By Adeniyi Precious 
With the Super Bowl just around the corner, sportsbooks are buzzing with football bets. But let’s not forget—college basketball is still bringing the heat, and we’ve got some solid picks for Friday’s action.
VCU vs. Dayton
Dayton looked like the A-10’s top contender early on, but a shaky January (4-4) knocked them down a peg. VCU, meanwhile, has been rolling (8-2) with a strong defense (ranked 12th nationally). Dayton does have a killer home record (13-1), but VCU’s defense could be the difference-maker.
Our Pick: VCU -1.5 (-106, FanDuel)
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Saint Louis vs. St. Joseph’s
Some people like St. Joe’s in this matchup, but let’s be real—Saint Louis dominated them 73-57 last time. St. Joe’s has dropped five of its last eight, while the Billikens have won five of theirs. Neither team is exactly on fire, but Saint Louis is playing better overall. If you want to play it safe, take the points (+5.5), but if you’re feeling bold…
Our Pick: Saint Louis ML (+190, FanDuel)
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Utah State vs. Fresno State
This one’s a mismatch. Utah State (20-3, 10-2) is one of the Mountain West’s best teams, while Fresno State (5-18, 1-11) is struggling hard. Utah State barely covered a massive spread last time (won by 6 instead of 23.5), but they won’t make that mistake again.
Our Pick: Utah State -13.5 (-110)
USC vs. Purdue
If you believe in patterns, USC should win this game—they’ve been alternating wins and losses for a while now. But, uh… they’re playing Purdue, one of the best teams in the country. The Boilermakers are undefeated at home, and USC’s offense doesn’t have what it takes to break through Purdue’s defense.
Our Pick: Purdue -12.5 (-120, FanDuel)