2 NCAAB Best Bets for Monday
Photo by Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Dylan Disu (Texas)
The conference tournaments officially begin today with two ASUN games, but let's not forget that the regular season also continues through March 10.
Dive in below for NCAAB best bets and odds, including our staff's top regular season picks for Monday, March 4.
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. | ||
| 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. | ||
Duke vs. NC State
Monday night’s college basketball matchup between the Duke Blue Devils (23-6, 14-4 ACC) and North Carolina State Wolfpack (17-12, 9-9 ACC) promises to be a compelling encounter with significant implications for both teams.
This game not only highlights the regional rivalry between these programs, but also comes at a critical juncture in their respective seasons, with each team eager to solidify their standing in the highly competitive ACC.
Considering the statistical trends and the overall performance of both teams, taking Duke to cover as a 5.5-point favorite appears to be the most compelling bet for this game.
Despite playing at NC State, Duke's superior offensive efficiency — combined with a robust defense that can challenge the Wolfpack's scoring avenues — positions the Blue Devils favorably.
Duke's ability to convert on offensive opportunities and rebound defensively should limit NC State's second-chance points, a critical factor given the Wolfpack's challenges with offensive efficiency.
Take Duke -5.5 and expect the Blue Devils to showcase the same dominance they have shown all season.
Pick: Duke -5.5
Texas vs. Baylor
By John Feltman
It may seem like a contrarian pick considering the Longhorns have already beaten the Bears, but I'm backing them again here.
KenPom agrees with the market that the line should be Baylor -7, but there are a lot of areas for Texas to capitalize on to keep the game within reach.
The Bears are fifth in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, but the Horns are due for positive regression on the perimeter. Their opponents are due for poorer shooting numbers moving forward.
The Bears' defensive issues are a legitimate concern, as they're entering the contest 238th in opposing 2-point percentage. The Horns live inside, but even against the zone, I expect them to capitalize on open looks from deep.
The Longhorns are talented enough offensively to crack the new-look 1-3-1 Baylor zone, and their perimeter defense is due for positive regression. The Bears should have no trouble scoring, but their defensive issues scare me far too much to lay points with them at the moment.
Baylor is also coming off a big win against Kansas, so there's always potential for a letdown.
I like the Bears' ceiling moving forward if they figure out their defensive issues, but for this particular matchup, I'm riding with the Longhorns all day.
Pick: Texas +7 (Play to +5.5)
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