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
Game Preview Kansas State Wildcats @ Mississippi State Bulldogs Kansas State enters Thursday’s Hall of Fame Classic matchup in Kansas City with growing confidence, powered by newcomers and strengthened by a maturing returning core. The first team-page hyperlinked mentions go here: the Kansas State Wildcats come in at 4-0 after a dramatic 84-83 win over Tulsa, while the Mississippi State
Game Preview Utah Utes @ Cal Poly Mustangs Utah enters Thursday’s matchup at 5-0 and continues to show a refined offensive identity centered around ball movement, spacing and high-volume perimeter efficiency. The Utes’ first mention team pages go here: the Utah Utes return home looking to extend their unbeaten start against a Cal Poly group that remains in early-season transition
Game Preview Houston Cougars @ Rider Broncs No. 2 Houston enters Thursday’s matchup against Rider riding a 4-0 start, but the Cougars are coming off their first real test of the season—a 73-72 win over then-ranked Auburn that required late defensive execution. For a team often defined by structure, physicality and depth, Houston’s narrow escape highlighted both its evolving identity
Game Preview Tennessee Volunteers @ Tennessee State Tigers No. 20 Tennessee returns home on Thursday night to host in-state foe Tennessee State, but the Volunteers enter shorthanded as they continue navigating key injuries early in their season. Tennessee’s 4-0 start remains intact, yet the roster is now down to nine scholarship players following the knee injury suffered by J.P. Estrella
Game Preview Texas Tech Red Raiders @ Wake Forest Demon Deacons Texas Tech enters the Baha Mar Championship in search of sustained rhythm after a productive early stretch that included four games in eleven days. The 15th-ranked Red Raiders sit at 3-1, their lone loss coming against Illinois, a contest that revealed both their offensive ceiling and defensive vulnerabilities. They
Game Preview Indiana Hoosiers @ Lindenwood Lions The Indiana Hoosiers (4-0) will look to build on a solid start to the season when they host the Lindenwood Lions (2-3) on Thursday evening in Bloomington. Indiana has begun the campaign with wins but has also flagged a few issues they want to correct, particularly on offense and defensive consistency. The Lions,
Game Preview Iowa Hawkeyes @ Chicago State Cougars Iowa continues its five-game homestand with a matchup against Chicago State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, looking to extend its unbeaten start. The Hawkeyes’ early success has been driven by balanced scoring, tempo efficiency, and improved ball movement under new coach Ben McCollum. With eight Iowa players already scoring in double figures this season,
Game Preview Alabama @ Illinois The Illinois Fighting Illini move to a neutral floor at the United Center, carrying a 4–0 record and one of the nation’s most dominant rebounding margins. Illinois is controlling the glass at a rate discussed frequently in advanced matchup breakdowns such as the Moneyline fundamentals guide and the Winning Margin explainer. Alabama arrives ranked No.
Game Preview Jackson State @ Auburn The Auburn Tigers return to Neville Arena seeking to stabilize late-game execution and address free-throw inefficiencies after narrowly falling 73–72 to then-No. 1 Houston. Auburn missed 12 free throws in that loss, a margin that proved decisive despite a strong defensive finish and a 20-point performance from Keyshawn Hall before the team’s leading scorer
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!
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.
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:
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.
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.


