If you’re reading this, you’ve recovered from your New Year’s hangover and have rejoined the land of the living. Congrats! It also means that you can build an Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry with the largest slate of college hoops games of the year. That’s the largest slate until this Saturday. We’ve also crunched the numbers and found three plays that you’ll want to take for the games on January 2nd.
Keep in mind that playing all three legs of our plays in Underdog Fantasy could win you 6X your money on a single entry. Let’s dig into tonight’s plays and remember to let it ride!
Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Picks January 2
Matthew Dewoskin Underdog Fantasy College Basketball Pick Em Record (Est 11/4/2024)
All Pick Em Selections: 79-69-2
Perfect 3-0 Pick Em Entries: 9-41
Zach Hicks Higher Than 9.5 Points
This is the first number of the year that makes little sense. Penn State forward Zach Hicks enters this one averaging 12.0 points per game this year. At home, he averages 11.7 points per game.
This number is this low because Hicks has gone lower than 9.5 points in each of his last three games. However, Northwestern on the road is a great match up. The Wildcats allow opponents to make 32.5% of their shots from beyond the arc. Hicks is shooting 41.7% from three at home this year.
Northwestern is a solid defensive team, but it’s a road spot and Hicks is a capable shooter from range. Lock up the higher total on Hicks’ points in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry for January 2nd.
Paulius Murauskas Higher Than 7.5 Rebounds
This is another number that is lower than it should be. Murauskas comes into this one averaging 8.9 rebounds per game this year. That goes up to 10.2 rebounds per game when he’s at home.
This number is this low because Murauskas has struggled against Utah State and Boise State, but he’s absolutely killed Pacific and Merrimack. Pepperdine is closer to the Merrimack/Pacific side than Boise State/Utah State.
Pepperdine allows opponents to grab 35.0 rebounds per game this year. That’s 185th in the nation. Look for Murauskas to get his against the Waves front court. Make sure you’re higher on his rebounds total in your Underdog Fantasy college basketball entry.
Parsa Fallah Lower Than 11.5 Points
Oregon State visits Loyola Marymount tonight, and you’ll want to fade Beavers big man Parsa Fallah.
Fallah comes into this one averaging 6.3 points in games away from Corvallis, OR. He’s gone lower than 11.5 points in six out of 14 games this year, but all of them have come on the road.
Loyola Marymount is also surprisingly effective against opposing big men. The Lions only allow opponents to shoot 47.5% on two-point shots this year. That’s 71st in the nation. Opponents are also only averaging 70.6 points per game against Loyola Marymount this season. That’s 125th in the nation.
This is a great spot to fade Fallah. There’s no reason to have this number at his season average when he’s struggled in road spots.
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis on every college basketball game for the 2024-25 season, make sure you tune into The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
