The best time of the college basketball regular season is here, as MTE's and Feast Week gets started on Thursday. We have games from 11 a.m. ET until past midnight ET, which is music to bettors' ears.
Our staff has four particular games circled.
So, here's college basketball best bets and four picks and predictions for Thursday, including Memphis vs. San Francisco on Nov. 21.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 10 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. | ||
Miami vs. Drake
By Sean Paul
The Hurricanes are the most slept-on team in a fairly underwhelming ACC. You have Duke and North Carolina, but then what? A bunch of underperforming teams, and then Pittsburgh and Miami.
Miami is doing what it had to do so far: blow out a trio of sub-320 teams in KenPom. People may question the Canes' legitimacy — since they faced the second-easiest non-conference schedule so far — but the games were total blowouts.
Comparing this year's Canes squad to last year's, the biggest difference is length. Miami starts three players 6-foot-7 or taller — Matthew Cleveland and transfers Brandon Johnson and Lynn Kidd on the interior.
Playing Cleveland in his more natural wing position is a major plus when Miami faces larger teams, and it will help with winning the rebounding battle.
Meanwhile, I'm concerned about Drake's offense, since the scoring is limited to 3-point shooting and points off turnovers.
Sure, I believe in Drake competing in the Missouri Valley, but competing with a team like Miami at a neutral site is a big ask.
The Canes' offensive potential — paired with a vastly improved defense — leads to an incredibly high ceiling.
Currently, Miami ranks 46th in KenPom, and I think it has the potential to be a top-20 team eventually.
Plus, Miami has a bunch of ball handlers and sports a 12% turnover rate.
I'm not sure Drake's defense can contain this potent offense if it can't force turnovers.
Give me Miami at the Charleston Classic.
Pick: Miami -9.5 (Play to -12)
Seton Hall vs. VCU
I'm going back to the Charleston Classic, and I like the under in this third game.
Why? Well, while Seton Hall has been brutal offensively (362nd nationally in PPG), it also has been elite defensively (12th in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency).
Shaheen Holloway preaches defense and rebounding, and even though none of Hall's competition has featured the weapons that the Rams have offensively, the Pirates still haven't allowed more than 57 points in a single game.
In fact, the Pirates only allowed Wagner to score 28 points, which is impressive and hard to do regardless of the opponent.
Meanwhile, the Rams actually have a higher adjusted defensive efficiency ranking (eighth), according to KenPom.
Seton Hall is almost last nationally in adjusted tempo and this game is being played at a neutral site. That combination means the possession count will be low, helping us stay under this very low number.
This seems like the perfect spot as long as the Rams' backcourt doesn't go wild.
Pick: Under 124.5
Baylor vs. St. John's
By Jim Root
This is a clear battle of strength-on-strength. Baylor’s prolific onslaught can rack up points against almost anyone, but St. John’s has the perimeter size and depth to make life miserable on the Bears’ bevy of guards.
The offensive rebounding of Norched Omier, Josh Ojianwuna and VJ Edgecombe could be a key factor against a Johnnies squad that doesn’t always finish possessions on the boards.
Baylor’s zone could also be an antidote to St. John’s shooting-deficient offense. Perhaps role player Brady Dunlap can make an impact for the Johnnies, but Kadary Richmond, Deivon Smith and RJ Luis Jr. are not big threats from deep.
Just like on the other end, though, the offensive glass is a pivotal battleground. Baylor must prevent Zuby Ejiofor, Luis and Richmond from getting second shot opportunities.
Situationally, this is also St. John’s first game away from home (three games at Carnesecca Arena, one at Madison Square Garden). Baylor, on the other hand, opened the season in a hostile environment in Spokane against Gonzaga and played a neutral-ish game against Arkansas in Dallas.
That could give the Bears a subtle edge here.
At the current price, I would bet the Bears (and take them up to -3). If the market feels the same, I'd be inclined to go the other way and take St. John's if it got to St. John's +5.5 or above.
Pick: Baylor -2 (Play to -3)
Memphis vs. San Francisco
I've faded Memphis twice already this season, and it's come back to bite me. But I'm going back to the well in this one, as the Tigers have to fly across the country to play an underrated San Francisco team with the back-to-back defending champs and the Maui Invitational on deck.
Penny Hardaway's backcourt of PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter is dangerous, to say the least; however, the Dons have a dangerous guard group themselves, featuring stud freshman Tyrone Riley IV, Malik Thomas, Marcus Williams and Ryan Beasley.
The Dons have already proven themselves once this season, as well — an 11-point win over a Boise State team that could very well win the Mountain West.
Also, I truly believe Chris Gerlufsen has the coaching advantage over Hardaway, and the Dons have the positional size to match the Tigers' length.
Plus, San Francisco has limited opportunities to beef up its resume. It could legitimately be the third best team in the WCC, but it only has the Sunshine Slam and Saint Louis as quality games for the remainder of the non-conference slate.
Pick: San Francisco +1.5 (Play to -1)
