NCAAB Picks, Predictions, & Previews

NCAA basketball is the second most popular college sport after football, and it attracts millions of viewers each season. Bettors love getting in on the action, especially during March Madness, the culmination of the NCAAB season. 

Choosing which teams to wager on can be a challenge, as there are far more college teams than there are in the NBA. But, bettors can take their wagers to the next level with a range of NCAAB picks, predictions, and previews. 

Latest Picks and Predictions

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Seton Hall Pirates vs. Indiana St. Sycamores Pick & Prediction APRIL 4th 2024

After getting left out of the NCAA Tournament, Indiana State and Seton Hall have spent the past three weeks turning lemons into lemonade. The Sycamores and Pirates will try to put an exclamation point on their NIT journeys Thursday when they square off in the tournament title game in Indianapolis. Indiana State (32-6) and Seton Hall (24-12) are both No. 1 seeds and certainly have looked the part over the last four games. The Sycamores
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Purdue Boilermakers vs. Tennessee Volunteers Pick & Prediction MARCH 31st 2024

DETROIT — Expectations were very high for Purdue coach Matt Painter and his team all season long. Sunday afternoon, they have a chance to achieve something the Boilermakers haven’t done in 44 years. Top-seeded Purdue faces No. 2 seed Tennessee in an Elite Eight, Midwest Region matchup attempting to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1980. “It would be huge,” Painter said of making the Final Four. “It’s been our goal to
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Tennessee Volunteers vs. Creighton Bluejays Pick & Prediction MARCH 29th 2024

DETROIT — Tennessee and Creighton have made the NCAA Tournament a combined 51 times, but neither team has reached the magical Final Four. A pair of victories in Detroit this weekend in the Midwest Region would change that narrative for one of the programs. They’ll meet in the Sweet 16 on Friday night. Tennessee (26-8), the No. 2 seed, has one Elite Eight appearance on its resume, in 2010. The Volunteers reached the Sweet 16
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Purdue Boilermakers vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs Pick & Prediction MARCH 29th 2024

DETROIT — Purdue and Gonzaga don’t play in the same conference, and their campuses are nearly 2,000 miles apart. When the teams tip off against each other in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night, they’ll still be familiar foes. The Boilermakers and Bulldogs have faced each other during the regular season for two consecutive seasons. The stakes will be much higher in the Midwest Region semifinals. The top-seeded Boilermakers (31-4) have
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Houston Cougars vs. Duke Blue Devils Pick & Prediction MARCH 29th 2024

Duke’s Jared McCain is hotter than lava, and Houston boasts the nation’s top defensive unit. Something has to give when McCain and the fourth-seeded Blue Devils (26-8) face top-seeded Houston (32-4) in the Sweet 16 on Friday night in the South Region in Dallas. McCain set a Duke NCAA Tournament record with eight 3-pointers in Sunday’s 93-55 trouncing of 12th-seeded James Madison in the second round. Quinn Cook held the old mark of seven, set
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Marquette Golden Eagles vs. NC State Wolfpack Pick & Prediction MARCH 29th 2024

North Carolina State appeared ready to call it a season when it dropped its last four regular-season games. A swift reversal ensued, and now the Wolfpack are surprisingly stationed in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Next up, No. 11 seed NC State (24-14) will look to run its winning streak to eight games when it battles second-seeded Marquette (27-9) on Friday night in the South Region in Dallas. Wolfpack big man DJ Burns
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Connecticut Huskies vs. San Diego St. Aztecs Pick & Prediction MARCH 28th 2024

BOSTON — San Diego State didn’t have to wait long for another shot at UConn in the NCAA Tournament. Less than a year after falling to the Huskies in the national championship game, the Aztecs will have a chance to redeem themselves on Thursday when the East Region teams collide in the Sweet 16. Fifth-seeded San Diego State (26-10) seemed eager to set up a rematch with the defending national champions, putting together an 85-57
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Arizona Wildcats vs. Clemson Tigers Pick & Prediction MARCH 28th 2024

