Top 5 NCAAB Picks for 11/4: Bet South Florida to Cover Against Florida
- Here are three college basketball picks you can play on Monday as the season gets underway.
- USF has plenty of motivation for the first game following the death of its popular head coach.
- Go with Marquette’s season opener to land over the betting total
- Check the latest NCAAB odds for a busy night of college basketball action.
The college basketball season is here with 19 teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll in action on the first day and night of the season. The only matchup between ranked teams comes in Spokane with No. 8 Baylor meeting up with No. 6 Gonzaga. There are other games of interest for those who bet online.
It can be risky to rely too much on previous college basketball betting trends with teams able to dip into the transfer portal to replace departing players or address areas of need. That will make betting on college basketball games a little risky for the first couple of weeks of the season. We have come up with three bets to consider on Monday.
Is there anywhere else to start than what should be an incredibly emotional scene in Jacksonville, when the USF Bulls play their first regular-season game since the death of their head coach? The NCAA basketball odds have Florida as a double-digit favorite against USF.
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3 College Basketball Betting Picks for Monday
1. Emotions Could Help Underdog USF
Perhaps only those who attended school at the University of Florida will be pulling for the Gators against South Florida in the Jacksonville Sports Foundation Invitational.
In shocking college basketball news, well-regarded USF head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim died last month and tributes have continued to pour in.
Abdur-Rahim won the American Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honor after leading the Bulls to 25 wins during the 2023-24 season. USF spent time ranked in both national polls.
Remembered. Loved. Celebrated.
To God Be The Glory.
Rest in peace, Coach Amir. pic.twitter.com/0CXIFvtVBW
— USF Men’s Basketball (@USFMBB) November 3, 2024
The Gators, with returning double-digit scorers Walter Clayton and Will Richard, are listed by the BetUS sportsbook as a double-digit favorite in the neutral-site game being played in Jacksonville. Maybe it is just a sentimental pick, but go with the Bulls to cover at +10½.
Bet on USF (+10½) To Cover Against Florida
2. Stony Brook-Marquette Game to Land Over
When Marquette opened the 2023-24 season as the home favorite against Northern Illinois, the Golden Eagles put up 92 points. Marquette topped the 90-point mark in each of its first three home games.
Things will look a little different without point guard Tyler Kolek and big man Oso Ighodaro on the court for the Big East power. Only one other player is missing from last season’s team.
Stony Brook had the best winning percentage against the college basketball betting line of any Division I men’s program last season and finished 10-1 ATS as a road favorite.
Stony Brook scored 74 points against St. John’s the last time the Seawolves were on the road against a team from the Big East. Even though some key players are missing from the 2023-24 Stony Brook team, go with the game to land over the 146.5-point total set by the BetUS sportsbook.
Bet on Stony Brook-Marquette Game to Land Over 146.5
3. Texas Betting Pick to Deliver as Slight Favorite
In the era of the transfer portal, it is wise to tread carefully when seeing double-digit college basketball point spreads early in the season. That does limit some of our options despite teams from the power conferences scheduling what look to be easy wins on the first day of the college basketball season.
One of the more intriguing matchups on Monday’s schedule will take place in Las Vegas when Texas and Ohio State meet for the first time since 1986. The way things are going, perhaps the Longhorns and the Buckeyes will clash in the College Football Playoffs.
Before that happens, there will be a Monday night matchup between teams ranked 15th and 17th by the 247sports.com database for the top transfer classes.
16 hours until The Ohio State University Men’s Basketball Team tips-off their season against Texas in Las Vegas. #Team126 | @JakeDiebler pic.twitter.com/PiWPBcQQEH
— The Ohio State Hoops Insider (@OSUHoopsInsider) November 4, 2024
Even with guard Tramon Mark questionable for the Longhorns, we are going with the Longhorns to cover as a 2-point favorite for the last of our college basketball expert picks.
Bet Texas (-2) to Cover Against Ohio State
Questions Of The Day
Which team is the heaviest favorite on Monday?
Iowa State is a 43-point favorite against Mississippi Valley State.
Which team from the power conferences had the best record against the spread last season?
National champion UConn covered 28 times while Minnesota was 25-9 against the spread.
Odds and information are accurate at the time of writing. Please check with official sources for the latest updates before placing any bets.
