College Basketball Predictions & Best Bets Today: ATS Picks and Prop Bets (Monday, Feb. 9)

With just three games involving top-25 teams on Monday's slate, our college basketball predictions and best bets today target two of the best mid-major programs in the country: Belmont and UNC Wilmington.

However, my favorite college basketball player props are focused on a pair of star seniors who have been surging for programs that are far bigger household names. And don't miss our NC State vs. Louisville prediction for the first of two major matchups on ESPN.

🏀 College basketball predictions today: Back seniors to stay hot

See all of our experts' college basketball picks based on the latest college basketball odds.

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Check out all of our college basketball analysis and expert predictions this season.

Belmont vs. Bradley prediction: Belmont -2.5 (-110 via BetMGM)

Belmont is having its best season since joining the Missouri Valley Conference, with Casey Alexander poised to lead the Bruins to their first NCAA Tournament bid since 2018-19. Belmont tops the conference at 22-3 and has covered in five of its last six.

Led by Tyler Lundblade (15.5 PPG), the Bruins are ranked top 50 in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency and should dice up a Bradley program ranked outside the top 150 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

The last time Belmont played the Braves, it won by double digits and covered as a 3.5-point favorite.

UNC Wilmington vs. Charleston prediction: UNC Wilmington +2.5 (-118 via DraftKings)

After Charleston's back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under Pat Kelsey, the program has fallen behind UNC Wilmington in the CAA. Coming off a March Madness bid last season, the Seahawks have the best record in the conference this season (19-4).

The winner of this game will be atop the CAA, so I expect a close one. Charleston's at home, but Wilmington is the better team on paper (ranked No. 115 by KenPom).

Teams named the Seahawks are on a hot streak right now, and Wilmington has a star scorer in Jlynn Counter (16.6 PPG) to help it cover on the road.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

Xavier vs. St. John's prediction: Dillon Mitchell Over 11.5 points (+100 via FanDuel) 

St. John's is among the best mid-season turnarounds after losing five of its first 14 games. The Johnnies have now won nine straight and just toppled a March Madness odds favorite, thanks in large part to Dillon Mitchell, who dropped 15 on No. 3 UConn.

The emergence of Mitchell as the Robin to Zuby Ejiofor's Batman has unlocked something for Rick Pitino's team, with the senior starting all nine games during the winning streak. He's averaging 13.2 PPG over his last five.

Xavier, led by Pitino's son Richard, gave up 17 to Mitchell a few weeks ago.

Oregon vs. Indiana prediction: Lamar Wilkerson 4+ made 3-pointers (+152 via FanDuel) 

After bouncing back from a clunky start to conference play, Indiana is projected by Bracket Matrix as a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and that's because nobody can slow down Lamar Wilkerson. During the Hoosiers' 4-1 stretch, Wilkerson is averaging 25.6 PPG.

His shooting has been Indiana's X-factor, with him sitting second in the Big Ten in made 3-pointers per game (3.3). He's hit at least four 3-pointers in 10 games this season, including in four of his last nine.

Oregon is allowing 8.3 made 3-pointers per game and the fourth-highest 3-point percentage (37.3%) in Big Ten play.

🚀 Best college basketball parlay picks today