It's time to start this new week on the right foot.
Monday's college basketball slate is a solid one, anchored by a few Big 12, ACC, and Big Ten games across the board. But there are also a number of mid-major contests to bet on, and that's where Three Man Weave's Jim Root sees value.
The action kicks off with Drexel vs. UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. ET before shifting to Morgan State vs. Maryland Eastern Shores in the MEAC at 7:30 p.m. ET. Then, to wrap things up, Root goes to Laramie for Colorado State vs. Wyoming in a matchup between two of the best teams in the Mountain West.
So, be sure to check out all three of Root's best bets for Monday's college hoops slate below.
Three Man Weave's College Basketball Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click the team logos for one of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
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| Specific bet 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. | ||
Drexel vs. UNC Wilmington
Monday, Jan. 31 7 p.m. ET FloHoops |
UNC Wilmington -1  |
By Jim Root
In basketball, sometimes it’s as simple as “give the ball to your best player and get out of the way.” Riding the hot can apply in betting, as well (provided the price is right).
Sometimes, you do not need to overthink a handicap.
And folks, there is no “hotter hand” right now than the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. The leader in the Colonial standings, UNCW is currently riding an 11-game winning streak — and a 10-game cover streak. Eight of those 11 wins have been of the “outright underdog” variety.
Is this torrid stretch out of the blue? Well, not exactly.
Prior to Christmas, head coach Takayo Siddle tweaked the offense’s approach. This wonderful article from The Seahawk Perch discusses the added screening and movement, all of which amped up the Seahawks’ spacing.
A deeper roster has also boosted UNCW during this impressive streak, allowing Siddle to wear down foes with depth and varying lineup combinations.
This team has no quit. Since returning from a COVID-19 pause on Jan. 12, the Seahawks have erased a double-digit deficit in five of their seven wins. The confidence is starting to radiate off the players, and Siddle gave a rousing speech to the fans after the Seahawks’ latest home triumph.
Drexel is no slouch. The Dragons won the CAA Tournament last year and have one of the league’s best players in point guard Camren Wynter. They have yet to see this version of UNCW, though.
I am certainly not the only one sniffing out this bet. Some offshore books opened this line UNCW +1; it was quickly hammered to UNCW -1.5. Hopefully, the value does not get away too quickly.
Pick: UNC Wilmington -1 (Play to -2)
Morgan State vs. Maryland Eastern Shore
Monday, Jan. 31 7:30 p.m. ET ESPN+ |
Morgan State +2.5  |
By Jim Root
A week ago in this very column, I mentioned the value in tracking mid-major rosters. Yes, Hartford did not cover, but the Hawks were up nine at halftime and the line closed -5 — that’s good process!
We have another instance of a key mid-major (OK fine — low-major) roster addition for Morgan State that changes the trajectory of the team.
Malik Miller, an athletic wing who dominates on the glass at just 6-foot-4, recently returned from a five-game absence. He promptly posted 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals in a 12-point win over Delaware State.
Miller’s versatility is exceedingly rare in the MEAC. It helped him earn second-team All-MEAC honors last year, and his return reinforces a Bears core that floundered without him thus far.
UMES has admittedly been excellent against the number this year. Per TeamRankings, the Hawks currently sit at 8-4 ATS. Most of that success was early in the year, though. The Hawks are just 1-4 ATS in their last five contests, and key starter Kevon Voyles has missed the last two games.
Like most MEAC teams, these two are similar reflections of each other. Their defenses are predicated on forcing turnovers, and both offenses oblige with frequent miscues. Morgan State, though, is bigger and has more down-transfer talent, and the Bears have now been reinvigorated by Miller’s return.
Final note: this is a back-to-back for Morgan State, which just played on Sunday. Fortunately, travel is not a major concern here, as UMES is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Morgan State. Do not let that schedule aspect scare you away — this should be the Bears’ game.
Pick: Morgan State +2.5 (Play to -2)
Colorado State vs. Wyoming
Monday, Jan. 31 8 p.m. ET FS1 |
Colorado State PK  |
By Jim Root
Our night ends with a showdown in the Mountain West. Both Colorado State and Wyoming possess legitimate at-large bid hopes, and picking up a victory in Laramie would be a huge step in that process.
Stylistically, these teams are actually quite similar. They both have elite offenses carried by hyper-efficient shooting and tremendous ball security. They also both sport lackluster defenses that look to cover for a lack of dynamic athleticism via a packed-in, conservative scheme that controls the defensive glass.
The personnel employing those schemes is what makes them unique. Wyoming is anchored by Graham Ike, a thoroughly dominant southpaw big man, and Hunter Maldonado, a 6-foot-7 point guard/Swiss Army knife.
Colorado State, meanwhile, is led by an undersized bowling ball forward in David Roddy and a jet-quick point guard in Isaiah Stevens.
A prediction: both coaches will be at power conference jobs in the next five or so years.
So, why the road Rams in a coin flip game?
To put it simply: despite Wyoming’s terrific season, I still believe CSU is better. With two well-coached and similarly-styled teams, I’m opting for the better squad.
Wyoming still has just one top-100 win via KenPom’s rankings, while CSU has racked up five already (and the same group also tallied five last year).
CSU has the more trustworthy defense, as Wyoming’s success on that end has been propped up by beneficial 3-point shooting splits. Regression lurks.
The spot also leans toward the Rams. Colorado State should be locked in after a disappointing blowout home loss to UNLV. Plus, the Cowboys’ usual “altitude” advantage at home will not bother Colorado State.
I like both squads long-term, but on this night, I’m backing the road Rams.
Pick: Colorado State PK (Play to -2)
