Reports of Michigan State's demise may have been a bit premature. The Spartans came roaring back to life over the weekend against No. 6 Baylor, beating the heavily-favored Bears 88-64. It was a not-so-subtle reminder of why many pundits viewed Michigan State as a Top 10 entering the 2023-23 season. Tyson Walker set the tone early, scoring 18 of his 25 points in the first half as the Spartans raced out to an imposing 28-point lead after the first 20 minutes.
MSU wasn't the only team to pull off a notable upset. Unranked Memphis overcame a 10-point deficit to top No. 13 Clemson 79-77. It was the Tiger's first loss of the season, and it's bound to cause a major shake-up in the latest AP Top 25 poll.
There's guaranteed to be even more big surprises this week as all 353 Division I teams return to the hardwood. We've hand-picked the best games on college basketball's jam-packed schedule and have tasked our experts with providing analysis for each matchup. Below you'll find the latest odds along with a best bet for every game we're tracking. Let the games begin!
Best bet: Rob Dillingham Over 13.5 points (-111 at FanDuel)
It’s a bit of a surprise, but Louisville has improved significantly on the defense this season. However, this is a significant matchup issue for the Cardinals. In a small sample size, Rob Dillingham has been one of the country’s best pick-and-roll scorers and will be coming off the bench. Louisville is trouble for a few reasons here. No guard on its team has the literal quickness to stay with Dillingham, and it doesn't have the depth to maintain the energy it will take to stay in front of Dillingham.
Best bet: Miami -29.5 (-112 at DraftKings)
Stonehill started the season playing two significant programs in Connecticut and Kentucky, along with one high-end mid-major in St Joseph. It gave up 100+ points to all three, and I see a similar situation here. The Canes still have a lethal offense, and Stonehill has shown no capacity to slow down anything that resembles elite guard play. This should be a bloodbath, with Miami scoring early and often.
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Where can I bet on college basketball?
You can bet on college basketball odds at every online sportsbook and casino. The best sites offer NCAA basketball point spreads, Over/Under totals, derivative bets, NCAAB futures and even prop plays as well. Check out our list of the best U.S. betting sites and sportsbooks in 2023 to find a location in your region.
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Strategies for betting on college basketball
Betting on college basketball games can be exciting, but it's important to approach it with a strategic mindset. Here are some helpful tips to consider before laying down a wager:
Research teams and players: The college basketball landscape is always changing. Stay up to date on team rosters, NCAAB player injuries, and coaching changes to make the most informed decision possible.
Analyze team statistics: Review NCAAB team statistics such as points per game, field goal percentage, 3-point shooting, and defensive efficiency. Knowing is half the battle, especially when it comes to outwitting oddsmakers.
Study historical performance: Examine head-to-head matchups, recent game results, and trends between the teams. Some teams may have historical dominance over others. Just remember that not all trends are created equal. Try to rely on more recent data that takes into account the team's current personnel and playing style.
Home court advantage: Consider the impact of home-court advantage. Teams tend to perform better when playing in front of their home crowd, especially in places like Duke's jam-packed Cameron Indoor Stadium, where the frenzied fans are practically on top of the court.
Practice bankroll management: Set a budget for your betting activities and stick to it. Bankroll management is crucial for long-term success.
Shop for the best odds: Compare NCAAB odds from multiple sportsbooks to find the best value for your bets. Even a slight difference in odds can make a significant impact on your profits, particularly if you're placing larger wagers.
Play the long game: Betting on college basketball is a marathon, not a sprint. Don't get discouraged by short-term losses, and avoid chasing those losses with bigger bets.
