There’s one man driving the line movement in the 12/22 college basketball free pick and his name is Trae Young. The Oklahoma freshman is the darling of the NCAAB hoops season after basically scoring at will to start off his basketball career. The Sooners opened at -7.5, but have been bet up to -9 as wagerers want to get on the Young train. Northwestern has one of the best defenses in the country, but is it enough to stop the Sooners #1 scoring offense in the country?
Oklahoma freshman Trae Young leads the country in scoring (28.5 PPG), assists (10.2 APG) and is drawing some favorable comparisons.
No. 17 Oklahoma hosts Northwestern tonight (7 ET on ESPN2). pic.twitter.com/0uv7pr6fL6
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 22, 2017
Wildcats On a Recent Run
Northwestern (9-4) has won four in a row, but for the 12/22 college basketball free pick will be on the road where they’re just 1-2 this season. That record isn’t as bad when you consider those loses were a 69-74 loss to #16 Purdue and a 51-52 defeat at Georgia Tech, who is 5-2 at home this season. The Wildcats face a tough task Friday night, but they should have the defense to contain the Sooners. Northwestern is ranked #28 in the country in points allowed at just 63.5 per game. They’ve held opponents to 60 points or less in six of the last eight – admittedly against no offenses the quality of Oklahoma’s.
The biggest uestion facing the Wildcats on Friday night is if they can score. Scottie Lindsey had 25 points two games ago in a win over Depaul and the Northwestern attack has been better lately, scoring 84+ points in three of the past four games.
Oklahoma Needs to Avoid a Look Ahead
The Sooners are 9-1 on the season which includes 5-0 at home. The only Oklahoma loss came against an 8-3 Arkansas team back at the beginning of the year. Since then, OU has won seven in a row which includes a victory over #11 Wichita State two games ago, 91-83. The run has let Oklahoma rise to #17 in the rankings. However, the Sooners are in a dangerous situation in this nonconference game as a date with #12 TCU (11-0) is next up on the schedule for OU.
Trae Young has been the most pleasant surprise about the start of the 2017/18 college hoops campaign. The fabulous freshman is putting up 28.5 points per game and last time out went for 26 points and 22 assists against Northwestern State. Young has scored 26 or more points in eight straight contests, leading OU’s #1 scoring offense in the country putting up 94.2 per game. F Brady Manek has stepped up lately too, with 22 and 21 points the last two games. Scoring isn’t necessarily the issue for OU in the 12/22 college basketball free pick, it’s stopping the opponent with their #303 ranked defense.
It’s GAMEDAY‼️ Oklahoma takes on Northwestern today in the LNC at 6pm CT❗️Get out there people and watch this special squad play ???? #Sooners pic.twitter.com/FC9n4WLWdk
— Sooners Central (@SoonersCentral) December 22, 2017
12/22 College Basketball Free Pick – Betting
64% of the public are liking Oklahoma on Friday night and it’s not hard to see why – they score in buckets. Oddsmakers are expecting a low – scoring game though making the total just 157.5. The over / under is the bet to make in this one. Sure Northwestern has a solid defense, but that’s come against largely inferior opponents. Also you think of the Wildcats as a slow, prodding offense but they’re actually averaging almost 75 points per game. The ‘over’ is 9-1 in the Sooners last 10 overall and 5-1 in their last six home games. Points, points, points is the lean for the 12/22 college basketball free pick – and it’s a comfortable bet with Trae Young on your side.
Pick: Northwestern Wildcats at Oklahoma Sooners ‘Over’ 157.5
