Best College Basketball Picks and Player Props Today, January 17, 2026
With college football now mostly in the rearview mirror, Saturday is now men’s college basketball’s day to showcase itself. As conference play starts to get rolling, more of the bigger names will start to show whether or not they’re for real.
Iowa could be one of those teams in danger of being exposed. The Hawkeyes have lost three in a row, and although Purdue and Illinois were quality losses, Minnesota was not. Meanwhile, teams like Michigan and Vanderbilt have to prove themselves again after taking losses during the week.
Then there’s the ACC, which could be going in one of two directions. Is the league deeper than it has been in years with teams like Stanford and Miami making a push, or are Duke and Louisville weaker than expected? The answers will start to become more clear over the next few weeks.
Here are a few of the best NCAAB player props and parlay picks for Saturday’s slate.
All Odds as of 8:32 a.m. EST on Jan. 17
Best NCAAB Parlay Picks Today
Iowa vs. Indiana (-2.5, -115, BetMGM)
Heading to Assembly Hall is not what Iowa needs right now. The Hoosiers have been excellent at home, only losing to undefeated Nebraska. Indiana also had control for much of that game, leading for most of the second half until the Cornhuskers started their comeback.
Iowa isn’t as strong on the deep shot as Nebraska, and the Hawkeyes have failed to cover in four of their past five trips to Indiana. The Hoosiers tend to start quickly at home, and with Iowa coming off a loss at Purdue, a quick start might bury the Hawkeyes early.
BYU vs. Texas Tech (-2.5, -110, Caesars Sportsbook)
BYU does a lot of good things on offense. But the Cougars do not shoot the 3-pointer very well, and you have to shoot the 3 to keep up with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders excel from the perimeter, and they’ve looked dominant in their two Big 12 games in Lubbock.
BYU’s performances away from home have left a lot to be desired. The Cougars looked merely ordinary in beating Kansas State and Utah, two teams that aren’t likely to be in the mix for an NCAA tournament bid. Texas Tech is very much in line to be selected, and it’s playing some of its best basketball right now. The Red Raiders should have a solid edge at home.
NCAAB Parlay Pick: Indiana -2.5/Texas Tech -2.5 (+257)
Best College Basketball Prop Picks Today
Duke Miles, Vanderbilt, Over 17.5 Points, (-104, FanDuel)
Florida and Vanderbilt should give the scoreboard a workout in Nashville. If NCAA men’s college basketball prop plays allowed bets on steals, taking Miles to go over his steals total would make so much sense here. But they don’t, so his point total is the next best thing. Vanderbilt builds much of its offense around forcing teams to play too fast and make mistakes with the basketball.
Florida is happy to oblige the Commodores, as it likes to play fast. The Gators also don’t take particularly good care of the ball. Florida ranks 14th in the SEC in turnovers, and Vanderbilt makes a living with creating fast-break opportunities. Miles should get a few easy baskets, and he hasn’t scored less than 17 points in any of his past five games.
Bet & Get up to $1,000 in Bonus Bets! -
2026 Olympic Games: Medal Predictions, Odds and Picks for Feb. 17
-
NBA Landscape Reset: Title Odds, Award Races and What Matters Most After the Break
-
Must-Try Sweepstakes Slots For Casino Players In February 2026
-
2026 Olympic Games: Medal Predictions, Odds and Picks for Feb. 16
-
Best NBA All-Star Game Prop Bets for Feb. 15
-
2026 Olympic Games: Medal Predictions, Odds and Picks for Feb. 15