Best College Basketball Bets for Tuesday, February 10: Big Ten and SEC Contenders Clash

• Purdue leads the all-time series vs. Nebraska, 21-7, and has won eight of the last ten meetings.

• Vanderbilt has been an underdog in two other games this season (vs. Florida and @ Arkansas). The Commodores lost both.

 Today is a great day for betting on college basketball. We have a busy day ahead, with a packed schedule including 10 games: one featuring a ranked team and another featuring two. With such a slate, we’ll have no trouble finding games for our “Best College Basketball Bets” list.

But what do you say we keep it interesting and go with a game featuring two top fifteen teams (No. 13 Purdue vs. No. 7 Nebraska), both Big Ten squads, and another contest featuring teams from the SEC (No. 19 Vanderbilt vs. Auburn).

No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers vs. No. 7 Nebraska Cornhuskers Odds & Pick

• Spread: Purdue +1.5 (-102) | No. 7 Nebraska -1.5 (-120)

• Moneyline: Purdue +115 | No. 7 Nebraska -138

• Total: OVER 147.5 (-110) | UNDER 147.5 (-110)

Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Join FanDuel and claim your welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $100 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins. Get more info on the FanDuel Promo Code in our detailed overview.

Purdue (19-4, 9-3 Big Ten) had cruised through the season, going 17-1 in the team’s first 18 games before hitting a rough patch late last month. They lost their final three games in January: 69-67 vs. UCLA, 88-82 vs. No. 11 Illinois, and 72-67 vs. Indiana.

A win over Maryland gave February a better start, but the close call against a poor Oregon team is a little concerning.

As for Nebraska (21-2, 10-2 Big Ten), the Cornhuskers had an even better start to the season than Purdue, with victories in their first 20 games of the season. But then they faced arguably the toughest team on their schedule, No. 3 Michigan, and gave them a run for their money, only to lose 75-72.

They followed that game with a loss to No. 9 Illinois, 78-69, and then won their last game, 80-68, over Rutgers.

• My Pick: Nebraska -1.5 at -120 via FanDuel

Purdue can win this game if the Boilermakers get on a roll on the offensive end and Nebraska’s defense unexpectedly struggles to stop them. But I don’t think that will happen.

The Boilermakers have struggled to be consistent on offense lately. Against an efficient Nebraska defense playing at home, I’d expect those struggles to continue, giving the Cornhuskers an edge.

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No. 19 Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Auburn Tigers Odds & Pick

• Spread: Vanderbilt +3.5 (-114) | Auburn -3.5 (-106)

• Moneyline: Vanderbilt +146 | Auburn -178

•  Total: OVER 162.5 (-115) | UNDER 162.5 (-105)

Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook.

I can’t figure something out for this game: why is an Auburn team that is 14-9 overall and 5-5 in conference play favored to win against a Vanderbilt squad ranked No. 19 in the country.

To be fair, Auburn has played a much tougher schedule, including dates with eight ranked teams, but went 3-5 against them. Vanderbilt has a much better record overall at 19-4, but is only a game better in conference play (6-4).

Auburn is playing at home, where they are 9-2 this season. Vanderbilt, however, is a tough customer on the road (5-2). The Commodores have one of the better offenses in the country (No. 12, 88.9 points per game). Auburn struggles on the defensive end (No. 293, 78.4 points per game allowed).

There are several statistical categories in which Auburn is incrementally better, such as offensive rebounding, giving them some much-needed second-chance points. But the big concern regarding Vanderbilt is a recent loss to Oklahoma, one of the worst teams in the SEC.

• My Pick: Vanderbilt +3.5 at -114 via FanDuel

Yes, Auburn has some really good players and does certain things well. But there are so many things they don’t do well, making me wonder why they are favored. Being the home team counts for something, but not enough to warrant making them the favorite.

Auburn is more battle-tested than Vanderbilt, which must be why they are the favorite. I don’t think the Tigers will win, but I do think it will be a close, competitive game. It’s one that Vanderbilt can win, but if they don’t, they’ll be within three when the game ends.

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