Best Sports Betting Picks Today: NBA Three-Point Contest, College Basketball Predictions for February 15th

It’s NBA All-Star weekend, and it’s getting harder to determine whether we should pay attention to the festivities. Not just Sunday’s new format of three mini games instead of a regulation-length contest, but also in terms of All-Star Saturday.

Those early days of Dominique Wilkins, Michael Jordan and tiny Spud Webb captivating us as top-flight dunking showstoppers are long gone. Mac McClung, a career G League player, will be looking for a three-peat. In the 3-point shooting contest, Damian Lillard also will be looking for his third straight victory.

In college basketball, No. 1 Auburn visits No. 2 Alabama in a major SEC showdown as football takes a back seat in Tuscaloosa. The Big 12 also has its top squads meeting as No. 6 Houston faces No. 13 Arizona.

We will study the college games and also predict who will be the top 3-point shooter in San Francisco.

NBA 3-POINT SHOOTING CONTEST

A 3-point shooting contest in San Francisco would be tons more fun if Stephen Curry was partaking in the fun. Remember Curry’s competitive man vs. woman win over Sabrina Ionescu last year? There is no similar matchup this time. That’s a major swing and a miss.

At least there is Bay Area flavor in Lillard, the Oakland native who’s always all-in when it comes to remembering his roots. The nine-time All-Star badly wants to defend his title, and he’s the clear favorite (+280) despite being bothered by a hamstring injury.

Buddy Hield (+450) was the 2020 winner, and he is capable of overtaking Lillard. The hot version of Hield is something to watch (there’s probably not a cold version since nobody is guarding him). Long shot Jalen Brunson (+1000) is a streaky 3-point shooter and is tempting at those odds.

The player to watch is Tyler Herro (+800), who’s had a prolific shooting season—he needs just 15 treys to surpass his career high of 203. Look for him to edge Lillard in the championship round.

Tyler Herro to win 3-point shooting contest, +800 (FanDuel)

AUBURN TIGERS AT ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE

It actually feels like the Iron Bowl with these bitter rivals meeting in a 1 vs. 2 clash, per the AP poll. Interestingly, the Coaches Poll has Alabama No. 1 and Auburn No. 2. No matter: There will be a very clear No. 1 team after this battle.

The Tigers won 14 consecutive games before losing to then-No. 6 Florida on Feb. 8. The Tigers bounced back with an 80-68 road win over Vanderbilt behind 21 points from Denver Jones, 20 from Chaney Johnson and 17 from Johni Broome.

Alabama has racked up seven straight wins and 15 of its last 16, and Tuesday’s 103-80 rout of host Texas marked the fifth time in 12 games that the Crimson Tide cracked at least 100 points. Alabama leads the nation in scoring offense (90.5) and a different player has led the team in scoring in each of the past six games, including Jarin Stevenson’s career-best 22 against Texas.

Broome has recorded 14 double-doubles this season, and he gives Auburn the inside presence that the Crimson Tide can’t match. But if Alabama shoots well, the Crimson Tide will outpace the Tigers.

Alabama -2.5, -110 (DraftKings)

HOUSTON COUGARS AT ARIZONA WILDCATS

These teams would be tied for first, but the Wildcats dropped a 73-70 decision at Kansas State on Tuesday. Both teams have lost a game to conference foe Texas Tech, with Houston’s L coming in overtime.

The Cougars have won 16 of their past 17 games entering the two-game road trip to play Arizona and Arizona State. Houston took down No. 1 seed Arizona in the Sweet 16 of the 2022 NCAA Tournament and won’t be intimidated by the raucous atmosphere in Tucson, where the Wildcats are 11-1 at home.

Arizona recorded 13 wins in 14 games before the stumble against Kansas State. The Wildcats were just 2 of 22 from 3-point range Tuesday, and star Caleb Love had just six points on 3-of-15 shooting. Love is shooting just 30.9 percent from deep this season.

Arizona has the atmosphere edge, but Kelvin Sampson’s troops can play defense anywhere. Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (57.3).

Houston -1.5, -115 (DraftKings)