We have an NFL game today and plenty of college football, but Feast Week continues in college basketball, and that's what I'm targeting.
I'm looking at three games, in particular, for my best bets.
So, here's college basketball best bets, including three picks and predictions for Friday, November 29.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 4 p.m. | |
  | 5:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 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. | ||
Holy Cross vs. Virginia
I’m sure I don’t have to talk you into betting a Virginia under. You know the Cavs’ reputation as a crawling squad with a frequently-inept offense.
Still, I will try to do so regardless.
A huge reason for this wager is Virginia’s dance partner. Holy Cross is similarly keen to play games in the half-court, as the Crusaders rank 314th in adjusted tempo, per KenPom.
That is not quite Virginia-level — which lands 363rd in that metric — but it directionally indicates that Holy Cross is more than willing to play at UVA’s preferred pace.
Virginia’s most similar foe to Holy Cross in terms of ability and pace is Campbell, which ranks 257th in tempo. That game had 59 possessions and 121 total points.
The other ingredient here is efficiency, which is admittedly a concern given Holy Cross’s abysmal defense.
However, the Crusaders’ worst defensive performance was without Caleb Kenney, the Patriot League’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year. The long-armed forward is a stellar shot-blocker, and a tiny frontcourt is thrilled to have him back healthy in the lineup.
Crucially, Virginia is not a devastating interior scoring team. The Cavs have size, but they rank 312th nationally in percentage of points scored via 2-point field goals. This is a jump shooting squad that will not expose the Crusaders’ soft underbelly.
One final bonus: Holy Cross starts a freshman point guard. Tyler Boston is clearly talented, but the rookie’s first road game against power competition (at Wisconsin) was completely ineffectual.
His lack of experience could emerge once again versus Virginia’s disciplined, stout defensive scheme.
Pick: Under 128.5 (Play to 127)
Oklahoma vs. Louisville
If you could have found odds pre-tournament on the Battle 4 Atlantis title game not including either Arizona or Gonzaga, you’d likely be a wealthy individual.
The two heavily favored West Coast squads stumbled, though, leading to a surprising matchup of Oklahoma and Louisville.
Louisville dominated its quarterfinal matchup with Indiana, shredding the Hoosiers' defense to the tune of 1.24 points per possession. Pat Kelsey’s up-tempo, spread-the-floor style worked wonders against slow-footed IU.
Against a faster, more mobile West Virginia, though, Louisville struggled for much of the game. It was ultimately saved largely by the free throw line.
A disciplined Porter Moser defense is not going to give up those freebies. OU ranks 66th in defensive free throw rate, per KenPom, indicating the Sooners’ aversion to fouling.
Louisville will be heavily reliant on perimeter jumpers here, a tough thing to do on the third day of a back-to-back-to-back tournament.
Situationally, this sets up better for Oklahoma, as well. The Cardinals had to battle back late against West Virginia and win in overtime, while the Sooners were able to take care of business in 40 minutes against Arizona.
That’s especially notable because Louisville has been down two rotation players due injury in Koren Johnson and Aboubacar Traore, limiting the depth for a team that likes to run.
Pick: Oklahoma +3.5 (Play to +2 or Take ML)
Towson vs. Kennesaw State
You may not immediately think of Lethbridge, Alberta, when you contemplate college hoops hotbeds. But the Canadian town just north of Montana is playing host to four impressive mid-majors this week.
Both Towson and Kennesaw State lost yesterday, falling to Kent State and UC Irvine, respectively. Each will be hungry to not tumble to 0-2 north of the border.
Towson’s experience together should be a key differentiator here. The Tigers rank 12th in the entire country in minutes continuity, per KenPom, with four starters returning from a 20-win team. That’s an invaluable resource early in the season as most teams are still trying to gel.
Conversely, Kennesaw State is a younger team that starts three freshmen. The Owls have a high ceiling – see beating Rutgers – but a team that relies on rookies can have some wild up and down swings.
We saw one of those downswings yesterday in a convincing wire-to-wire defeat to UC Irvine, and facing another veteran squad could be trouble.
The Tigers do have an injury concern with key forward Tyler Tejada having missed the last four games.
However, Towson has strong depth, and 6-foot-9, 220-pound freshman Caleb Embeya has impressively backfilled Tejada’s minutes. If Tejada plays, that is merely a bonus in my eyes, as I like the Tigers even if he has to sit again.
Pick: Towson -2.5 (Play to -4)
