College basketball action continues on Wednesday with seven games involving top-25 teams. Defending national champion Michigan (No. 20) faces Marquette at 7 p.m. ET as a 3.5-point favorite, while No. 21 USC is an 8.5-point road favorite against Cal in the nightcap at 11 p.m. ET. SportsLine's projection model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, enters the second week on an 11-1 run on top-rated over/under picks and a 28-22 run on top-rated side picks.
Michigan (-3.5) vs. Marquette
Michigan is coming off its first loss of the season, an 85-77 defeat to No. 4 UConn last Friday. The Wolverines have shot just 22.6% from three-point range through two games, but with shooters like Trey McKenney, Roddy Gayle Jr., and Elliot Cadeau, those numbers are expected to improve. Marquette's first two games came against Mercyhurst and Detroit, offering a softer schedule. The model projects Michigan to cover the spread in 70% of simulations.
UCSB (+1.5) vs. Nevada
Nevada needed overtime to beat the Gaels at home in its last game. UC Santa Barbara has been strong at home over recent seasons and returns more production and experience than the Wolfpack. Nevada coach Steve Alford has not historically fared well on the road. The Gauchos also boast more efficient perimeter scorers, especially at home, according to SportsLine expert Bob Konarski.
Cal (+8.5) vs. USC
Former Pac-12 rivals meet in a non-conference matchup with USC aiming to improve to 3-0 after wins over Milwaukee and Wichita State. Cal is coming off a loss to No. 10 Houston, where the Golden Bears struggled against size inside. USC is a perimeter-oriented team, and Cal defeated the Trojans 71-66 two years ago. The model gives Cal an 88% chance to cover the spread and projects an outright win.
Combining these three picks into a Wednesday parlay would yield a +550 payout (risk $100 to win $550). Various sportsbook promotions are available, including BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS for up to $1,500 in bonus bets, DraftKings offering $200 in bonus bets plus three free months of NBA League Pass after a $5 bet, Fanatics Sportsbook promo code CBSFAN350 for $350 in FanCash, and bet365 bonus code CBSBET365 for $200 in bonus bets after a $10 wager.
