After a wild weekend featuring an exciting, overtime game between Houston and Baylor and Wake Forest knocking off No. 8 Duke, college basketball returns Monday with a lighter slate.
But that doesn't mean betting value is off the table. In fact, we have college basketball best bets and odds, including Three Man Weave's three picks for Monday, February 26.
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:30 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8:30 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. | ||
Drexel vs. Delaware
By Jim Root
Monday night’s double-header features two Coastal Athletic Association games where I see value. First up are the Delaware Blue Hens, who host a floundering Drexel squad.
After getting off to a 7-0 start in the league, Drexel now sits at 10-5 after losing five straight road games. It’s not just tough losses, though: the Dragons are 1-7 against the spread in their last eight contests.
Both sides of the ball have suffered.
The Dragons’ typically stout defense has struggled, and Drexel’s own 3-point shooting has come back down to earth after a scalding start to league play. In the seven-game winning streak, Drexel shot 42.7% from deep; over the past eight, that number has dropped to 34.1%.
The other complication is lead guard Justin Moore’s illness. He missed Drexel’s 12-point loss at Hofstra over the weekend, and that result displayed his importance to the Dragons. They managed just 0.88 points per possession and had just eight assists to 13 turnovers.
If he’s out again (or limited) due to the short turnaround between games, Drexel’s offense will suffer.
Delaware was one of the victims of Drexel’s hot CAA start. The Blue Hens lost by 19 at Drexel on Jan. 20, struggling mightily to get stops. However, back home and with Drexel in poor form, I expect coach Martin Ingelsby to make smart adjustments.
Plus, Delaware didn't have a weekend game. Having not played since Thursday, the Blue Hens should be more rested and well-prepared than their competition.
Those factors, plus Drexel’s recent road track record, are enough for me to back Delaware as a short home favorite.
Pick: Delaware -2.5 (Play to -3)
Miami vs. North Carolina
By Jim Root
Big Monday often means betting the Big 12, but I prefer this ACC total to either of the two Big 12 matchups.
These two played in Coral Gables just over two weeks ago, and that game had 73 possessions. Both teams love to play fast offensively — they both rank top three in the ACC in average offensive possession length — and that should put this one over KenPom’s projection of 71 possessions.
Additionally, UNC just played Virginia in a brutalist 60-possession slog. Now pitted against a willing transition dance partner, I expect the Heels to experience some slingshot effect in rediscovering their up-tempo ways.
Efficiency must pair with pace, and both teams had some offensive trouble in the first meeting.
The Tar Heels turned it over 16 times (very unlike them) and had a middling jump-shooting day, while Miami struggled mightily from beyond the arc (6-of-23, 26.1%).
The Hurricanes, in particular, tilt toward the over, given their offensive prowess compared to some defensive vulnerability.
Of note, Nijel Pack’s status is still unclear for this game. If the Hurricanes’ sharpshooter can go, I like this wager even more. He racked up 20 points in the first meeting.
With pace likely an ally here, these two must simply avoid frigid offensive nights to get this one over the total.
Pick: Over 154.5 (Play to 156)
Want to learn about the best North Carolina sports betting apps before betting launches in the state on March 11? Find out more.
UNC Wilmington vs. Campbell
By Jim Root
The CAA nightcap features a team still in the hunt for a regular-season title in UNC Wilmington visiting a bottom-half squad in Campbell.
So, why am I backing the home dog?
Campbell has been feisty in league play, going 9-6 against the spread. That included an impressive effort at UNC Wilmington’s Trask Coliseum, usually an extremely difficult place to play. The Camels came up short, losing by three, but they showed some encouraging signs that hint another competitive game is coming.
Crucially, Campbell turned the ball over only five times in that first meeting. That helped it score a crisp 1.23 points per possession.
The Camels also battled the Seahawks to a draw on the glass. For a squad that often struggles in that department, battling on the boards is very encouraging.
Campbell’s style also sets up well as an underdog. Coach Kevin McGeehan shortens the game via a precise Princeton-style offense, limiting possessions and forcing foes to defend for the entire shot clock. It tests the patience of an opponent who thinks it should be easily taking care of business against an inferior foe.
Unsurprisingly, Campbell is 33-21 ATS as an underdog since the start of the 2020-21 season, per TeamRankings. I will take that track record with a team getting nearly double-digits on its home floor.
Pick: Campbell +9 (Play to +7.5)
Ready to get in on Campbell and UNC Wilmington betting action in North Carolina? You’ll soon be able to join in on NC sports betting.
