3 College Basketball Prop Bets for Thursday 2/8/24

College basketball season is in full swing, and FanDuel Sportsbook offers prop bets for key games to dive deeper in the action.

For bettors, numberFire's Matchup Heat Map helps identify favorable game environments, while KenPom and Sports-Reference offer a wide range of team-level statistics. Then, we can turn to Bart Torvik and RealGM for advanced player stats and splits.

Let's check out FanDuel Sportsbook's college basketball odds and dive into our wealth of statistical data to find today's best prop bets.

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

College Basketball Prop Bets

No. 8 Arizona Wildcats at Utah Utes

Branden Carlson To Make 2+ Threes (+102)

No. 8 Arizona has a dangerous road test tonight against Utah. With the Utes ranking in the 72nd percentile of three-point shots per game, the Wildcats' perimeter defense could be a huge key. However, Arizona may lack the tools to slow the barrage as they rank in the bottom 15% in three-point attempts allowed per game.

Branden Carlson at +102 to at least make two threes looks like the most intriguing odds among Utah's sharpshooters. The 7-foot big man leads the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game (PPG) and has the third-most three-point shots on the team at 96 for the season. Carlson's production has dipped over his last two games at 7.0 PPG.

But this could be the ideal game for Carlson to get the ball rolling -- especially from beyond the arc. He will likely be defended by the Wildcats' Keshad Johnson, who has an underwhelming Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating (DBPR) of 1.65, per EvanMiya. Arizona also ranks in the bottom 100 in terms of three-point attempt rate allowed, with opponents taking 39.7% of their shots from three.

With Carlson's matchup and his ability to cash in threes, I like Utah's big man to make at least two three-pointers.

No. 20 Florida Atlantic Owls at UAB Blazers

Vladislav Goldin Over 12.5 Points (-130)

Florida Atlantic has experienced some up-and-down play, but they still feature one of the best offenses in the nation as they hold the 12th-best mark in offensive efficiency. The Owls are gearing up for a favorable matchup against UAB, who ranks 217th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency.

FAU could focus on attacking the rim, with the Blazers ranking in the bottom 33% in two-point makes and attempts allowed per contest.

This could suggest a big game for the Owls' big man Vladislav Goldin (14.2 PPG). The 7-foot-1 center brings a throwback style of play in an era full of centers who regularly handle the ball and shoot threes. Goldin doesn't pull any punches about his strength as he has not attempted one three this season while leading the team with 68.3% of his shots taking place around the rim.

Surpassing 12 points could be as easy as pie for Goldin. He's going up against a weak interior defense, and the Blazers' starting frontcourt of Javian Davis (-0.29) and Yaxel Lendeborg (0.54) have weak DBPRs. Goldin has also averaged 15.5 PPG over his last two games while shooting 66.7% from the field.

Washington State Cougars at Oregon State Beavers

Isaac Jones Over 19.5 Points (+300)

Washington State has quietly made some noise in the Pac-12; they are tied for second place in the conference standings and have the fourth-best mark in KenPom's ratings. Bart Torvik's bracketology also has the Cougars with one of the last four byes for March Madness, which would be their first tournament berth since 2008.

So, how has Washington State enjoyed a successful season thus far?

One of the Cougars' strengths has been attacking the paint as they rank in the 94th percentile of two-point makes per game. Plus, the offense has been quite efficient, sporting a 47.7% field goal percentage (FG%) -- which is in the 91st percentile. Senior forward Isaac Jones has been the heartbeat of the offense, posting a team-best 15.8 PPG while shooting 58.7% from the floor.

Jones rarely attempts threes, with 13 shots from beyond the arc on the season, and he regularly gets to the charity stripe, recording a team-best 115 free throw attempts for the year.

Thursday's opponent -- Oregon State -- ranks 178th in adjusted defensive efficiency. The Beavers sit in the bottom 45% in two-point makes allowed per game, the bottom 18% in free throw shots allowed per contest, and the bottom 4% in personal fouls each game. This all points to a big game for Jones.

Washington State's leading scorer has also reached 20 points in four of his last seven games. While taking Jones to go over 19 points is certainly my most bold pick of the day, the matchup is favorable, and the +300 odds are enticing.

Looking for more college basketball betting opportunities? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook to check out all of the upcoming college basketball odds.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.