Monday's Opening Day marathon schedule stretches from High Point vs. Liberty at 12:01 a.m. ET to Furman vs. Bethune-Cookman at 8 p.m. ET.
Follow our college basketball moneyline picks for Nov. 2, and visit our college basketball picks for more matchup analysis.
College basketball Field of 68 Opening Day picks
For help understanding Polymarket probabilities, see our odds calculator.
| Matchup | Pick |
|---|---|
 High Point Liberty |
75% |
 Grambling Northern Illinois |
70% |
 Appalachian State Merrimack |
40% |
 Winthrop Queens |
52% |
 Murray State Tennessee State |
79% |
 UTEP Northern Kentucky |
56% |
 UAB McNeese State |
63% |
 Furman Bethune-Cookman |
75% |
Percentages courtesy of Polymarket, one of our best prediction market apps.
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Expert college basketball moneyline picks: Nov. 2
High Point vs. Liberty: High Point
High Point, and I also like them on the points. They only return one starter from last season, but bring back plenty of quality reserves. This program is on the up-and-up, and I wouldn't want to get in its way.
Liberty lost its veteran core and returns a bunch of young reserves. Leaning on a young team early in the season doesn't interest me.
Grambling vs. Northern Illinois: Northern Illinois
Grambling is coming off a bottom-100 offensive season a year ago. The Tigers bring in Josue Grullon from UT Martin to help spread the floor, but he sat out all of last season, so it could take some time for him to get going.
On the other side, Northern Illinois is putting out a brand-new team with a brand-new coach coming from the Division II level. Former Northern Michigan head coach Matt Majkrzak brings a slow, methodical style while bringing in a few players from Northern Michigan to help kickstart this new era of Huskie basketball.
Despite this being a new team, there's enough familiarity for me to trust the Huskies.
Appalachian State vs. Merrimack: Appalachian State
I'm leaning with the dog here, simply because there's more familiarity with the Mountaineers than the Warriors. Early in the season, I find that to be a massive edge in this new era of college sports.
Merrimack returns just two players from a year ago but brings in plenty of talent. On the other hand, App State retains four players from last season. Give me the dog here!
Winthrop vs. Queens: Queens
Queens added former D-II standout Corbin Pack from Wingate, a 6-foot-5 sharpshooting guard who can light it up from deep. Last season, he shot 40% from beyond the arc. If he can translate that production to the D-I level, Queens will be in very good hands this season.
Winthrop did not return a single starter and is trying to replace its stud big man with a player who produced half as much a year ago. I lean toward Queens in this spot, hoping Pack lights it up early.
Murray State vs. Tennessee State: Murray State
Murray State all the way here. The Racers have the most spending money in the Valley and brought in a bunch of new talent while returning three reserves from a year ago. Meanwhile, Tennessee State is putting out a completely new product.
Racers or nothing!
UTEP vs. Northern Kentucky: UTEP
The Norse do return their assist leader from a year ago, but the Miners have added plenty of proven scorers through the portal to replace their leading scorers from last season. Keep in mind, this UTEP team averaged fewer than 70 points per game a year ago, so bringing in a new group of scorers could be a big plus.
UAB vs. McNeese State: McNeese State
UAB brings in 15 new players, including three freshmen, to its roster this season. McNeese State, on the other hand, returns its most crucial piece, guard and leading scorer from a year ago, Larry Johnson. The sophomore averaged 17.4 PPG and 5.5 RPG while shooting nearly 50% from the floor.
The Cowboys also return senior Carl Cherenfant, who averaged just 16 minutes per game last season but should add a veteran presence to this team.
Furman vs. Bethune-Cookman: Furman
Furman may have lost all of its starters from a year ago, but the Paladins return six reserves from last season. Head coach Bob Richey has high hopes that those six players will take the next step, especially sophomore Cole Bowser, who averaged 5.2 PPG and 5.3 RPG while playing 22 minutes per game last season.
Today's Field of 68 Opening Day moneyline combo
High Point
Northern Illinois
Murray State
All three teams should have big years. Even with the season kicking off at some unusual times, they should still be able to come out on top.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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