Champ Week rolls on Thursday with a plethora of intriguing matchups, specifically in the afternoon slate.
We're here to provide you with three betting spots for the afternoon games.
So, read below for NCAAB best bets and odds, including three predictions and picks for Thursday, March 13.
(There's an option for a parlay below, even though that's not the recommendation.)
College Basketball Best Bets for Thursday Afternoon
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. | |
| 12 p.m. | |
  | 2:30 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. | ||
Indiana vs. Oregon
By Doug Ziefel
The Oregon Ducks come into this matchup red-hot, closing out the regular season on a seven-game winning streak. One of those victories came over the Indiana Hoosiers by a margin much larger than the spread we have for this meeting.
However, the spread for this matchup tells us just how evenly matched these two teams are. Looking back, the Ducks didn’t outplay the Hoosiers by much.
One separating factor was their effort on the offensive glass, but that likely won't be replicated. The Hoosiers are the better rebounding team at both ends of the floor.
The player who can swing things back in the Hoosiers' favor is Malik Reneau.
Reneau struggled against Oregon, going just 4-of-12 from the field. That type of performance is an outlier, as Reneau is the team's second-leading scorer and has shot 55% from the field this season.
With Reneau due to bounce back, the Hoosiers have a good chance to pull off the upset. We've already seen early support from the market, with the spread dropping from the opening number of 2.5.
In a game that's projected to be decided by less than a basket, taking Indiana at plus-money has excellent value.
Pick: Indiana ML +110 (Play to +100)
Indiana vs. Oregon
By John Feltman
Indiana sits firmly on the bubble, and it needs a win over Oregon on Thursday badly to earn a Quad 1 victory.
The Ducks are safely in the field, but that doesn’t mean Dana Altman’s team isn’t going to lay down easily.
In my opinion, the best betting approach is to target the over for this matchup. Neither team is the greatest at shooting the triple, but the Hoosiers should take advantage of the Ducks’ suspect interior defense.
The Hoosiers' size should allow them to take advantage of the Ducks on the glass, which will lead to second-chance scores and quick transition buckets on defense.
I also like the matchup for Oregon’s’ offense — and it’s an excellent free throw shooting team.
The situational aspect of the matchup also plays heavily into the handicap, considering that the Hoosiers need a win badly. If the game is close late, I don’t expect Mike Woodson to call off the dogs, especially if it could be his last game as the team’s head coach.
Neither defenses forces turnovers, so both offenses should have plenty of clean opportunities in the half-court.
I’m not going to overthink this one, as late-game fouling should give us enough of a buffer to clear the total.
Pick: Over 143 (Play to 144)
Marquette vs. Xavier
On Thursday, the Xavier Musketeers and Marquette Golden Eagles will clash from Madison Square Garden.
Xavier comes into this game with a record of 21-10. Sean Miller’s team feels it did enough during the regular season to punch a ticket to the Big Dance, but a win here should lock the Musketeers into the tournament.
Senior Zach Freemantle leads the team with 17.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.
