With just two ranked teams in action, the college basketball slate thins out a bit on Wednesday.
But that doesn't mean betting value can't be found on the odds board.
In fact, here's college basketball best bets and three picks and predictions for Wednesday, including Fresno State vs. BYU and more on December 11.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9 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. | ||
Maine vs. Duquesne
Duquesne has limped out of the gate under first-year head coach Dru Joyce III (LeBron James’ buddy), losing seven of its first nine contests, including a ghastly 2-7 record against the spread.
The Dukes host a squad in Maine that is nothing like its past punching-bag self. The Black Bears returned nearly everyone from last year and have notched impressive victories over Brown and Elon, among others. They will give the Dukes a significant test.
Ball handling will be key for both teams, as each defense has thrived off creating turnovers early on. Maine’s guards have been more sure-handed and can go toe-to-toe with Duquesne’s perimeter from a talent perspective.
The Black Bears will play through their stud lead guard Kellen Tynes and run him off ball screens to create offense. Duquesne defended the action decently this season, but Maine will test its coverage constantly.
Duquesne’s offense has been atrocious this year – it stagnates and relies heavily on a “my turn, your turn” game on its perimeter. Joyce might be a good head coach one day, but he’s still clearly figuring out the clipboard.
Maine’s defense continues to be stout, as it was last season. Chris Markwood has led two of the best four Maine defenses in the KenPom era (going back to 1997).
This should be an ugly game, one that Maine can hang around in with superior continuity, experience, coaching and guard play.
Pick: Maine +6.5 (Play to +5)
Milwaukee vs. Green Bay
I see no reason not to continue fading Doug Gottlieb. The podcaster-turned-coach-but-still-also-podcaster had a respectable opening to the year, but his operation has started to go up in flames.
Leading scorer and hands-down best player Anthony Roy was benched last game due to disagreements with the staff.
Gottlieb pulled the old school coaching move, which might work if he was a coach with any reputation at all.
More than that, Green Bay has been in free fall lately (0-5 against the spread over its past five contests). That five-game stretch featured four teams that rank outside the top 200 – not exactly a murderer’s row of competition.
Defense is the primary culprit for Green Bay’s demise. The Phoenix rank 350th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, which means they have been unable to stop anything on this end.
Milwaukee should bulldoze them in the paint and grab more second helpings off the glass than a fat guy licking all 31 flavors of Baskin Robbins off the sneeze guard. The Panthers rank ninth nationally in offensive rebounding rate, and the Phoenix rank 288th in defensive rebounding rate.
Travel is minimal for Milwaukee and home court should be minimal. The Panthers are superior in every area of the floor and should be able to key in on Roy (if he’s out of the doghouse) and walk out of the Resch Center with a dub.
Pick: Milwaukee -4.5 (Play to -7)
Fresno State vs. BYU
BYU recently landed the biggest fish in the 2025 pond, reeling in No. 1 recruit AJ Dybantsa. Provo should keep partying tonight (with no alcohol, of course) with a high possession contest against Fresno State.
The Bulldogs have been playing at a lightning pace under new head coach Vance Walberg. The father of the dribble-drive offense runs an up-tempo attack that wants to get out in transition and attack the basket early and often. Nearly every Fresno game has been a track meet.
BYU should be happy to play up-tempo, especially against a team it doubles over in talent. The Cougars also play fast, a pro-style attack that befits the former NBA assistant calling the shots.
Fresno’s defense has been decent this year, but opponents are scoring quickly against the Dogs. Walberg likes to mix in a press, and Fresno has faced transition at an 87th-percentile national rate. With both teams looking to run, we should see at least 75 possessions.
The one concern is Fresno’s ability to score. With the nation’s 342nd “best” offense, efficiency is the one thing holding this total back.
BYU has been excellent at limiting transition this season, but it’s likely the Cougars are a little looser on defense due to competition.
BYU should score at least 90 points against the Fresno defense. Here's to hoping the Dogs can find 66-70 more to put on the board.
Pick: Over 156.5 (Play to 158)
