College Basketball Best Bets Today: Expert Picks & Predictions for Monday (Nov. 10)

My college basketball best bets today involve a couple of the ranked teams in action at the start of the second full week of the season.

We have had one week to scout teams and make our most informed college basketball predictions, which is why my plays involve two Big East teams, as well as a player prop on one of the best guards in the nation.

🏀 Best college basketball bets today: Nov. 10

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

💰 Best college basketball predictions for Monday

🔥  New Haven vs. UMass Lowell prediction: UMass Lowell (-110 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐

New Haven had the rare opportunity to host a Big Ten team over the weekend, but its homecourt advantage was not enough to avoid a 44-point loss to Penn State. The Chargers may never get another opportunity for such a unique home game, so do not be surprised if they come out flat just two days later in a road game against UMass Lowell.

The River Hawks are a work in progress with a completely different roster from last year’s 17-15 squad. 

It has been tough to gauge them so far after a blowout win over D3 Rivier and a 63-point road loss to UConn. But despite that step up in class in their last game, they rank seventh in free throw attempts per field goal attempt, and should put constant pressure on a Chargers defense that ranks 354th in adjusted defensive efficiency.

BetMGM’s -110 odds carry a 52.38% implied probability, and would net $9.09 in profits on a winning $10 wager.

🔥  Columbia vs. UConn prediction: UConn -31.5 (-112 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

UConn ranks in the top 11 in the country in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency after two blowout wins over the two teams from our first pick, New Haven and UMass Lowell. After head coach Danny Hurley’s spirited post-game rant about how his players will be expected to give maximum effort given how “well resourced” they are, I expect a third straight dominating win.

Columbia was picked to finish dead-last in the Ivy League this year. While it never trailed in an 18-point win over New Haven, its 16 turnovers and an overall 24.4% turnover rate is concerning given this huge step up in competition.

This line has come down from -32.5 overnight at several of the best sports betting sites, but I am taking advantage of the best return through DraftKings’ -112 price at 52.83% implied odds. By making our $10 wager there, we would net $8.93 in profits if UConn covers.

🔥  Santa Clara vs. Xavier prediction: Santa Clara +3 (-110 via Caesars) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Santa Clara’s 79-67 home win over McNeese largely went unnoticed, but the Broncos did many good things that will bode well for their chances of success in this Big East road environment.

The Broncos were relentless on the offensive glass, and their 25 offensive rebounds were their most since pulling down 27 offensive boards in February of last year. They also made 10-plus threes after doing so in 23 games last season, and held Southland Conference Preseason player of the year Javohn Garcia scoreless.

This is my most confident five-star best college basketball prediction for Monday, and I am headed to Caesars for the best price and number. Grab a Caesars promo code before getting a half-point more in value than its competitors at +2.5, and the standard -110 juice at 52.38% implied odds would return $9.09 in profits on a winning $10 wager.

🔥  Tamin Lipsey player prop: Over 3.5 assists (-150 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Iowa State takes on a Mississippi State team not known for an elite defensive backcourt, with guards Josh Hubbard and Jayden Epps. Meanwhile, Cyclones guard Tamin Lipsey is already making waves as one of two players in the country with double-digit steals. He is also one of 10 with at least 10 assists and one or fewer turnovers.

Lipsey is averaging 10.3 points, 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game in his career. That makes him one of 15 players since 1947-48 to average those numbers in a career while playing at least 105 games.

I am backing him to record at least four assists given Iowa State’s experience as one of seven schools with eight players with at least 22 career starts.

The -150 price at bet365 carries 60% implied odds, and would return $6.67 in profits on a winning $10 wager.