Since 2011, the Champions Classic has pitted four of the best blue bloods in college basketball up against one another to unofficially tip-off a new season.
This year's edition features the four regulars — Michigan State vs. Kansas and Kentucky vs. Duke — squaring off at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia for a doubleheader on ESPN (6:30 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. ET).
Below, our staff is diving into Champions Classic predictions, picks and odds, including best bets for Tuesday's games on November 12.
Champions Classic Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from the Champions Classic.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:30 p.m. | |
 | 6:30 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. | ||
Michigan State vs. Kansas
By Greg Waddell
Count your blessings, college basketball fans. In the transfer portal era, we are losing legendary coaches left and right, but Bill Self and Tom Izzo — two of the finest of their era — are still going strong.
We don’t know how many more matchups these two will have against each other, so bettors and fans alike should savor this one.
But while both coaches have certainly earned “legend” status, the teams they have assembled are quite different on paper.
Self has gone portal-heavy to go all-in on building a ready-made winner, inking Zeke Mayo in the backcourt and Rylan Griffen and AJ Storr on the wings.
Izzo took a more patient approach, doubling down on past recruiting classes by supplementing his young core with role players.
While many of the things that North Carolina did well against Kansas could apply for Michigan State here (three-guard lineups, a perimeter-shooting power forward), this game will likely be decided by the play in the paint.
Izzo’s old foe Hunter Dickinson is 3-3 in his career against Michigan State, but has been a dominant scorer in all six games, averaging 19.6 points per game and never finishing under 10+ points in a contest.
Michigan State’s interior defense currently ranks seventh in college basketball, but that is likely fool’s gold, as its first two opponents (Monmouth and Niagara) don’t pose much of a threat inside.
The personnel for this Spartans frontcourt has been a part of some of the least imposing Michigan State frontcourts in Izzo’s tenure. The Spartans have finished 55th or lower nationally in 2-point percentage defense for four straight seasons. That happened just once in the previous 10 years.
Dickinson should eat here, and the Jayhawks should win by double digits behind his production inside.
Pick: Kansas -6 (Play to -7.5)
By: Sean Paul
How will Michigan State's Jaxon Kohler and Szymon Zapala defend outside the arc? Probably not well — speed and defensive ability aren't their strong suits.
The Jayhawks can take advantage and force Izzo to pull the more traditional bigs off the floor. That would mean Izzo pivoting to a smaller lineup, which would then lead to more post-up chances for Dickinson.
Defending the ball has been a real issue for Kansas. It seems like speedy guards give the Jayhawks problems, as UNC's Seth Trimble, Elliot Cadeau and RJ Davis combined for 47 points and reached the foul line 25 times.
The good thing is Michigan State doesn't have a trio of guards like North Carolina.
The Spartans built their roster in a vastly different way than the Jayhawks (as Greg mentioned above). Kansas' roster is based on transfers, while Michigan State brought in just two transfers — but both (Frankie Fidler and Zapala) started in each of the first two games.
The biggest difference for the Spartans is the inexperience at the point guard position. Jeremy Fears Jr. assumes the role from the departed AJ Hoggard. Fears has done a nice job — tossing 16 dimes across the first two games — but he has yet to face a tenacious defender like Dajuan Harris Jr.
Will Fears be able to initiate Tom Izzo's offense with Harris in his grill?
Probably not, so I'm on Kansas -6.5. I'm willing to take the Jayhawks up to -7 due to their strengths on the offensive end.
It feels like Michigan State still wants to find its identity on the offensive end, while Kansas knows how to score 90+ points in a game.
If this game is an up-tempo showdown in the 80s or 90s, Michigan State can't compete against Kansas.
Pick: Kansas -6 (Play to -7)
Michigan State vs. Kansas, Kentucky vs. Duke
I’m here to once again ring the bell for the underdogs in this event. I wrote up this move last year and have been making this bet annually for a few years now.
The theory is that it’s far too early in the season for bettors or sportsbooks to have such a solid opinion of these tentpole programs, so taking the points is the right play.
The numbers have backed this up. In nine years of the Champions Classic, the ‘dogs are 12-5 ATS and 8-9 SU.
In this year’s edition, we’re backing Kentucky and Michigan State, with varying levels of confidence beyond the underdog theory. Kentucky is a team I believe in long term, yet neither the Cats nor Duke — Kentucky’s Tuesday opponent — has been tested yet this season.
At the very least, Mark Pope’s run-and-gun offense gives Kentucky a real puncher’s chance versus the Blue Devils.
Sparty has also not had the chance to prove itself yet, though Michigan State will face a Kansas team in a possible letdown after the Jayhawks needed 40 full minutes to top North Carolina last Friday night.
I’ll be taking Michigan State and Kentucky with the points, as well as dabbling in some moneylines, as well.
If you’re a real believer, the underdog two-leg moneyline parlay pays at +971 at FanDuel.
Pick: Michigan State +6.5 vs. Kansas | Kentucky +6.5 vs. Duke
