College Basketball Best Bets Today: Expert Picks & Props for Wednesday (Nov. 5)

No. 23 Creighton is the only AP top-25 team in action on Wednesday, so that has me focusing on ATS and team prop wagers with my college basketball best bets today.

The Bluejays have an advantage of scouting tonight’s opponent, South Dakota, which already has a game under its belt. My other best bets focus on an in-state rivalry between Rider and Rutgers, while Indiana and Marquette play tune-ups before Saturday’s matchup.

🏀 College basketball best bets today: Nov. 5

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

💰 Best NCAAB bets for Wednesday

🔥  Riders vs. Rutgers: Rider +20.5 (-108) ⭐⭐⭐  

Rutgers endured one of its most frustrating seasons relative to preseason expectations last year, as it finished 15-17 and failed to qualify for a postseason tournament despite boasting two top-five picks in the NBA Draft.

Now the Scarlet Knights are viewed as devoid of talent while being projected to finish 17th out of 18 teams in the Big Ten Media Poll. Even with NBA talent in Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper on the roster, Rutgers only beat inferior in-state rivals Saint Peter’s and Monmouth by 27 combined points within the first three games of last season.

DraftKings is the only one of our best sports betting sites where one can back the underdogs at +20.5 at less than the standard -110 juice. The -108 odds carry a 51.92% implied probability, and would net $9.26 on a winning $10 wager.

⬆️  Indiana team prop: Team total Over 86.5 points (-112) ⭐⭐⭐⭐  

Indiana has a chance to be one of the biggest surprises in the Big Ten after moving on from head coach Mike Woodson. New head coach Darian DeVries made his name at Drake, but comes over to the Big Ten after a one-year stop at West Virginia. In his short time with the Mountaineers, he immediately improved their win total by 10 games and earned six Quad 1 victories.

DeVries will rely heavily on his son, Tucker, early. He averaged 21.6 points in his last full healthy season at Drake. His 47.3% 3-point shooting percentage from last year will pair nicely with Lamar Wilkerson, who is a career 40% 3-point shooter.

Alabama A&M allowed 60 points to NAIA Blue Mountain College despite its opponent shooting just 4-for-27 from 3-point range.

If Indiana scores 87 or more points, my $10 wager through FanDuel’s -112 odds at a 52.83% implied probability would return $8.93 in profits.

⬆️  Marquette team prop: Team total Over 87.5 points (-108) ⭐⭐⭐

Marquette played fast against Albany in its first game, averaging a shot attempt in the first 13.6 seconds of each possession. That led to an 80-point outburst despite connecting on 20.8% of its 3-point attempts.

The Golden Eagles should see positive regression when facing a Southern team that allowed 109 points in its season opener against Arkansas. The Razorbacks committed turnovers on only 11.1% of their possessions and assisted on more than 62% of their made field goals.

FanDuel’s -108 price to back the Over suggest 51.92% implied odds, and would net $9.26 in profits on a winning $10 wager.

🔥 Creighton -16.5 first-half spread (-112) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Creighton will have a completely revamped roster this year, with Josh Dix being one of two projected starters who transferred from Iowa. He should fill the all-important role in the Greg McDermott offense by being the team’s most reliable perimeter shooter, after connecting on 40% or better on his 3-point attempts in all three of his collegiate seasons.

Dix averaged 14.4 points a game at Iowa last year, and should take on an expanded scoring role in the Creighton backcourt after the Bluejays lost Steven Ashworth, Pop Isaacs, Jamiya Neal, and Ryan Kalkbrenner from last year’s squad. 

Creighton is expected to compete at the top of the Big East despite the roster moves, so I am not sleeping on the Bluejays early.

It is worth paying up slightly in juice for FanDuel’s -112 price and 52.83% implied odds, as it is the only one of our best sports betting apps with a first-half spread less than -17 or -17.5. If Creighton wins the first half by 17 or more points, my $10 winning wager would net $8.93 in profits.