College Basketball Best Bets Tonight: Picks & Predictions for Monday (Nov. 17)

My college basketball best bets and player props tonight target the new-look NC State Wolfpack under Will Wade, an opening Big 5 battle in Philadelphia, and more.

My last two sets of college basketball expert picks haven't finished with a losing record, and I’m here tonight aiming to continue that streak.

🏀 College basketball best bets & player props: Nov. 17

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

💰 College basketball expert picks tonight

🔥 VCU vs. NC State prediction: NC State -12.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Under new coach Will Wade, NC State is proving early that it is much more than just ACC Preseason Player of the Year Darrion Williams. 

Through the first two games, all five Wolfpack starters were shooting better than 50% from the field while combining to average 71.5 points per game. They followed that up with a 110-point performance against UNC Greensboro, where the Wolfpack scored an eye-popping 1.49 points per possession and finished with a 17-to-4 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Caesars is one of the few best sports betting sites charging the standard -110 juice to lay the 12.5 points with the favorite. With NC State’s spread juiced as high as -115 at 53.49% odds, the best return is at Caesars.

⬆️ Saint Joseph’s vs. UPenn prediction: Over 162.5 (-115) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Big 5 rivalry games at the Palestra in Philadelphia are always intense, with both teams’ student bodies lining opposite ends of the arena.

This year’s first Big 5 game between Saint Joseph’s and UPenn should feature plenty of points, specifically because of the Quakers’ 344th ranking in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Just like he did in his years at Iowa, head coach Fran McCaffery has his new UPenn squad playing fast with a top-33 tempo. But that has also led to it allowing 95 points per game to its two Division I opponents, and the Hawks are not likely to commit another season-high 19 turnovers like they did in their 35-point loss to Virginia Tech in their previous game.

The -115 juice at 53.49% implied odds is worth it at BetMGM, as its O/U of 162.5 is a full point lower than the 163.5 at the high end of the market. If the game surpasses the projected total, my $10 winning wager would net $8.70 in profits.

⛹️ College basketball props tonight

⬆️ Iowa State team prop: Team total Over 91.5 points (-114) ⭐⭐⭐

Iowa State has scored 88, 102, and 96 points in its three victories this year and looks well on its way to another top-20 finish in adjusted offensive efficiency for the second straight year under T.J. Otzelberger.

The Cyclones struggled last year, going 1-5 in games against defenses that allowed a 3-point attempt rate of 43% or higher, as they rely on dribble penetration to create much of their looks. They should be able to operate comfortably against a Stonehill defense that allows opponents to shoot 38% of their attempts from deep. 

Normally, I would be cautious in backing an Over of this magnitude, worrying that Iowa State could take its foot off the gas and empty the bench early. But the Cyclones get a full week off before next Monday’s huge matchup against St. John’s at the Players Era Festival, so I expect Otzelberger will play his starters more minutes to keep them game-ready.

If Iowa State finishes with 92-plus points, my $10 winning wager through FanDuel’s -114 odds (53.27% implied probability) would return $8.77 in profits.

⬆️ Nate Ament player prop: Over 18.5 points (-130) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Tennessee freshman Nate Ament is a projected top 10 pick in next year’s NBA draft, and the 6-foot-10 power forward has scored 18-plus points in every game thus far despite having a lot of room for improvement.

Ament is only shooting 44% at the rim despite not yet playing a top 200 KenPom team, and he is also shooting just 28.6% from 3-point range while attempting at least four 3-pointers in each appearance. 

In his last game, Ament became the fifth SEC freshman with 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block in a game. I expect him to stuff the stat sheet once again, with the Over on his points being the most worthy play. 

The -130 price at bet365 carries a 56.52% implied probability and would net $7.69 in profits on a winning $10 wager.