NCAAB Picks, Predictions, & Previews

NCAA basketball is the second most popular college sport after football, and it attracts millions of viewers each season. Bettors love getting in on the action, especially during March Madness, the culmination of the NCAAB season. 

Choosing which teams to wager on can be a challenge, as there are far more college teams than there are in the NBA. But, bettors can take their wagers to the next level with a range of NCAAB picks, predictions, and previews. 

Latest Picks and Predictions

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Georgetown Hoyas vs. Jackson State Tigers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 25th 2023

Jackson State proved with its win at Missouri last Sunday that opponents can’t take the young Tigers lightly. The same day, Georgetown strengthened first-year coach Ed Cooley’s belief that his team’s culture is blossoming after the Hoyas churned out a gritty overtime victory over American. Both teams will aim to build on signature early-season wins when Jackson State (1-5) visits Georgetown (3-2) on Saturday in Washington, D.C. Jackson State entered Mizzou Arena as a 22
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Brigham Young Cougars vs. NC State Wolfpack Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

BYU will look to open the season with six consecutive victories for the second time in three seasons when it faces North Carolina State on Friday night in the championship game of the Vegas Showdown in Las Vegas. The Cougars reached the title game by annihilating Arizona State 77-49 on Thursday night. North Carolina State (4-0) advanced with an 84-78 win over Vanderbilt. The Wolfpack are looking for their first 5-0 start since winning six
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Northern Iowa Panthers vs. Stanford Cardinal Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

Stanford and Northern Iowa both experienced difficult second halves on Thursday. Because of those struggles, the Cardinal and Panthers will compete for seventh and eighth place on Friday night in the Battle 4 Atlantis in Paradise Island, Bahamas. Stanford (3-3) is trying to get a win in the tournament after dropping close games to No. 20 Arkansas and Michigan. Against the Razorbacks, the Cardinal took a 77-74 double-overtime defeat after blowing a four-point lead in
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Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Vanderbilt Commodores Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

Vanderbilt and Arizona State, two teams that were ineffective with their offensive execution in the opening night of the Vegas Showdown on Thursday in Las Vegas, will face each other in the third-place game on Friday. Vanderbilt (3-2) committed 19 turnovers in an 84-78 loss to North Carolina State in the first Thursday game. Arizona State (2-2) shot 33.3 percent from the field, including 2 of 20 from 3-point range, in its 77-49 defeat against
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Santa Clara Broncos vs. Oregon Ducks Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

Oregon continues its trip to Florida on Friday night with a matchup against Santa Clara at the Emerald Coast Classic in Niceville. The Ducks are 4-0 despite not having center N’Faly Dante, their top player, available for the past three games due to a knee injury. In an 82-71 season-opening victory over Georgia, Dante scored 16 points and grabbed 21 rebounds. Oregon also might be without Dante’s backup, Nate Bittle, who is averaging 13 points
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Illinois Fighting Illini vs. Western Illinois Leathernecks Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

It has been so long since Illinois played Western Illinois, Fighting Illini head coach Brad Underwood had just finished his 10-year stint as a Leathernecks assistant and was still 10 years from becoming a Division I head coach. On Nov. 22, 2003, Dee Brown led then-No. 12 Illinois to a 94-66 victory over Western Illinois in the first game of the Bruce Weber era. Twenty seasons later, the Leathernecks (2-3) finally get their rematch Friday
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Louisiana State Tigers vs. North Florida Osprey Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

LSU won its last two games in the Charleston Classic last weekend in Charleston, S.C. North Florida won its last two games in the First Coast Classic that it hosted last weekend in Jacksonville, Fla. So both teams have some momentum as they prepare to meet Friday night in Baton Rouge. La. The Tigers (3-2) lost a four-point lead in the final 30 seconds of regulation before beating Wake Forest 86-80 in overtime Sunday. “When
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Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Seton Hall Pirates Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

