NCAAB Best Bets & Player Prop Picks for January 2

Now that January is here, the college basketball season is officially in full swing with the non-conference part of the season all but over. The Big Ten will be in the spotlight on Thursday with several games on the schedule, including a highly anticipated top-25 game between Illinois and Oregon. We’ve picked out our three favorite betting lines from the Big Ten games on Thursday while throwing in a player prop just for fun.

#20 Purdue (9-4) at Minnesota (8-5)

While Minnesota would seem to be in good shape at 8-5, the Golden Gophers are somehow just 1-11-1 against the spread this season. They’ve also suffered double-digit defeats to Indiana and Michigan State in their first two conference games of the season. Mike Mitchell Jr. has provided some much-needed support for leading scorer Dawson Garcia. But Minnesota is otherwise limited offensively, averaging less than 68 points per game and barely shooting 30% from the perimeter. To be fair, the Boilermakers are just 1-5 against the spread in their last six games. But they’ve also played a tough schedule and feature a pair of high-volume shooters in Braden Smith and Fletcher Loyer who shoot over 40% from three-point range. While going on the road against Minnesota can be tricky, the Boilermakers are too talented not to win this game by double digits.

Pick: Purdue -6

Rutgers (8-5) at Indiana (10-3)

It’s been an interesting season for a young but incredibly talented Rutgers team. The Scarlet Knights have been competitive with some quality opponents but have also suffered losses to Kennesaw State and Princeton. They’ve struggled on the road, in particular, losing to Kennesaw State and suffering a 14-point defeat to Ohio State. Of course, Indiana hasn’t been that reliable either, struggling to put away Chattanooga and Winthrop in their last two games of 2024. Of course, wins over South Carolina and Providence show what the Hoosiers can do when they play well. But it’s fair to question what Indiana team will show up in this game. The Scarlet Knights will have arguably the two most talented players on the floor with ace Bailey and Dylan Harper. That should be enough to keep Rutgers close in this game and give them a chance to pull off the upset.

Pick: Rutgers +5.5

#22 Illinois (9-3) at #9 Oregon (12-1)

The Ducks have earned a top-10 ranking with wins over Alabama, Texas A&M, and other quality opponents. While they lack star power in the backcourt, center Nate Brittle is always capable of getting a double-double. Oregon also has five players who average double figures, so they aren’t overly reliant on Brittle or any individual player. On the other side, Illinois also has a big man with double-double potential, as Tomislav Ivisic helps to make the Illini one of the best rebounding teams in the country. Illinois also has a budding star in freshman point guard Kasparas Jakucionis. Going on the road won’t be easy, as the Illini is 0-2 against the spread in true road games, but Illinois has the talent to give the Ducks a run for their money and possibly steal a win.

Pick: Illinois +4.5

Tomislav Ivisic (Illinois) Over 9.5 Rebounds

As mentioned, Ivisic will have a tough matchup on Thursday against Oregon’s Nate Brittle, another seven-footer. However, Ivisic has been a rebounding machine all season regardless of the opponent. He’s collected double-digit rebounds in seven of his last nine games, becoming far more consistent on the boards than he is as a scorer. Keep in mind that Ivisic has reached at least 10 rebounds against the likes of Tennessee, Wisconsin, Arkansas, and Alabama. There are even three games this season in which he’s reached 10 rebounds despite playing 25 minutes or less. Even if he battles Brittle on the boards all game, there’s every reason to believe that Ivisic will rise to the challenge and have another 10-rebound game.