LOS ANGELES — In reaching Thursday’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 matchup in the West Region, No. 2 seed Arizona and No. 6 Clemson both showed there is more to their success than stars Caleb Love and PJ Hall. “It’s so crazy on this team. It can be one guy’s night, then the next guy’s night, doesn’t really matter,” Arizona guard Kylan Boswell said following the Wildcats’ 78-68 win Saturday against Dayton. Boswell buoyed Arizona (27-8)
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Seton Hall Pirates vs. UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Pick & Prediction MARCH 27th 2024

While the Big East Conference got a mere three teams into the NCAA Tournament (and all three advanced to the Sweet 16), the conference’s fourth-best squad has started 2-0 in the NIT. Seton Hall, an NCAA snub and a No. 1 seed in the NIT, will host UNLV in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in South Orange, N.J. The winner heads to Indianapolis next week for the tournament’s semifinals and championship game. Coach Shaheen Holloway was
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Free NCAAB Picks Today

Here are some of our free NCAAB picks you can use. Our handicappers spend hours researching the best NCAAB picks and parlays each week of the season, so your chances of success are higher with our detailed data. 

How to Get Expert NCAAB Picks

If you want more college basketball picks, consider signing up for one of our membership tiers. The Starter package starts at $9 per month and grants you access to consensus betting data and picks from some of our skilled handicappers. 

Alternatively, you can browse our selection of handicappers and choose one you like. Then, you can purchase their picks for a one-time fee!

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How to Choose a NCAAB Handicapper


Choosing the right handicapper is crucial for making informed betting decisions. Here are key factors to consider when evaluating handicappers:

Track Record and Transparency

Look for a handicapper with a proven track record of success. A good handicapper will provide detailed records of their past picks, including both wins and losses, so you can verify their consistency over time.

Specialization in NCAAB

Some handicappers excel in specific sports, so it’s important to find one who specializes in NCAA basketball. A handicapper with deep knowledge of NCAAB will be more in tune with the nuances of the sport, including player performances, team dynamics, and betting trends.

Detailed Analysis and Reasoning

The best handicappers don’t just give you picks—they explain why they’re making those picks. Look for those who provide thorough breakdowns of games, covering key stats, matchups, and situational factors that led to their recommendation.

Bankroll Management Guidance

A trustworthy handicapper will also offer advice on managing your bankroll. Whether it’s suggesting unit sizes or providing guidelines for staking based on confidence, they should promote responsible betting practices.

Consistency Over Hot Streaks

Avoid handicappers who promote short-term “hot streaks” without showing long-term consistency. Successful handicappers focus on steady profit over time rather than gambling on high-risk plays to maintain an appearance of success.

Avoid Handicappers Who Promise Guarantees

No one can guarantee wins in sports betting. Be wary of handicappers who promise a certain win rate or “lock” picks. A legitimate handicapper will be upfront about the inherent risks involved in betting.

 

Our Best NCAAB Handicappers

To find our best NCAAB handicappers, use the Leaderboard page when you’re logged into Scores and Stats. Then, using the table, select Basketball, NCAAB, and Lifetime to see our best handicappers. The table is naturally sorted by amount won, but you can sort by win percentage, total bets, and bets won. 

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Tony Finn is one of the highest-rated NCAAB handicappers on our list, with a 73.67% win rate overall. If you click on his name and sort his wagers by Basketball, NCAAB GM, you’ll see the breakdown of his wagers:

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Finn doesn’t place moneylines, instead, he places spread wagers, which have an impressive 78.6% win rate. Consider following his picks for spread wagers on college basketball. 

