Last Updated on February 17, 2026 10:22 am by Anthony Rome
Tuesday’s college basketball slate features several high-profile conference matchups with major implications for rankings, conference races, and March positioning. With elite teams in action and rivalry intensity on display, totals betting becomes especially intriguing across four games: Michigan–Purdue, North Carolina–NC State, Wisconsin–Ohio State, and Nebraska–Iowa. Our Tuesday College Basketball Best Bets Feb. 17 column offers selections for all three games.
Best Bets: Michigan at Purdue, 6:30 p.m. ET
Best Bet: Under 156.5
Michigan enters this showdown as the No. 1 team in the nation with a dominant 24-1 record and a lengthy winning streak that pushed the Wolverines to the top of the AP poll for the first time since 2013.
They rank among the nation’s elite in both offensive and defensive efficiency while playing at an up-tempo pace that pressures opponents over 40 minutes.
Purdue, meanwhile, sits near the top of the Big Ten at 21-4 overall (11-3 conference) and has surged with recent strong defensive performances, including a decisive 78-57 win over Iowa that showcased disciplined defense and balanced scoring.
The stylistic clash is key:
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Michigan prefers tempo and interior scoring.
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Purdue wants a slower, controlled, half-court game to limit possessions.
In high-stakes Big Ten matchups featuring elite defenses and deliberate pace control, totals often tighten. Expect Purdue’s tempo management to suppress scoring just enough.
Prediction: Under 156.5
Best Bets: North Carolina at NC State, 7:00 p.m. ET
Best Bet: Under 158.5
This rivalry carries major ACC and NCAA tournament implications. NC State fields one of the more explosive offenses in the country, averaging roughly 85 points per game with multiple double-digit scorers in Will Wade’s first season.
North Carolina, however, faces uncertainty after star forward Caleb Wilson (19.8 PPG, 9.4 RPG) suffered a broken hand that could significantly impact offensive production and lineup consistency.
NC State’s clearest path to victory is defensive control—holding UNC below 70 while dictating tempo—highlighting the likelihood of a more methodical rivalry game rather than a shootout.
Rivalry intensity plus UNC’s injury situation points toward fewer efficient scoring stretches than the lofty total suggests.
Prediction: Under 158.5
Best Bets: Wisconsin at Ohio State, 8:30 p.m. ET
Best Bet: Under 157.5
Ohio State has played a season filled with tight, competitive games regardless of opponent strength, reflecting inconsistent offensive rhythm and slower-paced contest flow.
Wisconsin’s traditional style further reinforces an under look. The Badgers typically emphasize half-court execution, defensive structure, and shot selection—traits that historically suppress totals in Big Ten play.
With both teams comfortable grinding possessions and limiting transition scoring, this matchup profiles as a controlled, lower-tempo contest where efficiency—not pace—decides the outcome.
Prediction: Under 157.5
Best Bets: Nebraska at Iowa, 9:00 p.m. ET
Best Bet: Under 139.5
Nebraska has quietly built one of the nation’s strongest seasons, posting a 22-3 overall record and 11-3 conference mark with impressive balance at home and on the road.
Earlier in the season, the Cornhuskers earned quality wins and demonstrated defensive toughness in close, low-margin victories—evidence of a team comfortable winning grind-it-out games rather than track meets.
Given Nebraska’s defensive reliability and the Big Ten’s broader trend toward physical, half-court basketball, this relatively modest total still leans high.
Prediction: Under 139.5
Tuesday CBB Best Bets Feb. 17
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Michigan vs. Purdue — Under 156.5
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North Carolina vs. NC State — Under 158.5
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Wisconsin vs. Ohio State — Under 157.5
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Nebraska vs. Iowa — Under 139.5
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