College Basketball Best Bets & Player Props Today: Expert Picks for Wednesday, Nov. 26

My college basketball best bets and player props today offer more picks for the Players Era Festival.

I'm also focusing on an intriguing matchup in the Battle 4 Atlantis in my college basketball expert picks, which went 4-0 yesterday.

These matchups are a part of Feast Week, and you can stay on top of all the hoops action this Thanksgiving with our college basketball Feast Week guide.

🏀 College basketball best bets & player props: Nov. 26

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

💰 College basketball expert picks today

🐏  VCU vs. South Florida prediction: VCU -2.5 (-102) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

VCU and South Florida enter the Battle 4 Atlantis with identical 3-2 records, but the Rams have been more impressive in their two losses by a combined nine points in non-home games to likely NCAA Tournament teams in Utah State and NC State.

VCU has faced one of the highest zone rates in the country, but that has gotten its offense in rhythm with its drive-and-kick offense that has produced elite open catch-and-shoot numbers. 

But the Rams should pull away from the Bulls because of their defense that forces turnovers at a top-40 rate. South Florida’s backcourt combination of CJ Brown and Wes Enis combined for seven turnovers in the season opener, and another five in its latest loss to Oklahoma State.

FanDuel is the only one of our best sports betting sites charging less than -105. Through its -102 price and 50.50% implied odds, a $10 winning wager would net $9.80.

⬇️  Notre Dame vs. Houston prediction: Notre Dame team total Under 61.5 (-110) ⭐⭐⭐

As long as Houston can avoid a letdown after yesterday’s loss To Tennessee as a small favorite, it should be able to clamp down on the Fighting Irish to secure a big victory.

Notre Dame has averaged 64.5 points while going 1-1 against Kansas and Rutgers at the Players Era Festival. It now gets its toughest task playing its third game in three days against a Cougars defense that ranks second in adjusted defensive efficiency and 19th in effective field goal percentage defense. 

This is a matchup of teams that rank 307th and 358th in adjusted tempo, and Notre Dame's ranking 332nd in assists per field goal made does not bode well for success against Houston if it is going to rely on isolation basketball to score.

If Notre Dame finishes with 61 or fewer points, my $10 wager through DraftKings’ -110 odds at a 52.38% implied probability would return $9.09 in profits.

Also, if team totals are your thing, I have an Over featured in my Vanderbilt vs. Western Kentucky prediction.

🐶  Gonzaga vs. Michigan prediction: Gonzaga ML (+102) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Both Gonzaga and Michigan earned their spots in the “money-making round” of the Players Era Festival by virtue of blowout wins of 30-plus points in a tournament format that rewarded margin of victory. 

With little to separate these teams by how they dominated Maryland and Auburn respectively last night, I go back to day one of this tournament for more telling signs.

In Gonzaga’s 95-85 win over Alabama, it held the Crimson Tide to a season-low 1.10 points per possession. The Bulldogs also dominated with their frontcourt, outscoring Alabama’s forwards and centers 60 to 18, while scoring 25 second-chance points. 

But perhaps the scariest part of Gonzaga’s offensive performance that day was that it scored 95 points and averaged 1.23 points per possession despite making just six of 22 3-point attempts.

Gonzaga is favored at some of the best sports betting apps, while others have this game as a virtual pick ’em. That makes any plus-money odds one can find a steal, which is why I am laying my $10 moneyline wager down at FanDuel in the hopes of netting $10.20 in profits.

⛹️ College basketball player props today

⬇️ Danilo Dozic, F, Pepperdine: Under 1.5 made 3-pointers (+100) ⭐⭐⭐

Danilo Dozic has scored 11-plus points in four of six games, and 20 or more twice. The stretch-four has also made multiple 3-pointers in half of the games so far, while shooting an excellent 40% from beyond the arc.

However, Dozic and the Waves face a strong Fresno State defense on the perimeter that is allowing just 29.9% from 3-point range. Thus, teams have been attacking the Bulldogs much more inside, as Fresno State allows the 68th-most percentage of opponents’ points from 2-point range, but ranks 209th in that same metric on opponents’ 3-point shots. 

If Dozic finishes with one or fewer made 3-pointers for the fourth time in five games, I would make my initial investment back in profits through bet365’s +100 price and 50% implied odds.