Best College Basketball Bets for Monday: Duke vs Syracuse, Houston vs Iowa State

The Monday college basketball card is the only game in town with the NBA and NHL off tonight. The heavyweight matchup takes place in Ames, Iowa as Big 12 powers Houston and Iowa State cap off Big Monday at 9:00 p.m. from Hilton Coliseum.

We’ll break down three plays for the Monday action. Remember to monitor the odds throughout the day, as the sides and totals market is constantly changing.

Here are the free college basketball picks for Monday, February 16.

Best college basketball plays today - Odds Courtesy of DraftKings

• Duke (-19.5) vs. Syracuse
• Marshall (-3.5) vs. South Alabama
• Houston (+2.5) at Iowa State

Duke (-19.5) vs. Syracuse - 7:00 p.m. ET

These teams are going in opposite directions from an against the spread perspective as Duke is 0-4 ATS the last four games, while Syracuse has covered five straight.

However, this is probably a spot where the trends come to an end. Duke took care of Clemson on Saturday, 67-54, marking the fifth time in the past six games the Blue Devils have allowed less than 60 points.

Syracuse has won consecutive games after a 4-7 conference start, beating Cal and SMU at home. The Orange covered in their last two road losses as double-digit underdogs, but have shot 30.7% from 3-point land in the past three away contests.

Marshall (-3.5) vs. South Alabama - 7:00 p.m. ET

South Alabama enters tonight atop the Sun Belt at 9-4, while Marshall sits one game back at 8-5. This is the first matchup between these squads since the Jaguars outlasted the Thundering Herd in overtime last season.

Marshall allowed Georgia Southern to knock down 15 3-pointers in a 101-87 road loss on Saturday. However, the Thundering Herd are 3-1 this season after allowing an opponent to shoot 60% or higher on effective field goal percentage.

South Alabama is off back-to-back road underdog wins over Southern Miss and Arkansas State, but yet the Jaguars are a dog once again. Look for Marshall to rebound at home and make the Sun Belt race at the top more interesting.

Houston (+2.5) at Iowa State - 9:00 p.m. ET

Houston remains atop the Big 12 at 11-1 after holding off Kansas State on Saturday. The Cougars head to Iowa State, who routed Kansas on Saturday, 74-56 for their ninth conference win.

The Cyclones are 6-0 at home in Big 12 play and 14-0 overall at Hilton Coliseum. Last season, Iowa State lost at Houston, 68-59, while covering as 11-point underdogs. The Cyclones are flipped to a favorite for the first time in five meetings since Houston shifted to the Big 12.

The Cougars are an underdog for the first time since last season’s National Championship loss to Florida. Houston has the most efficient offense in conference play, while allowing less than 50% effective field goal percentage in five straight games.