The 2023-24 college basketball season may only be in its third week, but we've already begun to separate the pretenders from the contenders. Michigan State entered the year with much fanfare, but fair-weather fans are jumping ship after disheartening losses to James Madison and Duke. Ditto for St. John's, which sits at 2-2 despite the arrival of Rick Pitino, who was hailed as a savior when he returned to the Empire State.
On the flip side, Tennessee looks poised to make a deep March Madness run. The Volunteers have raced out to a 3-0 record and are outscoring opponents by 23 points per game.
There's likely to be even more 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: Under 146 (-110 at DraftKings)
The semifinal was played at a Big East pace, with the teams falling under the 146 total by 10 points during regulation, but went Over because the game extended into OT. Each of Villanova's last seven games against the American Athletic Conference have produced a total of 142 or fewer points.
Best bet: USC -1.5 (-110 at bet365)
Oklahoma has been defending three-pointers extremely well but the Trojans are an aggressive team with guards that attack the rim. They are more athletic and talented on both ends of the floor and center Joshua Morgan will protect the paint against an Oklahoma squad that relies on getting to the hoop. The Trojans getting upset by UC Irvine last week will give them the wakeup call they need to beat a team that they should.
Best bet: Iowa -1 (-110 at bet365)
The Pirates played one of the easiest schedules in the country before taking on USC last night, and they trailed by as many as 20 points while struggling to defend against the first competent offense they've faced. The Hawkeyes are filled with sharp-shooters and they lost yesterday because their outside shots weren't dropping (4-23 from the arc). They should have a bounce-back performance here, and considering Iowa's offensive firepower, Seton Hall won't be able to keep up.
Best bet: Kentucky -18.5 (-110 at bet365)
Marshall is just 2-3 despite playing a weak schedule. The toughest opponent the Herd have faced was Utah State and they lost by 23 points in that contest. They also sit outside the Top 300 in field goal and 3-point percentage and won't be able to score against an ultra-athletic Kentucky side. The Herd tend to play at a fast pace, and that will lead to Kentucky's guards eating them alive in transition. The Wildcats are coming off an overtime scare against St. Joseph's and that should have them motivated coming into this one.
Best bet: Over 152.5 (-110 at bet365)
Between the damage Sears and Estrada can do, the fact that Alabama also has 6-foot-11 Jarin Stevenson stretching the floor with a jaw-dropping 50% 3-point rate just seems unfair. Throw in big man Grant Nelson, and the Buckeyes defense is going to have all sorts of trouble tonight. And while Alabama is hanging points on everyone, its run-and-gun approach does leave them susceptible to giving up points. The Crimson Tide have allowed 66.5 ppg this season and have yet to play a non-mid-major program...until tonight.
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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.
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 |
3-0 | 1,508 |
| 2 |  Purdue |
3-0 | 1,440 |
| 3 |  Arizona |
5-0 | 1,364 |
| 4 |  Marquette |
3-0 | 1,316 |
| 5 |  UConn |
4-0 | 1,299 |
| 6 |  Houston |
6-0 | 1,191 |
| 7 |  Tennessee |
3-0 | 1,136 |
| 8 |  Creighton |
4-0 | 1,130 |
| 9 |  Duke |
3-1 | 1,084 |
| 10 |  Miami |
5-0 | 920 |
| 11 |  Gonzaga |
2-0 | 902 |
| 12 |  Texas A&M |
4-0 | 867 |
| 13 |  Baylor |
4-0 | 774 |
| 14 |  North Carolina |
3-0 | 655 |
| 15 |  Texas |
4-0 | 650 |
| 16 |  Kentucky |
3-1 | 617 |
| 17 |  Alabama |
4-0 | 516 |
| 18 |  Colorado |
3-0 | 241 |
| 19 |  Florida Atlantic |
2-1 | 229 |
| 20 |  Arkansas |
3-1 | 224 |
| 21 |  Michigan State |
3-2 | 222 |
| 22 |  James Madison |
4-0 | 217 |
| 23 |  USC |
3-1 | 165 |
| 24 |  Virginia |
4-0 | 164 |
| 25 |  Mississippi State |
5-0 | 163 |
Team rankings as of November 20, 2023.
Biggest riser: Colorado moved up seven spots from No. 24 after pulling off impressive victories over Grambling and Milwaukee. The Buffaloes shot 58% from the floor and 65% from beyond the arc to outscore the Panthers by 27 points in the latter matchup.
Biggest faller: The darlings of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, Florida Atlantic dropped nine spots to No. 19 following a stunning 61-52 loss to lightly-regarded Bryant. It was the Bulldogs' first win against a ranked opponent in program history.
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: Idan Tretout
You're not alone if you haven't heard of Idan Tretout before. The Brooklyn native averaged just 7.3 points per game in three seasons at Harvard before heading closer to home this summer to attend Iona. Ditching the Ivy League was a challenging decision for the 6-foot-four guard, but the change of scenery seems to suit him just fine, as Tretout is now second in the nation in scoring at 25.5 points per contest. His latest headline-grabbing outing was a 34-point performance against Scared Heart that moved the Gales into first place in the MAAC.
Congratulations to Idan Tretout, the first MAAC Player of the Week for the 2023-24 campaign.
— Iona Men’s Basketball (@IonaGaelsMBB) November 13, 2023
Idan averaged 25.5 points per game in two contests including a career-high 34 at the Hynes Center Friday night. #GaelNation @IdanTretout pic.twitter.com/HscFInaDDS
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.