Iowa coach Fran McCaffery hopes his team’s latest performance from beyond the 3-point arc was merely a hiccup. After shooting just 17.4 percent from deep on Thursday, the Hawkeyes will look to recover in time for Friday’s meeting with Seton Hall in the third-place game of the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego. Nothing was falling for Iowa (3-2) in its 79-67 loss to Oklahoma, as the Hawkeyes canned just 4 of 23 3-point attempts
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Oklahoma Sooners vs. Southern California Trojans Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2023

Defenses will be the focus when No. 23 Southern California faces Oklahoma on Friday for the championship in the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego. USC (4-1) held off Seton Hall in the second semifinal on Thursday after the Trojans nearly coughed up a 20-point, second-half lead. The Pirates cut the deficit to three points with four minutes remaining, but a USC defense keyed by Joshua Morgan’s program-record 10 blocked shots and Kobe Johnson’s five

Free NCAAB Picks Today

Here are some of our free NCAAB picks you can use. Our handicappers spend hours researching the best NCAAB picks and parlays each week of the season, so your chances of success are higher with our detailed data. 

CBB
2024-12-22 13:00
Open
KENT STATE
2 PICKS
ALABAMA

How to Get Expert NCAAB Picks

If you want more college basketball picks, consider signing up for one of our membership tiers. The Starter package starts at $9 per month and grants you access to consensus betting data and picks from some of our skilled handicappers. 

Alternatively, you can browse our selection of handicappers and choose one you like. Then, you can purchase their picks for a one-time fee!

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How to Choose a NCAAB Handicapper


Choosing the right handicapper is crucial for making informed betting decisions. Here are key factors to consider when evaluating handicappers:

Track Record and Transparency

Look for a handicapper with a proven track record of success. A good handicapper will provide detailed records of their past picks, including both wins and losses, so you can verify their consistency over time.

Specialization in NCAAB

Some handicappers excel in specific sports, so it’s important to find one who specializes in NCAA basketball. A handicapper with deep knowledge of NCAAB will be more in tune with the nuances of the sport, including player performances, team dynamics, and betting trends.

Detailed Analysis and Reasoning

The best handicappers don’t just give you picks—they explain why they’re making those picks. Look for those who provide thorough breakdowns of games, covering key stats, matchups, and situational factors that led to their recommendation.

Bankroll Management Guidance

A trustworthy handicapper will also offer advice on managing your bankroll. Whether it’s suggesting unit sizes or providing guidelines for staking based on confidence, they should promote responsible betting practices.

Consistency Over Hot Streaks

Avoid handicappers who promote short-term “hot streaks” without showing long-term consistency. Successful handicappers focus on steady profit over time rather than gambling on high-risk plays to maintain an appearance of success.

Avoid Handicappers Who Promise Guarantees

No one can guarantee wins in sports betting. Be wary of handicappers who promise a certain win rate or “lock” picks. A legitimate handicapper will be upfront about the inherent risks involved in betting.

 

Our Best NCAAB Handicappers

To find our best NCAAB handicappers, use the Leaderboard page when you’re logged into Scores and Stats. Then, using the table, select Basketball, NCAAB, and Lifetime to see our best handicappers. The table is naturally sorted by amount won, but you can sort by win percentage, total bets, and bets won. 

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Tony Finn is one of the highest-rated NCAAB handicappers on our list, with a 73.67% win rate overall. If you click on his name and sort his wagers by Basketball, NCAAB GM, you’ll see the breakdown of his wagers:

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Finn doesn’t place moneylines, instead, he places spread wagers, which have an impressive 78.6% win rate. Consider following his picks for spread wagers on college basketball. 

