College Basketball Best Bets This Week: Arizona vs Duke Headlines Busy Night of Hoops

Did you feel that? It was the seismic vibrations from arenas all across America as college basketball made its long-awaited return on Monday night. 368 teams took to the hardwood to begin the week, and the NCAA's breakneck schedule hasn't slowed down from there, with a staggering number of must-see games over the next seven days.

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 opening week slate 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: Over 138.5

Despite 2022-23 struggles, Ohio State was still able to put up 72.5 points per game. With the veteran presence of big man Zed Key — who had 17 points and eight rebounds in the opener — being joined by three impressive underclassmen guards, the Buckeyes should be able to challenge the Texas A&M defense. The Aggies offense should be ready too after putting up 78 in their opener and averaging 72.8 per game last season. This is an Ohio State team that’s struggled defensively dating back to last season when they allowed 69 per game, 141st in the country.

Best bet: Miami -9.5

The Knights made the NIT last season but lost four of five starters, none more important than Taylor Hendricks who was a Top-10 pick in the NBA draft. Now a far less talented squad makes the move to the Big 12 where they're expected to be the worst team in the conference. They'll have a tough time handling a Miami program that has made the Elite Eight in back-to-back years. The Canes said bye to Jordan Miller and Isaiah Wong but former five-star prospect Matthew Cleveland was a terrific addition through the transfer portal. They also return multiple key players including Norchad Omier, Nijel Pack, Wooga Poplar, and Bensley Joseph. Back the more talented and experiened Hurricanes at home.

Best bet: West Virginia -14

Monmouth finished last season ranked just 348th in the KenPom ratings and it started the year going just 1-21. It looks like the squad's in for another ugly campaign after losing by double-digits to George Mason in their season opener. WVU is going through a massive rebuilding season with five new starters and Josh Eilert stepping in to replace long-time HC Bob Huggins. That said, the Mountainers brought in a terrific group of transfers, including former Arizona starting PG Kerr Kriisa, First-Team All-Big Sky guard RaeQuan Battle, and center Jesse Edwards who led the ACC in blocks and was second in rebounding last season. The Mountaineers are simply far more skilled, athletic, and talented than the Hawks.

Best bet: Duke -5.5

There’s a reason why Duke is a preseason favorite to win its sixth national title this year. Few teams have the depth of talent and the level of experience that the Blue Devils bring to the table. As good as Arizona is, it’s hard to imagine the Wildcats walking into Cameron and stealing a game on the road against a team that is frankly better on paper and has the tools to match them at every position.

Best bet: Under 135.5

Both of these schools struggled to knock down outside shots last year, and while they added shooters through the transfer portal that improvement won't be evident this early in the season. The Cavaliers won't find it easy to get buckets but they always play at one of the slowest tempos in the country and defend well. Reece Beekman and Ryan Dunn should do an excellent job of defending Florida's Riley Kugel and Will Richard, while the Gators will get the ball inside to big men Tyrese Samuel and Micah Handlogten and use their size to limit Virginia's looks at the rim.

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	0-0	1,548
2	Duke	0-0	1,466
3	Purdue	0-0	1,436
4	Michigan State	0-0	1,346
5	Marquette	0-0	1,283
6	UConn	0-0	1,243
7	Houston	0-0	1,117
8	Creighton	0-0	1,099
9	Tennessee	0-0	1,032
10	Florida Atlantic	0-0	1,011
11	Gonzaga	0-0	830
12	Arizona	0-0	776
13	Miami	0-0	750
14	Arkansas	0-0	685
15	Texas A&M	0-0	597
16	Kentucky	0-0	530
17	San Diego State	0-0	529
18	Texas	0-0	493
19	North Carolina	0-0	474
20	Baylor	0-0	431
21	USC	0-0	427
22	Villanova	0-0	395
23	Saint Mary's	0-0	335
24	Alabama	0-0	163
25	Illinois	0-0	104

Team rankings as of November 8, 2023. 

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.

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