AP Top 25 Rankings
| Rank | Team | Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Purdue |
10-1 | 1,534 |
| 2 |  Kansas |
10-1 | 1,457 |
| 3 |  Houston |
11-0 | 1,394 |
| 4 |  Arizona |
8-1 | 1,372 |
| 5 |  UConn |
9-1 | 1,344 |
| 6 |  Marquette |
9-2 | 1,235 |
| 7 |  Oklahoma |
10-0 | 1,062 |
| 8 |  Tennessee |
8-3 | 983 |
| 9 |  Kentucky |
8-2 | 981 |
| 10 |  Baylor |
9-1 | 896 |
| 11 |  North Carolina |
7-3 | 773 |
| 12 |  Creighton |
9-2 | 734 |
| 13 |  Illinois |
8-2 | 727 |
| 14 |  Florida Atlantic |
9-2 | 716 |
| 15 |  Gonzaga |
8-3 | 642 |
| 16 |  Colorado State |
10-1 | 588 |
| 17 |  BYU |
10-1 | 569 |
| 18 |  Clemson |
9-1 | 501 |
| 19 |  Texas |
8-2 | 449 |
| 20 |  James Madison |
10-0 | 442 |
| 21 |  Duke |
7-3 | 311 |
| 22 |  Virginia |
9-1 | 287 |
| 23 |  Memphis |
8-2 | 274 |
| 24 |  Wisconsin |
8-3 | 269 |
| 25 |  Mississippi |
10-0 | 180 |
Team rankings as of December 18, 2023.
Biggest riser: Kentucky moved up five spots to No. 9 thanks to a statement-making victory over North Carolina. The Wildcats downed the Tar Heels 87-83 behind the clutch play of reserve guard Rob Dillingham, who finished with 17 points off the bench.
Biggest faller: Clemson has only lost once this season on December 16 to Memphis, but that lone defeat was enough to drop the Tigers five spots to No. 18. Expect a pair of bounce back performances soon against Queens University and Radford.
The Associated Press (AP) Top 25 rankings are determined by a panel of approximately 65 sportswriters and broadcasters from various media outlets across the U.S.
Each voter is asked to submit a list of their Top 25 college basketball teams. They rank these teams based on their assessment of their performance, including wins, losses, and overall team strength. The rankings are submitted on a weekly basis during the college basketball season.
Once all the individual ballots are submitted, the AP compiles the rankings by assigning points to each team based on their position in the voters' lists. A team that is ranked first on a ballot receives 25 points, a team ranked second receives 24 points, and so on. The points are then tallied to determine the overall rankings.
The AP Top 25 rankings are released every Monday at noon during the college basketball season.
Player spotlight: Xavier Johnson (Southern Illinois)
College basketball doesn't hand out a national most improved player award, but if it did, Xavier Johnson would surely be in the running. The fifth-year senior has made huge strides in his second season at Southern Illinois, where his scoring average has jumped from 7.0 points per game a year ago to 24.8 points in 2023-24. Part of that increase can be attributed to opportunity as Johnson's usage rate has grown, but his accuracy has also improved exponentially. His 49% field goal percentage and 43.6% 3-point field goal percentage are both career highs and are a big reason why the 6-4 Salukis remain competitive in the tightly-packed Missouri Valley Conference.
Keep yours eyes peeled for more scoring outbursts from Johnson this week as Southern Illinois takes on North Dakota State (7-5) and Southern Indiana (2-9) prior to the Christmas break.
When’s the last time Wichita State has faced the nation’s leading scorer?
— Taylor Eldridge (@tayloreldridge) December 16, 2023
That’s the challenge tonight at Koch Arena, as Southern Illinois 6-foot-1 guard Xavier Johnson has scored 94 in his last 3 games and is averaging 25 points per game. pic.twitter.com/ecSzOBp4sZ
College basketball betting FAQs
A: You can bet on college basketball by picking the winner of the game (moneyline), which team will cover the spread (point spread), or combined points scored in the match (Over/Under).
You pick if the favorite covers a certain winning margin or if the underdog will lose by less than that gap.
College basketball moneyline bets include overtime. Betting the second half also includes overtime.
College games tend to be shorter than NBA matches, lasting just over two hours.
Overtime in college basketball games is five minutes.
There are two halves, consisting of 20 minutes each.
You can watch college basketball on ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, TBS, and TNT. You can also stream games online on several platforms including on select sportsbook apps.
