College Basketball Best Bets, Odds Today: Matchups, Picks, Predictions for Monday
Monday’s college basketball slate has 16 games that pit two Division I teams against one another. We have highlighted the odds, movements, and our college basketball best bets for Monday.
The college basketball schedule to begin the week may be viewed as a letdown, given how spoiled we were with enticing non-conference matchups over the Thanksgiving holiday. History was made Sunday, as North Carolina became the first AP No. 1 ranked team to ever play in a quadruple overtime game.
Among the biggest games Monday are Minnesota versus Virginia Tech and Pittsburgh against Northwestern, the first two games of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
Here are our best bets for Monday’s college basketball slate (odds via Caesars Sportsbook, PointsBet, BetMGM, and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
Monday’s College Basketball Schedule and Odds
(odds via DraftKings)
- Minnesota (+650) vs. Virginia Tech (-950)
- Texas Southern (+1800) vs. Kansas (-10000)
- Troy (+1300) vs. Arkansas (-2800)
- Pittsburgh (+320) vs. Northwestern (-390)
Monday’s College Basketball Best Bets
- Moneyline: Nevada (-140 via PointsBet)
- Spread: Virginia Tech -12.5 (-110 via BetMGM)
- Total: Pittsburgh-Northwestern Under 128.5 (-110 via FanDuel)
- Upset: Southeast Missouri State (+110 via Caesars)
- Prop Pick: Texas Southern 1st-half spread (OFF)
Monday’s College Basketball Top Picks
Moneyline: Nevada (-140) ★★★
Sam Houston State announced it would be a factor in the WAC right from the opening game after upsetting Oklahoma. The Bearkats have not stopped winning since then, with their 6-0 record punctuated with victories on back-to-back days at the Fort Myers Tip-Off. But while we respect their splendid start to the season, we also recognize that the Nevada Wolf Pack are a terrible matchup for them.
Nevada has four players 6-foot-6 or taller in its starting lineup and will use that length to bother the undersized Bearkats, whose three guards are all 6-foot-2 or shorter. There is also a significant discrepancy in free-throw shooting between these teams (Nevada ranks 31st, Sam Houston State ranks 95th), which could be a substantial factor in a game that is projected to be close.
This line is as high as -154 at FanDuel, so grab the value at sportsbooks like PointsBet or DraftKings, who offer much more reasonable -140 odds.
Spread: Virginia Tech -12.5 (-110) ★★★
Minnesota may go on to be one of the worst teams in the Big Ten this year, but it will not be for lack of talent in the frontcourt, as Dawson Garcia and Jamison Battle have combined for nearly 30 points per game this season. However, Mike Young’s Virginia Tech team is a nightmare to prepare for, as the complex offensive scheme he brought from Wofford takes a disciplined defense to thwart it. That is not the Golden Gophers’ forte, as they rank 259th in turnover percentage and are one of the worst teams in the country on the defensive glass (340th).
Minnesota has failed to cover the spread in its last seven road games and will not do so against an under-the-radar ACC contender.
BetMGM is only one of a few sportsbooks offering -12.5 and juice of -110, as some sportsbooks make you pay -115 to lay this number with the Hokies, while others are as high as -13.5 with their number.
Total: Pittsburgh-Northwestern Under 128.5 (-110) ★★★
This is a matchup of the 11th highest-scoring team in the ACC and the 12th highest-scoring team in the Big Ten. Thus, we are in for a rock fight.
Northwestern is a suffocating defensive team, ranking in the top 10 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage and 2-point percentage allowed (37.6%). The Wildcats have several bodies they can throw at Pittsburgh big man John Hugley, who is a load in the post and the catalyst for everything coach Jeff Capel looks to do on the offensive end.
The Under is 6-0 in Northwestern’s previous six home games and has cashed in 13 of their last 16 overall.
With this line as low as 127 at PointsBet, we are grabbing the extra 1.5 points worth of value at FanDuel.
Upset: Southeast Missouri State (+110) ★★★
SEMO is one of the most aggressive defensive teams on the perimeter and enters this game ranked 10th in the country in 3-point percentage defense (24.1%).
What the Redhawks do poorly defensively, like protect the rim, is not something that Milwaukee is built to take advantage of. The Milwaukee Panthers have a chronic turnover problem, coughing the ball up on 27.3% (ranks 360th) of their possessions. In addition, we do not trust their free-throw shooting (65.5%) in a close game and worry that they may be looking ahead to a road test at nearby Green Bay on Thursday.
Prop Pick: Texas Southern 1st-half spread (OFF) ★★★
This is a tough spot for Kansas, who has been back at home for just two days after getting outmuscled by Tennessee in the Battle 4 Atlantis final. The Jayhawks have not scored more than 33 points in any of their last four halves, and even their free-throw shooting has been abysmal (62.6% ranks 326th). Now Kansas faces a Texas Southern team that trailed Auburn by just two points at the half in its last game against a ranked opponent. The Jayhawks may pull away late but have every reason to look sluggish early.
We’re looking at getting anywhere from +12 to +13 points when this line opens if they cut the full-game total in half.
Where to Bet on College Basketball
Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:
College basketball best bets from 11/28/2022 at 7:21 a.m. ET.
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