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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
Virginia Tech vs Charleston Southern Week 1 Betting Preview Virginia Tech opens its 2025-26 season Monday night at Cassell Coliseum against Charleston Southern, looking to rebuild after a 13-19 campaign. The Hokies haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2022, but coach Mike Young believes his roster overhaul gives them “the right ingredients” to turn things around. Four rotation players return,
Penn State vs Fairfield Week 1 Betting Preview Penn State tips off a new era on Nov. 3 in University Park, Pa., hosting Fairfield to open its 2025-26 campaign. Coach Mike Rhoades’ roster is younger and more international than any in the Big Ten, giving the Nittany Lions a fresh look after a 16-15 season. Rhoades will lean on guard
Maryland Terrapins vs Coppin State Eagles Betting Preview Maryland begins the Buzz Williams era on Nov 3 in Baltimore against Coppin State. The Terrapins rebuilt their roster from the ground up after Kevin Willard’s exit for Villanova, bringing transfers from Texas A&M and adding five-star freshman Darius Adams. Pharrel Payne and Solomon Washington join Williams from the Aggies, aiming to
Michigan vs Oakland Week 1 Betting Preview No. 7 Michigan tips off its season against Oakland on Nov. 3 at 8:30 p.m. ET at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor, airing on FS1. The in-state meeting is only the second between the programs since 2011. Michigan enters with Final Four expectations after adding elite transfers and returning key contributors from its
Michigan State vs Colgate Week 1 Betting Preview Tom Izzo begins his 31st season with No. 22 Michigan State hosting Colgate on Nov. 3 at the Breslin Center in East Lansing. The Spartans aim to open strong after a 30-win season and Elite Eight run. They lost their top three scorers, but forward Coen Carr, center Carson Cooper, and guard
Oklahoma vs Saint Francis Betting Preview Oklahoma opens its season Monday, Nov. 3, at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman, OK, against Saint Francis. The Sooners return to action after a 20-14 campaign and their first NCAA Tournament appearance under Porter Moser. With Jalon Moore gone and Jeremiah Fears now in the NBA, Moser rebuilt through the portal. Miami transfer Nijel
Vanderbilt vs Lipscomb Betting Preview Two Nashville programs separated by three miles meet Monday night when the Lipscomb Bisons visit the Vanderbilt Commodores. It’s their first meeting since 2014, and both enter with very different expectations. Vanderbilt, coming off a 20-13 season and an NCAA Tournament berth, looks to push tempo again under second-year coach Mark Byington. The Commodores ranked
Ole Miss vs Southeastern Louisiana Week 1 Betting Preview After their first Sweet 16 appearance in more than 20 years, the Ole Miss Rebels tip off the new season at home Monday night against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions Ole Miss went 24-12 last year, taking down North Carolina and Iowa State before a narrow 73-70 loss to Michigan State. Coach
St. John’s vs Quinnipiac Week 1 Betting Preview The fifth-ranked St. John’s Red Storm begin their season Monday night against the Quinnipiac Bobcats at Carnesecca Arena in Queens. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET. Rick Pitino’s group carries national title expectations after a 31-5 campaign that ended in a second-round NCAA loss to Arkansas. Zuby Ejiofor, the Big East
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!
Industry’s Best
Handicapping Membership
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.
