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College Basketball Player Props & Best Bets Today: Schedule, Picks for Monday

Mike Spector

Last Updated: November 20, 2023 5:44 PM EST • 5 min 13 sec read.

College basketball best bets.
College basketball best bets.

Monday is perhaps the beginning of the most anticipated week of non-conference college basketball action in 2023-24, and we have you covered with our daily college basketball player props and best bets for Monday based on the best college basketball odds.

Today marks the kickoff of the Maui Invitational, showcasing an exceptional lineup of first-round games that constitute one of the tournament's most competitive fields to date. The high-caliber matchups promise an intense display of skill and strategy, drawing attention to the top-tier talent participating in this year's event. With teams gearing up for the opening clashes, anticipation is running high among fans and analysts alike, expecting thrilling basketball showdowns and potential upsets amidst this stacked tournament lineup.

Monday's games feature a formidable lineup, with four of the nation's top seven teams taking the court, showcasing the depth and intensity of the competition. The clash between No. 2 Purdue and No. 11 Gonzaga stands out as an opening-round matchup, highlighting the exceptional quality of teams in this tournament. The fact that such high-ranked teams meet at this early stage underscores the depth and strength of the field, setting the stage for an intense and high-stakes battle between two powerhouse programs.

Elsewhere, we have the finals of the Empire Classic from Madison Square Garden and the first set of games from the Fort Myers Tip-Off and Sunshine Slam.

Here are our college basketball player props and best bets for Monday (odds via our best March Madness betting sites; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Monday’s college basketball schedule and odds

(Odds via DraftKings)

Monday’s college basketball best bets

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Monday’s college basketball player props

Judah Mintz Over 17.5 points vs. Tennessee (-125 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐

Syracuse Orange point guard Judah Mintz has established himself as one of the best players in the country and the clear focal point of the offense, as he has scored 20-plus points in each of the first three games. Mintz has averaged 23 points per game on 42.2% shooting and scored 18 or more in four of his previous five games and eight of his last 10 games.

This is only a three-star play, as Tennessee is by far the best defensive team Syracuse has played. In addition, the Orange trailed Colgate by 24 points in the second half before storming back for a 79-75 victory.

It would benefit Mintz Over backers for Syracuse to stay closer in this game, as it may limit some players' minutes late, knowing that there are still two more games to play in this tournament.

However, Mintz is Syracuse's most aggressive offensive player, as his 34 free-throw attempts are more than triple the next-closest teammate's, and we look for him to put on a show in the opening round in Maui.

Ryan Nembhard Over 4.5 assists vs. Purdue (-130 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ryan Nembhard transferred from one high-octane offense (Creighton) to another, and his assist totals should remain consistent as the floor general of Gonzaga's offense.

Nembhard followed up a seven-assist game against Yale with three assists against Eastern Oregon, but he played only 21 minutes in the second game, and he should not be limited at all in this matchup.

The O/U for this game is as high as 155.5, so Nembhard should be a part of plenty of made baskets. Going back to his days as Bluejays point guard, Nembhard has five-plus assists in seven of his previous 13 games.

Despite Purdue ranking in the top 13 in effective field-goal percentage and 3-point defense, it does not turn opponents over at a high rate (16.2% turnover percentage ranks 246th), so Gonzaga should have plenty of clean possessions in this game.

Monday’s college basketball game picks

Sam Houston -1.5 vs. Troy (-112 via BetRivers) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sam Houston's 1-3 record may not look all that appealing, but there is nothing wrong with the CUSA school losing back-to-back Power Five road games at Oklahoma State and Ole Miss - especially the latter, which it led by five with four minutes to play.

The first game of that losing streak was one of the most fluky losses one will ever see, as the Bearkats lost in overtime to Utah Valley after being plus-10 in turnover margin and holding the Wolverines to 15.8% from 3-point range. Utah Valley shot a blistering 71.8% from inside the arc in that game, but we do not expect Troy to put similar pressure on the Bearkats' defense, as the Trojans rank 336th in the country in 2-point shooting.

The Trojans' two wins have come against non-Division I opponents, and the Bearkats have won the turnover battle in three of four games, which should improve to four of five given that the Trojans turn the ball over on 24.1% of their possessions (343rd in the country). 

BetMGM is the only other one of our best sports betting apps offering the favorites at -1.5, but it charges a -115 price tag to lay this number, and all other shops are at -2.

Southern Indiana +3 vs. Bucknell (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Southern Indiana is 1-4 and lost three of its four games by 11-plus points. However, the Screaming Eagles are battle-tested after back-to-back games against Saint Louis and Michigan State to start the season.

Big man Nolan Causwell looks much healthier now than he did at the start of the season, which is primarily why Southern Indiana nearly knocked off La Salle (it lost 79-78) as a 14.5-point underdog.

Causwell's presence in the paint is massive for an offense that prides itself on spacing, as defenses must honor his post abilities. Causwell is coming off his best game of the season (13 points and eight rebounds), and the threat he poses inside should help the Screaming Eagles get back to their near-top-30 spacing rating last year (per Synergy).

This is a four-star play, as these two teams share La Salle as a common opponent, but the Bison lost by 12, were out-rebounded by five, committed six more turnovers, and scored just 0.85 points per possession. The line has come up slightly from an opening number of +2.5, but we are glad to take the extra half-point worth of value.

College basketball best bets made 11/20/2023 at 6:41 a.m. ET

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Written By:
Mike Spector
I have been in the sports writing industry for over three years, working for sites like BettingPros/FantasyPros, Oddschecker, and Sportsbook Review. In my first year writing for BettingPros, I finished with the #2 overall record in their annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an over/under and moneyline perspective. I am an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, and all college sports. In my opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and I am especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. I am a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." Follow me on Twitter for my best bets and commentary to go along with the wagers.