We're a few days away from the start of Feast Week, but first, let's focus on Monday's slate of games to find the best college basketball betting value.
In fact, I'm targeting three specific matchups for this slate.
So, here's college basketball best bets and odds, including three predictions and picks for Monday's games on November 18.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 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. | ||
IU Indy vs. Iowa State
Iowa State’s final pre-Maui Invitational tune-up takes place tonight against IU Indy. The Cyclones are a surprising 0-2 against the spread in buy games after last season’s dominance, while IU Indy has not yet seen the boost it hoped for with a new coaching regime.
Iowa State will score at will here. IU Indy sorely lacks Division I athletes and size, meaning it could be destroyed in the paint (Xavier shot 23-of-41 inside the arc against these Jaguars).
Paul Corsaro brought three guards with him from D-II University of Indianapolis, and the Jaguars’ likely starting center – 7-footer Julian Steinfeld – has yet to play this season.
Corsaro may have to go zone to have a prayer inside, but that will open up shots for Curtis Jones and Milan Momcilovic. Plus, the Cyclones could gobble up half of their misses against that kind of defense.
IU Indy will have to find ways to score for this over to get there, and fortunately, this squad can shoot. Corsaro consistently has four gunners on the court, giving the Jaguars a chance to punish Iowa State’s pressure.
Thus far, IU Indy has also taken good care of the ball, though Iowa State’s perimeter hornets are an entirely new challenge.
IU Indy may try to slow the game down, but with such an athletic disadvantage, that will prove difficult. Iowa State’s efficiency will carry the day here.
Pick: Over 144.5 (Play to 147)
Prairie View A&M vs. SMU
SMU returns home after a disappointing loss at Butler on Friday. Fortunately, the Mustangs get a home date with a SWAC squad and should be able to win easily as 32-point favorites.
The total is what has my attention, though.
SMU’s defense let it down in Indianapolis, allowing the Bulldogs to rack up 1.17 points per possession. Butler shot 24 free throws and grabbed 14 offensive rebounds.
Prairie View A&M may not be an offensive juggernaut – far from it, in fact – but getting to the charity stripe is one of its strengths. That’s especially true of guards Chauncey Gibson and Orlando Horton. Gibson was initially at Clemson, and the 6-foot-7 wing can compete athletically with an ACC foe.
Of course, calling him a wing is generous, as he’s been the nominal “center” in a bevy of small-ball lineups. That means SMU can score easily in the paint – a good sign for a team that ranks 284th in 3-point attempt rate.
The tempo should also be frenetic. Both teams love to run, with SMU ranking first in the entire country in shortest possession length and Prairie View A&M ranking 17th (KenPom). That could lead to a possession count that approaches or even exceeds 80.
The market has been a little back-and-forth on this game, betting it up to 163 and then back down to where it currently sits at 161.5.
I see value on that number, though, with a likely fast and efficient game coming.
Pick: Over 161 (Play to 163)
Montana vs. Utah State
Montana’s challenging early-season schedule continues. The Grizzlies have already played at Oregon and Tennessee, and now they head to the intimidating Spectrum Center in Logan, UT.
Fortunately, Montana has had four days off; this is not a brutal travel spot. And playing in those hostile atmospheres in Eugene and Knoxville should prove beneficial.
The Grizzlies showed encouraging improvement in Tennessee, as well. Oregon destroyed Montana from the opening tip, getting out to a 22-7 lead and never looking back. Against the Volunteers, though, Montana hung tough, only trailing by nine at halftime before running out of gas down the stretch.
Utah State’s offensive excellence through three games makes this a little scary. The Aggies racked up 1.44 and 1.47 points per possession against Alcorn State and Charlotte, blitzing both teams at the bucket.
Montana must make USU win from the perimeter.
Montana has plenty of scoring too, though, with prolific guards like Money Williams and Kai Johnson.
Montana also has to make this a half-court game, which is why I’m staying away from the over.
The market has bet this down from a peak of 19 and even 19.5. I will join them in taking the points with the Grizzlies.
Pick: Montana +16.5 (Play to +15)
