Best Sports Betting Picks Today: College Basketball Predictions for February 25th | Deadspin.com

At this time of year, college basketball becomes the most exciting game in town. There are several excellent games on the docket Tuesday, and a few rate as “Best Bets for Tuesday, Feb. 25.”

Keep reading for the odds and our picks on these exciting matchups (odds via FanDuel).

Best Bets Feb. 25: NCAAM

Florida vs. Georgia

The Florida Gators have been on a roll despite not catching many breaks. They will take a six-game winning streak into tonight’s contest against the Georgia Bulldogs (16-11, 4-10). The only game they did not win by double digits in that stretch was a nine-point win over then-No. 1 Auburn.

But what really makes that stretch impressive is that they have had to deal with four different players missing time. Alex Condon has missed three games but is expected to return against Georgia.

Florida will be the sixth ranked team Georgia has faced in seven games, including Florida (Jan. 25, 89-59). The Bulldogs have lost all six. However, the Bulldogs played their best at home, losing to Auburn by two and Mississippi State by one.

However, they lost their last home game by 10 to Missouri.

Florida is the better team by far in this game, and they happen to be playing great basketball at the moment. Georgia has put up a solid fight at home, but Florida beat them by 30 points not too long ago. The game may be closer this time, but not so close that the Gators cannot cover a 7.5-point spread.

Our pick: Florida -7.5

Duke vs. Miami

Since their surprising loss to Clemson, the Duke Blue Devils (24-3, 15-1) have been flying through the competition. They followed the loss to Clemson with a 21-point win over Cal, a 36-point win over Stanford, an 18-point win over Virginia, and most recently, a 43-point victory over Illinois.

They were expected to win each game easily and did. But to score as much as some teams do in an entire game in each half against Illinois (54 and 56), a team that was in the top 25 not too long ago? That is impressive.

Miami (6-21, 2-14), on the other hand, has struggled all season long. Duke crushed them in mid-January, 89-54, in a game where the Blue Devils were 23.5-point home favorites. Miami’s offense is not terrible (74.6 points per game, No. 163 in the country), but their defense is atrocious (79.7 ppg allowed, No. 315).

It is a big spread to cover in a road game, but Duke’s offense is clicking right now. It has scored 50-plus points in three of the last six halves the team has played. Miami has struggled to score 60-plus in its last three games.

If you want to see one of the best teams in the country put on a clinic on how to play championship basketball, then watch this game.

Our pick: Duke -22.5 at -110

Tennessee vs. LSU

The Volunteers (22-5, 9-5) are coming into tonight’s road game against the Tigers on a high after Saturday’s 77-69 win over then-No. 7 Texas A&M in College Station. Chaz Lanier led the way for Tennessee with 30 points after shooting 10-of-18 from the floor, including 8-of-13 from 3-point range.

That win was the Volunteers’ fifth in six games and third against a ranked team.

The season has gone decidedly differently for the Tigers (14-13, 3-11). However, while the Tigers have lost two of their last 10, they have won two of their last three. But they did lose their last game, 79-65, to then-No. 2 Florida.

Tennessee is playing too well right now to fall to a lackluster team like the Tigers. If you want to bet the spread, I would lean toward taking Tennessee to cover. But I do think LSU could play well enough at home to keep the score within 10, though my confidence is low on that call.

It is uncertain if Tennessee can cover, but we are confident the Volunteers will win with LSU scoring just enough for the final score to go over the total.

Our pick: OVER 136.5 at -110