College Basketball Best Bets: Three Favorite Picks for Thursday, December 8

Another good slate of college basketball games awaits on Thursday night.

If you haven't already, you should consider signing up for DraftKings ➡️ here ⬅️ as you can turn a $5 pre-game moneyline bet on any game into a free $150 if your team wins. 

RELATED: College Basketball Bet Hub 

College Basketball Best Bets for Thursday, December 8

Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Ohio State Buckeyes - 7:00PM ET

Health has been the story for Rutgers, who finally have all their key pieces back with senior wing Caleb McConnell returning and Paul Mulcahy back in action. With both their stars back alongside center Cliff Omoruyi, Rutgers promptly beat the brakes off a very good Indiana team by fifteen points in the building formerly known as the RAC.

Rutgers possesses the sixth best defense in the country according to Kenpom, and that will translate in this game. The Buckeyes have played two top-23 defenses this season (Duke and San Diego State) and lost both games. Rutgers has the stuff to keep this one close on the road tonight.

BET: Rutgers +6.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

🏀 Rutgers vs. Ohio State Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Rutgers vs. Ohio State

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Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Iowa State Cyclones - 8:00PM ET

The computers love Iowa in this matchup, as Kenpom predicts a 73-67 victory for the Hawkeyes and evanmiya.com predicts Iowa should be favored by 8.6 points. This is a bounce back spot for Iowa (a spot I love to bet) after the explosive Hawkeyes offense couldn't get going against Duke earlier this week at Madison Square Garden.

Iowa State's resume is clinging to "impressive" wins over Villanova and North Carolina, but with each passing day those wins are looking less important as both those teams continue to free fall. This will be Iowa State's second true test of the season, after an 18-point loss to a great UConn team. The Hawkeyes should take care of business at home.

BET: Iowa -3.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

🏀 Iowa vs. Iowa State Predictions
📈 Betting preview: Iowa vs. Iowa State

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Michigan Wolverines vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers - 9:00PM ET

Michigan heads to the Barn tonight seeking revenge for last season's shocking loss, and they will have to attempt to do so without their starting point guard, Jaelin Llewellyn, who is out for the season after tearing his ACL in Michigan's last game. The Wolverines had turned a corner, although the results don't show it, playing competitive games against elite teams in Virginia and Kentucky.

The big question tonight is if freshman Dug McDaniel can steer the ship in his first career start. He has been a beautiful disaster this season, making the spectacular play often and missing simple plays just as much. As long as he can find Hunter Dickinson tonight, that should be enough to pull away from a disastrous Minnesota squad, whose best player Jamison Battle is shooting just 32% from the field on the season.

BET: Michigan -4.5 (-110) at DraftKings Sportsbook

Best College Basketball Parlay Today

There are numerous different ways you can wager on College Basketball games in 2022, such as the moneyline, spread, total, player and team props, and, of course, parlays. While we normally suggest taking our picks on their own, we also really love parlays! With that said, check out the fat payout you can get by throwing all of our best bets together tonight. 

🔥 Rutgers +6.5
🔥 Iowa -3.5
🔥 Michigan -4.5

*All odds and lines correct at time of publishing