How Handicappers Find Value on NCAAB Games

Handicappers use a combination of statistical analysis, situational factors, and betting market insights to identify value in NCAA basketball (NCAAB) games. Finding value means pinpointing lines where the betting odds differ significantly from the perceived likelihood of an outcome. Here’s how handicappers approach NCAAB games to find these betting edges:

Advanced Statistical Models

Handicappers often rely on advanced statistical models that break down team and player performance beyond traditional metrics like points per game or win-loss records. They incorporate key metrics such as:

  • Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency: Measures a team’s scoring and defensive capabilities on a per-possession basis, adjusted for strength of schedule.
  • Pace of Play: The number of possessions a team averages per game. Slower-paced teams tend to have lower-scoring games, which can influence over/under totals.
  • Turnover Ratio and Rebounding Rates: These help in assessing how well a team controls possession, critical in tight games.

By analyzing these statistics, handicappers can better predict how teams will perform against each other, which leads to more accurate game predictions

Betting Market Inefficiencies

The betting public often overvalues well-known teams or high-profile players, leading to inefficient lines. Handicappers look for these moments of public bias and bet on the opposite side. For example, in games involving a highly ranked team, the point spread might be inflated because casual bettors disproportionately back the favorite. Handicappers can find value by taking the underdog in such situations, especially if their statistical models show the line is too generous.

Situational Handicapping

Situational factors also play a crucial role in finding value. NCAAB teams have packed schedules, and handicappers look at things like:

  • Rest vs. Fatigue: Teams playing back-to-back games or coming off a grueling stretch are more likely to underperform.
  • Travel Demands: Long road trips or games played at higher altitudes can affect team performance, giving an edge to the home team.
  • Letdown or Trap Games: If a team has just played a major opponent, they might overlook their next game, making them susceptible to an upset.

Handicappers use these nuances to spot favorable betting opportunities that might not be reflected in the odds

Line Movements and Sharp Money

Tracking line movements is a critical tool for NCAAB handicappers. Early line shifts can reveal where “sharp money”—bets placed by professional bettors—has influenced the market. When a line moves against public betting trends, it may signal that sharp bettors see value. Handicappers can follow this movement to identify where the most knowledgeable bettors are placing their money, allowing them to find value before the market adjusts fully.

KenPom and Other Analytical Resources

Handicappers frequently consult advanced data sources like KenPom, which offers in-depth team rankings and efficiency statistics. By cross-referencing proprietary models with public databases, they can uncover discrepancies that signal value in certain betting markets. Sites like KenPom provide comprehensive breakdowns of a team’s efficiency, tempo, and more, giving bettors a clearer picture of a team’s actual strengths and weaknesses.

NCAAB Picks Consensus

Consensus data can be a valuable tool for NCAAB bettors by providing insight into how the public is betting on a particular game. This data shows the percentage of bets placed on each side, helping bettors gauge where the majority of the money is going. 

Savvy bettors can use consensus data to identify opportunities to go against the public, especially in cases where the betting line has moved due to heavy action on a popular team. By comparing consensus data with their own analysis, bettors can find situations where the public might be overvaluing a favorite or overlooking an underdog, allowing them to make more informed and strategic wagers.

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At Scores and Stats, we’ve partnered with a few sportsbooks to aggregate data about betting trends. This means you have access to consensus data for many NCAAB games, particularly during March Madness. You can easily see how much money is being wagered on spreads, moneylines, and totals, as well as where the sharp money is at. 

NCAAB Odds and Prices

When you sign up at Scores and Stats, you are granted access to the free membership tier. In this tier, you can view the average betting odds and scores for various NCAAB games, accessible from the side menu under Scores and Odds. 

This data is provided by our partner sportsbooks and helps bettors quickly see how lines are shifting without needing to switch tabs or log into their sportsbooks. 

Start Shooting Threes with Our NCAAB Picks

Betting on the NCAAB can be a lot of fun, especially during March Madness. However, choosing the right wagers can be a challenge if you’re not familiar with the ins-and-outs of each team. Thankfully, our team of handicappers brings together years of experience betting on the NCAAB. Use their picks and predictions to make more informed wagers on college basketball today.

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