College Basketball Best Bets This Week: Miami Primed to Pound Georgia in the Paint

The first week of college basketball is now in the rearview mirror, and it didn't disappoint. Hoops-starved fans feasted on an epic Top 12 battle as Arizona downed Duke in front of the Cameron Crazies, and we even had an early season shocker as No. 4 Michigan State lost at home in overtime to lightly-regarded James Madison. There's likely to be even more surprises this week as all 353 Division I teams return to the hardwood.

It's a lot of keep track of, but fortunately we're here to help! 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: Miami -6 (-110 at DraftKings)

While losing their top two scorers, The U has still gotten great production from the next four players from last season’s Final Four lineup and included a solid transfer from rival Florida State. Matthew Cleveland is averaging 17.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game in 32.3 minutes. Big man Norchad Omier is averaging 15.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.0 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game this season and will also be a nightmare for the Bulldogs lack of size. Georgia was projected to be 12th in the SEC this season and they have not looked great to start the year.

Best bet: Maryland team total Under 64.5 (-120 at bet365)

Both teams sit outside the Top-300 in adjusted tempo and the Wildcats have been impressive on the defensive end of the floor where they are holding opponents to 39.3% shooting. The Terps have been awful offensively, shooting 40.5% from the field and just 22.6% from deep while ranking 298th in the country in turnover rate. That's despite opening their season with three games against small school foes like Mount St. Mary's, Davidson, and UAB. Now they play against a longer and more athletic 'Nova team in hostile territory which doesn't bode well for their chances of turning around their shooting woes.

Best bet: Houston -9.5 (-105 at Betway)

The Cougars haven't covered in three straight games but this is easily the smallest spread they've seen this season. Utah has a good team, especially offensively, but Houston has the size, athleticism, and defensive chops to shut down just about any team. There's a reason that the Cougars are No. 6 ranked team in the nation and have the second-best adjusted efficiency margin according to KenPom. Expect them to make a statement win here.

Best bet: Under 142.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

Objectively, this game will mean much more for St. Bonaventure than for Auburn. A win here gives them a nice feather in their cap for a potential NCAA Tournament resume later in the year. The Tigers will have plenty of opportunities to build that resume in the ahead SEC tilts. With that in mind, I'd expect the defensive intensity to be at its highest level. The Tigers' transition offense is lacking, so speeding this up may not be the best idea for Auburn. In the halfcourt, the Bonnies should be able to do a decent job of at least slowing down Auburn.

Best bet: Iowa -20 (-110 at bet365)

This is a big spread but the Hawkeyes are more than good enough to cover it at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, where they enjoy one of the best home-court advantages in the nation. They play at an extremely fast pace, rank seventh in the country in adjusted offensive efficiency, and will be extra motivated since they're coming off a competitive road loss to a highly-ranked Creighton team. Meanwhile, Arkansas State lost 105-76 to Wisconsin in its season-opener before surrendering more than 80 points to Bowling Green and Alcorn State. If the Badgers, Green Falcons, and Braves can torch the Red Wolves, then Iowa should have no issues blowing them out.

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	Kansas	2-0	1,530
2	Purdue	2-0	1,464
3	Arizona	2-0	1,356
4	Marquette	2-0	1,311
5	UConn	2-0	1,301
6	Houston	2-0	1,180
7	Tennessee	2-0	1,146
8	Creighton	2-0	1,130
9	Duke	1-1	1,088
10	Florida Atlantic	1-0	1,004
11	Gonzaga	1-0	825
12	Miami	2-0	778
13	Texas A&M	2-0	728
14	Arkansas	2-0	719
15	Baylor	3-0	578
16	USC	2-0	573
17	Kentucky	2-0	549
18	Michigan State	1-1	516
19	Texas	2-0	513
20	North Carolina	2-0	501
21	Villanova	2-0	406
22	Alabama	2-0	264
23	Illinois	2-0	170
24	James Madison	3-0	91
25	Colorado	2-0	78

Team rankings as of November 16, 2023. 

Biggest riser: Arizona moved up nine spots to No. 3 after defeating Duke by five points on November 10. Keshad Johnson led the way with 14 points and eight rebounds in a game that had a true March Madness vibe from the opening tip to the final buzzer.

Biggest faller: San Diego State (No. 17) dropped out of the Top 25 after a shocking 74-65 loss to BYU on November 10. The Aztecs shot just 27.8% from beyond the arc and turned the ball over 13 times in the loss.

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.

Player spotlight: Tucker DeVries

No player has been hotter this season than Drake guard Tucker DeVries, the son of head coach Darian DeVries. The sharp-shooting junior leads the nation in scoring at 28.5 points per game - nearly 10 points higher than a year ago - and is also chipping in 6.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest for the 2-0 Bulldogs. DeVries was especially spectacular in his team's opening night win over Liscomb, dropping a game-high 36 points on 12-of-22 shooting from the floor. Expect another big performance this Sunday as Drake hits the road to take on 1-2 Oakland. 

𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤

Tucker DeVries is part of the @TheBigOTrophy National Player of the Week class, as determined by the @USBWA after his opening night performance (36 pts, 6 assists, 5 rebounds) against Lipscomb.#DrakeALLIN#DSMHometownTeam pic.twitter.com/vMXSC3Jyp2

— Drake Basketball (@DrakeBulldogsMB) November 14, 2023

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