College basketball has long been a copycat sport, and that was especially evident this past week as four of the top five teams in the AP Top 25 fell to unranked - and largely unheralded - opponents.
No. 1 Purdue kickstarted the trend on Tuesday when it lost to lightly regarded Nebraska. No. 2 Houston was the next national powerhouse to lay an egg when the Cougars bowed down to Iowa State. No. 3 Kansas followed suit against UCF and No. 5 Tennessee lost a squeaker to Mississippi State. To its credit, No. 4 UConn did manage to escape unscathed, but the Huskies needed a heroic effort from Cam Spencer to claim a narrow five-point victory over Xavier.
There's bound to be even more upheaval this week as all 353 Division I teams return to the hardwood. We've hand-picked the best games on college basketball's jam-packed schedule 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: Marist +3.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
Mount St. Mary's will enter this matchup allowing .94 points per possession on spot-up sets, and Marist has an array of shooters that can punish them. On the season, they average over a point per possession on those sets and should be able to reach that average today. In addition, Marist should cause some havoc on defense, as the Mountaineer's turnover rate is among the highest in basketball.
Best bet: Akron moneyline (-115 at 888)
Akron is one of the hottest teams in MAC basketball right now having won five straight games. In those games they are averaging a shade under 80 points while they've given up less than 70 in four of those five. They rate out much better on both ends of the court and with the way Kent State is struggling right now, losers of three of their last four, the Zips should have their way. Enrique Freeman (11 straight double doubles) should dominate the paint against an undersized Golden Flashes squad.
Best bet: Over 142.5 (-110 at bet365)
Wisconsin has played the third-toughest schedule this season in terms of opposing defenses faced, including facing four ranked non-conference foes and being in arguably the toughest conference in the country, but still hits 47.2% of its shots from the floor, 35.1% of its threes, and 77% of its free throws. Indiana gives up 73.3 points per game and has struggled to contain top-tier Big Ten offenses, but the Hoosier can score; ranking Top 50 in the nation in field goal percentage and free throw attempts.
Best bet: Nique Clifford Over 13.5 points (+100 at DraftKings)
This is a simple task for Nique Clifford. He's exceeded this number in two of his last three games, and 14 points is his season average. Asking him to reach that average in a great matchup is what we're asking here. UNLV has been slightly below average defending shooters this season, allowing 38% shooting on spot-up sets. By the numbers, Clifford is the 22nd-best spot-up shooter in the country. He should be able to find an array of open jump shots, and more often than not, Clifford knocks those down.
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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 |  UConn |
15-2 | 1,542 |
| 2 |  Purdue |
15-2 | 1,506 |
| 3 |  Kansas |
14-2 | 1,426 |
| 4 |  North Carolina |
13-3 | 1,407 |
| 5 |  Houston |
14-2 | 1,236 |
| 6 |  Tennessee |
12-4 | 1,147 |
| 7 |  Duke |
13-3 | 1,130 |
| 8 |  Kentucky |
12-3 | 1,123 |
| 9 |  Baylor |
14-2 | 1,055 |
| 10 |  Memphis |
15-2 | 987 |
| 11 |  Wisconsin |
13-3 | 948 |
| 12 |  Arizona |
12-4 | 918 |
| 13 |  Auburn |
14-2 | 905 |
| 14 |  Illinois |
12-4 | 660 |
| 15 |  Oklahoma |
13-3 | 633 |
| 16 |  Utah State |
16-1 | 538 |
| 17 |  Marquette |
11-5 | 516 |
| 18 |  Creighton |
13-4 | 433 |
| 19 |  TCU |
13-3 | 293 |
| 20 |  BYU |
13-3 | 270 |
| 21 |  Dayton |
13-2 | 261 |
| 22 |  Mississippi |
15-1 | 236 |
| 23 |  Florida Atlantic |
13-4 | 221 |
| 24 |  Iowa State |
13-3 | 195 |
| 25 |  Texas Tech |
14-2 | 148 |
Team rankings as of January 15, 2024.
Biggest riser: TCU moved up seven spots to No. 19 thanks to impressive victories over a pair of Top 10 teams. The Horned Frogs defeated No. 9 Oklahoma by nine points on January 10 and edged No. 2 Houston by one point just three days later on January 13.
Biggest faller: Marquette plummeted six spots to No. 17 following back-to-back losses to unranked Seton Hall and Georgetown. The Golden Eagles are now just 11-5 and in sixth place in the hyper competitive Big East.
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.
The AP Top 25 rankings are released every Monday at noon during the college basketball season.
Player spotlight: Enrique Freeman (Akron)
Any mention of Akron to a casual basketball fan is likely to conjure up thoughts of LeBron James. After all, the Los Angeles Lakers star was born and raised in the self-proclaimed "Rubber Capital of the World" before going on to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer.
However, Akron has another pretty good baller these days in Enrique Freeman. A Cleveland native now in his fifth season with the Zips, Freeman is averaging a career-high 18.3 points per game while also leading the nation in rebounding with 13.1 boards. His tireless activity on the glass has Freeman ahead of far more heralded players like Hunter Dickinson and Zach Edey, and is a huge reason why Akron is 12-4 and in first place in the Mid-American Conference.
A three-time MAC All-Defensive Team selection, Freeman will have a chance to pad his carom totals this week when the Zips take on Western Michigan (7-9) and Kent State (8-8).
Congrats to @EnriqueFreeman_ on being named the @MACSports Scholar-Athlete of the Week!
— Akron Zips MBB (@ZipsMBB) January 10, 2024
Full release ➡️ https://t.co/D6ETSfijBA#GoZips🦘| #1Akron pic.twitter.com/W3KVXrBstH
College basketball betting FAQs
A: You can bet on college basketball by picking the winner of the game (moneyline), which team will cover the spread (point spread), or combined points scored in the match (Over/Under).
You pick if the favorite covers a certain winning margin or if the underdog will lose by less than that gap.
College basketball moneyline bets include overtime. Betting the second half also includes overtime.
College games tend to be shorter than NBA matches, lasting just over two hours.
Overtime in college basketball games is five minutes.
There are two halves, consisting of 20 minutes each.
You can watch college basketball on ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS, TBS, and TNT. You can also stream games online on several platforms including on select sportsbook apps.
