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  1. College Basketball Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 1/28
  2. Houston vs. TCU Prediction: Wednesday, 1/28
  3. UCLA vs. Oregon Prediction: Wednesday, 1/28
  4. Best College Basketball Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 1/28
  5. Get $1,500 in Bonus Bets Today at BetMGM Sportsbook When You Sign Up

The 2025-26 college basketball season is in full swing, and we’re here to help you cash in on the action. Let’s dive into the top college basketball best bets today for Wednesday, January 28th. We have multiple Top 25 teams in action and plenty of entertaining matchups on tap. Don’t miss out on the best college basketball picks below as you cash your own bets. Good luck! 

College Basketball Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 1/28

Our college basketball best bets today begin with No. 10 Houston taking on TCU in a Big 12 matchup. Can the Cougars bounce back after losing over the weekend? Plus, UCLA faces Oregon in a late-night Big Ten showdown. Check out more college basketball predictions below for other games today, including Tennessee vs. Georgia. Let’s jump in.  

 

 

 

Houston vs. TCU Prediction: Wednesday, 1/28

Houston is coming off a rare loss on Saturday to Texas Tech. That provides the opportunity to back the Cougars in a rebound spot, even on the road at TCU. Kelvin Sampson’s teams have regularly responded well after losing, so let’s lean fully into that narrative. 

Since the 2019-20 season, Houston is 23-2 straight up after a regular-season loss. Plus, 19 of those 23 wins have come by double-digits. Since the Cougars joined the Big 12, they’re 7-1 following a loss with an average win margin of 20.4 PPG. Sampson knows how to re-group and get his squad back on track in these situations. 

Tonight’s matchup against TCU presents a get-right spot, despite Houston being on the road. The Horned Frogs are 3-4 in conference play with mixed results. They performed well in close road losses at Kansas and BYU, but also lost by 13 points at home to Arizona. Notably, TCU’s three conference wins have come against a pair of teams (Baylor and Oklahoma State) that are a combined 3-11 in league play. 

TCU has a solid defense, ranking 21st nationally in efficiency (per KenPom), but the production has also fallen off a bit lately. The Frogs have allowed 83.8 PPG over their last 6 games, giving up at least 82 points in 4 of those 6 contests. Houston, meanwhile, owns the best offensive efficiency in the Big 12. The Cougs’ ability to score inside will be key, while dominating the offensive boards and avoiding turnovers as well. 

On the other end, TCU’s offense is too inconsistent to trust against better opponents – especially against an elite defense like Houston’s. The Horned Frogs rely on their frontcourt tandem of David Punch and Xavier Edmonds for much of the scoring. That’s an issue against Houston’s shut-down interior defense, with Joseph Tugler and Chris Cenac owning the paint. Plus, Punch’s status is up in the air after missing the last game with an illness. 

TCU will be forced to get more offense from its guards, which hasn’t been in their wheelhouse. From there, Houston’s 4th-ranked defensive turnover rate will come to the forefront. Look for the Cougars to put on a clinic defensively, especially after giving up 90 points to Texas Tech last time out. 

Let’s take Houston to cover en route to a bounce-back win. The Cougs are 9-3-1 ATS in true road games over the past two seasons combined. They’ll be plenty motivated and prepared to exploit TCU’s weaknesses and avoid a second straight loss. 

 

 

 

UCLA vs. Oregon Prediction: Wednesday, 1/28

After a pair of losses to begin the month, UCLA has since righted the ship. The Bruins are 4-1 over their last 5 games, including a big win over Purdue a week ago. Their only loss in this stretch came on the road at Ohio State, which is understandable. Now, Mick Cronin’s squad will look to keep it going against a struggling Oregon team. 

The Ducks have now lost 6 straight games, including 5 in a row by double digits. They’re also 4-12 over the past 16 contests amid a lost season. Oregon has struggled to compete against top-tier opponents like Michigan, Michigan State, and Nebraska. It also just lost by 15 points at Washington on Sunday. 

During conference play, Oregon is dead last in the Big Ten in offensive efficiency and 14th in defensive efficiency (per KenPom). Over the past 5 games, the Ducks have averaged just 59.4 PPG while giving up 76.6 PPG. To make matters worse, they’re still dealing with a pair of major injuries. 

Point guard Jackson Shelstad is out for possibly the rest of the season, and center Nate Bittle is sidelined for the next couple of weeks or more. Oregon is trying to make do without its top two players, and it’s not going well. Shelstad was the Ducks’ lead ball-handler and offensive engine, while the 7-foot Bittle is an elite rim-protecter and averages a team-high 16.3 PPG. Both absences have exposed Oregon’s lack of depth, and it’s resulting in comfortable losses. 

UCLA should keep that trend going tonight. The Bruins are top 50 nationally in both offense and defense, per KenPom. Offensively, they’re shooting 37.6% from three-point range (26th in Division). That’s key against an Oregon defense that’s allowing Big Ten opponents to shoot 37.1% on threes (15th in the conference). The Ducks’ poor defensive rebounding will also create plenty of second-chance points for UCLA. 

On the defensive side, the Bruins are holding teams to 29.7% three-point shooting this season (19th in the country), including 28.8% during conference play. Since Oregon is without its stud big man and playmaking point guard, the perimeter shooting success is sometimes the only way to stay in games. If UCLA can shut that down, it’ll be a long night for the Ducks’ attack. 

UCLA has allowed fewer than 68 points in 4 of its last 5 games. It’s hard to imagine Oregon eclipsing that mark tonight, while the Bruins can stretch out a lead to cover. It’s also worth noting that UCLA has covered 8 straight meetings with Oregon, including a 7-2 straight-up record in the past 9 matchups. That includes an 11-point victory over the Ducks earlier this year, which was with Shelstad and Bittle active. 

 

 

 

Best College Basketball Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 1/28

 

 

 

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