How Handicappers Find Value on NCAAB Games

Handicappers use a combination of statistical analysis, situational factors, and betting market insights to identify value in NCAA basketball (NCAAB) games. Finding value means pinpointing lines where the betting odds differ significantly from the perceived likelihood of an outcome. Here’s how handicappers approach NCAAB games to find these betting edges:

Advanced Statistical Models

Handicappers often rely on advanced statistical models that break down team and player performance beyond traditional metrics like points per game or win-loss records. They incorporate key metrics such as:

  • Adjusted Offensive and Defensive Efficiency: Measures a team’s scoring and defensive capabilities on a per-possession basis, adjusted for strength of schedule.
  • Pace of Play: The number of possessions a team averages per game. Slower-paced teams tend to have lower-scoring games, which can influence over/under totals.
  • Turnover Ratio and Rebounding Rates: These help in assessing how well a team controls possession, critical in tight games.

By analyzing these statistics, handicappers can better predict how teams will perform against each other, which leads to more accurate game predictions

Betting Market Inefficiencies

The betting public often overvalues well-known teams or high-profile players, leading to inefficient lines. Handicappers look for these moments of public bias and bet on the opposite side. For example, in games involving a highly ranked team, the point spread might be inflated because casual bettors disproportionately back the favorite. Handicappers can find value by taking the underdog in such situations, especially if their statistical models show the line is too generous.

Situational Handicapping

Situational factors also play a crucial role in finding value. NCAAB teams have packed schedules, and handicappers look at things like:

  • Rest vs. Fatigue: Teams playing back-to-back games or coming off a grueling stretch are more likely to underperform.
  • Travel Demands: Long road trips or games played at higher altitudes can affect team performance, giving an edge to the home team.
  • Letdown or Trap Games: If a team has just played a major opponent, they might overlook their next game, making them susceptible to an upset.

Handicappers use these nuances to spot favorable betting opportunities that might not be reflected in the odds

Line Movements and Sharp Money

Tracking line movements is a critical tool for NCAAB handicappers. Early line shifts can reveal where “sharp money”—bets placed by professional bettors—has influenced the market. When a line moves against public betting trends, it may signal that sharp bettors see value. Handicappers can follow this movement to identify where the most knowledgeable bettors are placing their money, allowing them to find value before the market adjusts fully.

KenPom and Other Analytical Resources

Handicappers frequently consult advanced data sources like KenPom, which offers in-depth team rankings and efficiency statistics. By cross-referencing proprietary models with public databases, they can uncover discrepancies that signal value in certain betting markets. Sites like KenPom provide comprehensive breakdowns of a team’s efficiency, tempo, and more, giving bettors a clearer picture of a team’s actual strengths and weaknesses.

NCAAB Picks Consensus

Consensus data can be a valuable tool for NCAAB bettors by providing insight into how the public is betting on a particular game. This data shows the percentage of bets placed on each side, helping bettors gauge where the majority of the money is going. 

Savvy bettors can use consensus data to identify opportunities to go against the public, especially in cases where the betting line has moved due to heavy action on a popular team. By comparing consensus data with their own analysis, bettors can find situations where the public might be overvaluing a favorite or overlooking an underdog, allowing them to make more informed and strategic wagers.

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At Scores and Stats, we’ve partnered with a few sportsbooks to aggregate data about betting trends. This means you have access to consensus data for many NCAAB games, particularly during March Madness. You can easily see how much money is being wagered on spreads, moneylines, and totals, as well as where the sharp money is at. 

NCAAB Odds and Prices

When you sign up at Scores and Stats, you are granted access to the free membership tier. In this tier, you can view the average betting odds and scores for various NCAAB games, accessible from the side menu under Scores and Odds. 

This data is provided by our partner sportsbooks and helps bettors quickly see how lines are shifting without needing to switch tabs or log into their sportsbooks. 

Start Shooting Threes with Our NCAAB Picks

Betting on the NCAAB can be a lot of fun, especially during March Madness. However, choosing the right wagers can be a challenge if you’re not familiar with the ins-and-outs of each team. Thankfully, our team of handicappers brings together years of experience betting on the NCAAB. Use their picks and predictions to make more informed wagers on college basketball today.

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