At the Maui Invitational on Monday, we saw Memphis upset UConn in a thriller, Auburn take down Iowa State in a top-five matchup and UNC rally from down 21 to top Dayton.
Fast forward to Tuesday, and there's a lot of betting value on the board, including an intriguing late-night tilt between Auburn and UNC.
So, here's 2024 Maui Invitational odds, picks and predictions, including how to bet all four Tuesday games on November 26.
College Basketball Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 6 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 p.m. | |
  | 11 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
UConn vs. Colorado
UConn's loss to Memphis was emotionally draining and taxing, given that the Huskies rallied from a 13-point deficit with less than four minutes to go and then lost in overtime.
But if anyone will have his team bounce back almost immediately, it's Dan Hurley.
The Huskies don't have a team on par with their last two championship seasons. Aidan Mahaney has struggled to fit into the offense and looked slow against Memphis' athletic, tough guards. Alex Karaban is still adjusting to being option No. 1 instead of a role player and Liam McNeeley has shown plenty of freshman-like moments.
However, UConn's bench showed great progress against Memphis. Jaylin Stewart and Tarris Reed Jr. were inserted early due to foul trouble, and they combined to score 38 points. In total, the bench posted 50 points to the Tigers' 23.
Also, UConn still has Hurley on the sideline, and that's a major advantage against most teams.
Most importantly, I don't think Colorado is up for the task in the Maui Invitational. The Buffaloes have a brand new roster (332nd in returning experience) and never really had a chance against Michigan State in their opening game.
Now they step up another weight class to play an angry UConn team that's coming off its first loss of the season.
Colorado was crushed in the paint by the Spartans, which means Reed and Samson Johnson (if he can stay out of foul trouble) could have a field day.
The Buffs just don't have the experience, depth and talent to stick with the Huskies on a neutral floor.
Pick: UConn -15
Memphis vs. Michigan State
Through three weeks of play, Memphis has looked like one of the most impressive teams in the nation. Penny Hardaway's group has beaten UNLV, San Francisco and UConn away from home and is currently 5-0 on the season.
The Tigers have an elite trio of guards — PJ Haggerty, Tyrese Hunter and Colby Rogers — and Dain Dainja and Moussa Cisse anchor a thriving frontcourt.
Most importantly, Memphis pressures the ball defensively at a high level. In their opening game in the Maui Invitational against UConn, the Tigers limited the Huskies' ability to run their half-court sets by A) pressing (which took precious time off the shot clock), and B) players sticking to their assignments like a glove.
But this is also a tough spot for Hardaway's bunch. They are coming off an emotional win against the No. 2 team in the nation, and they needed overtime to do so. (And don't forget they blew a 13-point lead with less than four minutes to go in the process.)
The quick turnaround doesn't play in their favor, especially considering the roster falls off after the top six players.
Meanwhile, Michigan State is coming off a cruise control victory over Colorado. Tom Izzo has a balanced bunch, as only one player scored in double figures against Colorado and the Spartans still won by 16.
Also, I referenced this in my Michigan State-Colorado write-up, but Izzo and his staff are experienced when it comes to preparing their team for the Maui Invitational. The Spartans, in turn, have had success in this prestigious event because of that.
I think being under the radar actually benefits the Spartans, too. They weren't in the top-25 entering the season and not many people are currently talking about Michigan State at the national level.
Regardless, I trust the experience of Izzo (who probably loves that his team is being overshadowed by Purdue, Indiana, Wisconsin and others) and his top player Jaden Atkins.
Sparty should win and wear down a potentially tired Tigers team with their depth.
Pick: Michigan State ML -115
Iowa State vs. Dayton
Dayton missed a massive opportunity on Monday to post a resume-boosting victory that could move the needle in March.
The Flyers were up by as many as 21 points against No. 12 North Carolina, but they were outscored 59 to 39 in the second half to lose 92-90.
That's one of the main reasons I'm targeting the Clones on the first-half spread rather than the full-game number.
Dayton has to turn around and play the No. 5 team in the country on short rest after an emotional letdown. Thus, I expect a slow start from one of the Atlantic 10's top teams.
The Flyers were bothered by the Tar Heels' ball pressure, specifically in the second half of the game, but they also couldn't stop North Carolina from accessing the free-throw line.
Now they have to face the No. 4-ranked team in KenPom's defensive efficiency rankings and play a squad that went 24-of-29 from the free-throw line against Auburn.
The Cyclones' elite backcourt trio of Keshon Gilbert, Curtis Jones and Tamin Lipsey ultimately usurps Dayton's guards (Enoch Cheeks, Malachi Smith, Javon Bennett).
Most importantly, Iowa State commits only 9.3 turnovers per game. Sure, the competition hasn't been all that great; however, it only gave the ball away nine times against Auburn, arguably the best team in the nation.
I'll lay the points with the Clones in the first half.
Pick: Iowa State 1H -4.5
Auburn vs. North Carolina
No team in the country has looked better than the Auburn Tigers.
Bruce Pearl's squad has a pair of top-five wins (against Houston in Texas and Iowa State in Hawaii), and it's not even the end of November. They have athleticism, depth and a National Player of the Year candidate in Johni Broome.
The Tigers have eight players averaging 20 minutes or more per game, and that doesn't even factor in Furman transfer JP Pegues, who was considered one of the gems of their transfer class.
When Tahaad Pettiford (the No. 35 recruit in the nation who dropped 21 on Houston) is your sixth-leading scorer, you know you have plenty of talent on your team.
The Tigers also have a strong advantage in the paint with Broome. While North Carolina is still figuring out life without Armando Bacot, Broome is averaging a ridiculous 20.2 points and 11 rebounds per night.
But I still think we are getting value on the Tar Heels at this number.
Even though the Tigers have an edge inside, the country may not have a better three-headed backcourt than RJ Davis, Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau.
We already know Davis is a veteran who can score and create with the best of them, but Trimble is averaging over 17 points per game and is shooting 54% from the field and 53% from 3. Cadeau also looks like he's taken a giant leap, averaging nearly 15 a game while shooting 56% from the field.
It was a tale of two halves for UNC against Dayton. The Heels trailed by as many as 21 points, but they showed how good they could be in the second frame, dropping 59 points on the Flyers and coming back to win by two.
Most importantly, Davis has broken out of his early shooting slump, which is a sign of things to come for the Heels. Sure, Trimble and Cadeau will reverse to the mean regarding their shooting percentages, but I'm expecting the three guards to keep UNC on pace with the Tigers and keep this game close.
I don't know if the Heels will win this one, but again, we're getting some value at this number, as Bart Torvik has this spread at 3.5 in favor of Auburn.
This could be one of the best early games of the season, so back the Heels and get ready for a close one.
Pick: UNC +4.5
