite but true to write that Liberty’s Flames sizzle from 3-point range. Entering play Wednesday, the Conference USA leaders were shooting 40.18% from deep as a team, good for fourth in the nation, while sophomore guard Brett Decker Jr. ranked second individually at 48.86% on 86 makes.

Meanwhile, Liberty allows opponents to make 35.8% of their treys, worst in the conference. The proverbial bombs may burst during the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but the Flames and their foes typically dial them up soon enough.

Liberty has won 16 straight overall and three in a row in the series, including a 97-94 overtime victory against the host Panthers on Dec. 28 in the league opener for both schools.

Decker Jr. connected on 5-of-11 attempts from downtown while teammates Kaden Metheny (six treys) and Colin Porter (four) also were effective from long range.

FIU hit just six 3s in the game and is shooting 36.9% (24-for-65) from 3-point range over the past three games thanks to Saturday’s 10-of-22 effort against Louisiana Tech.

Liberty prevails behind its usual suspects – and formula.

Liberty -10.5 (-120 with FanDuel)

MEN: MEMPHIS AT SOUTH FLORIDA, 7 P.M.

Wallowing below .500 one season after earning 29 victories, Memphis still has an outside chance to win the American regular-season title. The Tigers are 7-5 in the league, two losses behind South Florida, and are set to face the Bulls twice in the next two weeks.

The Tigers are also in disarray. They dismissed Hasan Adbul Hakim from the program on Wednesday while reinstating Zach Davis. Both student-athletes had been suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.

That’s no place to be considering how South Florida star Izaiyah Nelson views the Bulls’ fast-paced approach.

“Other teams probably don’t like preparing for us,” Nelson said, “because we’re looking to run you into the ground.”

The 6-10 Nelson has 16 double-doubles in 26 games for a team that averages 88.8 points.

Tumult notwithstanding, the Tigers are less than two weeks removed from hanging 90 points on host UAB and scored 75 in Saturday’s loss at Utah State.

Over 158.5 points (-115 with FanDuel)

WOMEN: NO. 7 LSU AT NO. 17 OLE MISS, 9 P.M.

LSU averages 95.7 points per game, tops in the nation, but forgive the Tigers if they haven’t had the opportunity to come untracked in a vaunted SEC lately.

The Tigers were held to 64 and 72 points, respectively, in recent losses to Top 5 foes Texas and South Carolina.

LSU squandered multiple chances at South Carolina on Saturday, missing 10 layups and nine free throws. Flau’jae Johnson led the way with 21 points.

This one should hinge on whether the Tigers improve their offensive execution and stifle the Rebels’ Cotie McMahon at the other end. Johnson scored a career-best 39 points, tied for third most in program history, to key Tuesday’s home win against No. 21 Tennessee.

Expect LSU to relocate its depth and poise in the clutch to avenge last season’s loss in the regular-season finale.

LSU –5.5 (-120 with BetMGM)