Welcome to Champ Week, one of the best betting weeks of the year as college basketball takes center stage in the sports world.
We have three evening college basketball best bets to add to your betting card.
So, read below for best bets, picks, predictions and odds for Tuesday, March 11.
(There's also a parlay option below, even though that's not our official recommendation with these picks.)
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 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. | ||
Maine vs. Vermont
I’m playing Maine under the assumption that Vermont star point guard Shamir Bogues is either out or will be hobbled in this matchup. The line movement indicates otherwise, but sources within the program are bearish on his health.
He’s the Catamounts' most important two-way perimeter player. His ball-screen coverage and dribble defense at the point of attack are essentially irreplaceable.
And his ball-handling and interior creation on offense are essentially irreplaceable as well, especially when he’s been shooting the ball so much better of late.
Without him, his duties fall into the hands of Sean Blake, Jace Roquemore and Sam Alamutu.
Roquemore is typically a steady ball-handler and a good second-string floor general, but his jump shot has been broken this year as he's shot just 28% from 3.
Blake is an explosive dribble-penetration guard with high upside, but he’s also a mistake-prone freshman who loves to throw the ball away with a 28% turnover rate.
Alamutu is a unique two-way guard with size but is still super raw.
Plus, neither is as gifted of a defender as Bogues.
As such, Shamir’s absence was very noticeable in Vermont’s quarterfinal win over New Hampshire.
The Wildcats were ripping Vermont’s dribble defense apart en route to a 34-26 halftime lead (especially before John Becker switched Ileri Ayo-Faleye onto Sami Pissis), and the Catamounts snagged only one steal (Bogues averages over two per game).
At the same time, Roquemore missed both his 3-point attempts, and the Cats turned the ball over 13 times — their second-highest single-game total of the conference season.
These problems will be exacerbated against Maine.
The Black Bears run an aggressive perimeter-oriented defense behind the swarming backcourt of Kellen Tynes and Jaden Clayton. They lead the AmEast in defensive turnover rate (21%) because the duo snags nearly five steals per game and overwhelms opposing backcourts with on-ball pressure.
If Vermont struggled to take care of the ball against New Hampshire, the Catamounts will have a more challenging time with Maine.
On the other end of the court, Maine runs a ball-screen motion offense behind the dribble-penetration of Tynes and Clayton. The duo stepped up against UMass Lowell in their quarterfinal win, combining for 36 points on 16-for-22 shooting from 2-point range.
The Lowell defense is horrific, but Vermont’s dribble defense will be vulnerable without Bogues.
Yes, Vermont swept the season series, and the Catamounts have won 30 consecutive games against Maine (not a joke).
That said, both head-to-head matchups this year were decided by six or fewer. And both were played at plodding, sub-60 possession paces — these are the two slowest teams in the America East.
Six points in that type of game script is a ton, especially for a team missing its best two-way guard against an aggressive backcourt-centric opponent.
I make this line closer to 2.5, anyway.
Pick: Maine +5.5 (Play to +4)
Syracuse vs. Florida State
By Sean Paul
The ACC Tournament begins on Tuesday, and it could be the final game of Leonard Hamilton's career if Florida State can't pick up a win over Syracuse.
The Seminoles will look to fluster Cuse's diminutive backcourt with intense length. The Orange have smaller guards in J.J. Starling and Jaquan Carlos, and Florida State has an entire lineup with 6-foot-5 or taller players.
That isn't a surefire thing to hurt the Orange, though. Virginia just beat Florida State with smaller guards a few weeks ago.
I won't let Florida State beating SMU to finish the season change my view on what this game will look like. The Seminoles aren't a great team and are pretty bad if they aren't forcing turnovers.
Florida State's turnover rate is down to 18% (252nd nationally) since Feb. 1 and is down 19.6% for the year (66th nationally).
The Seminoles excel at getting free throws, posting a 39.3 free throw rate since Feb. 1, which ranks 45th. Star wing Jamir Watkins is the main culprit, ranking top-75 in free throw rate.
I've never understood this Florida State roster. Daquan Davis is the only real guard option in the lineup and he missed Florida State's season finale. If he can't go, then I have no clue how the Noles operate in the half-court or late in games.
That will put a ton of pressure on Malique Ewin to initiate everything offensively or Watkins to erupt for a 30+ point game.
I have one major matchup advantage I love for the Orange. They should dominate on the offensive glass, as they have a 35% offensive rebounding rate since Feb. 1 (39th nationally).
Despite Florida State's size advantage, it struggles on the glass (304th in defensive rebounding rate) due to its consistent ball pressure.
Syracuse has looked really good offensively in its last 10 games, ranking 40th in offensive efficiency. A lot of the success stems from the Orange shooting the ball at a 38% clip from downtown.
Starling is a pretty poor shooter percentage-wise, but he's a lethal scorer. The shooters are Lucas Taylor at 40%, Chris Bell at 36% and Jyare Davis, who's capable if left open.
Eddie Lampkin Jr. should be pivotal in this game, too. He has to defend in space a bit versus the athletic Ewin, but he should dominate on the glass. Florida State has zero answers to move the big man, who's posted double-doubles in three of his last four games.
Lampkin is fresh off a 25-point outing on 11-of-12 shooting versus Virginia, and he's the most important player on this Cuse roster.
I'm prioritizing offense for this handicap. I don't see the Noles beating Cuse if it doesn't turn the ball over, which is something Cuse can do, posting a 17% turnover rate. But that's the only way I can see Florida State winning, and even then, the Orange's rebounding could offset some of the giveaways.
Pick: Syracuse +3.5 (Play to +2)
Gonzaga vs. Saint Mary's
I’m not sold that the third time will be the charm for Gonzaga against Saint Mary’s in 2025.
The Gaels won both regular-season meetings, and now they have to take down the Bulldogs for a third time to win the WCC Tournament.
Some would argue that it’s hard to beat a team three times and lean toward Gonzaga as a result, but this rivalry matchup is a little bit more unique given these two teams have been going toe-to-toe for so long.
