Welcome to a new college basketball season. We've been waiting since mid-April to say that here at Action Network, and we're finally back with a bang, including a top-10, late-night matchup out west and several other intriguing duels.
But for the focus of this piece, Jim Root of Three Man Weave is diving into the three games he believes have the best value on opening night.
So, here's your first college basketball best bets and predictions of the season, including three picks for opening night on Nov. 4.
NCAAB Best Bets, Picks and Predictions
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 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. | ||
Valparaiso vs. Liberty
By Jim Root
Embrace the electric atmosphere of two mid-major teams playing a neutral-site game in Xenia, Ohio.
This matchup pits a veteran winning coach in Liberty’s Ritchie McKay against a young and unproven second-year boss in Valpo’s Roger Powell. McKay’s style – methodical, patient, physical – sets up well against a youthful Beacons squad.
The Flames can be tough to prepare for in any scenario, but as a first foe of the season, it could be particularly challenging. McKay extracts an impressive grit from his team, and Liberty is 15-8-1 against the spread in non-conference games over the last two seasons.
Notably, Valpo is likely not at full strength. Key guard Isaiah Stafford is still recovering from a lingering knee issue that sidelined him last year, with Powell sounding like he will take a very conservative approach with his star guard’s health.
Liberty’s biggest weakness last year was positional size, especially in the frontcourt. Adding Isaiah Ihnen (Minnesota), Josh Smith (Stetson) and Owen Aquino (top-10 JUCO prospect) alleviates that concern.
That’s especially crucial against Valpo’s Cooper Schwieger, a 6-foot-10 scoring big man who was extremely productive as a freshman. Liberty will also double the post frequently, making it tough for the Beacons’ star to operate.
I expect the Flames to demoralize the Beacons with their play style, leading to an extended run in the second half.
Pick: Liberty -9.5 (Play to -11)
Kent State vs. Louisiana
By Jim Root
College basketball opening night needed a shot of adrenaline. The most notable efforts to provide that are via a Baylor and Gonzaga’s late-night tilt and The Field of 68’s Sioux Falls tripleheader, but the MAC/Sun Belt challenge offers intrigue of its own.
All 12 MAC schools head south on Monday night, and they will host a return leg in early February.
The offseason went in different directions for these two contenders.
For Kent State, a surprise return fuels optimism. Scoring combo guard Jalen Sullinger transferred to Furman, taking his 15.4 points per game and deadeye perimeter shooting with him. However, that union quickly dissolved, and he returned to Kent State in time to enroll for the fall semester.
Coach Rob Senderoff initially indicated Sullinger would redshirt this season, but he is now expected to be a key piece once again, having been selected for preseason Second Team All-Conference honors.
Sullinger joins arguably the best frontcourt in the MAC in VonCameron Davis and Cli’Ron Hornbeak — along with a strong cast of newcomers — to make the Golden Flashes a formidable foe.
Louisiana, meanwhile, is already battling the almighty injury bug. Star forward Hosana Kitenge is out for the season, and various other minor maladies have popped up on the roster. Sophomore guard Brandon Hardy, an expected rotation piece, is out six weeks with a broken jaw.
Both coaches have been consistently solid (and that may be underselling Senderoff). But Bob Marlin has actually trended closer to the hot seat, and with his best player already on the shelf for the whole season, the temperature could rise fast.
Give me the Golden Flashes.
Pick: Kent State PK (Play to -2)
Southern Indiana vs. DePaul
By Jim Root
Laying double-digit points with a team that won all of three games last season? It might feel gross (OK, it definitely does), but last year’s DePaul “DeBacle” should not inform any opinions of this year’s team.
The program hit the almighty reset button this offseason. The entire coaching staff is gone, as is every single scholarship player. A new day dawns in Chicago.
The most important cornerstone is new coach Chris Holtmann, a floor raiser who might be the best coach DePaul has had since Ray Meyer. He won at both Gardner-Webb and Butler, and even his Ohio State teams all finished inside the top 50 of KenPom (three in the top 20).
Holtmann quickly got to work building a roster, and he did so with a clear vision in mind. The Blue Demons are loaded with perimeter shooting; nearly every player on the roster is a proficient gunner.
He mixed in a couple of on-ball creators – Drake’s Conor Enright, Arkansas’ Layden Blocker – while nabbing a few high-upside pieces, as well.
The team makes sense from a construction standpoint.
Having so many new pieces would be a concern against certain opponents. However, Southern Indiana is no steamroller, coming off an 8-24 season and losing its top three scorers. The Screaming Eagles’ portal haul lacks impact pieces; the best D-I transfer comes from 4-28 VMI.
The excitement around a new era should provide a jolt of energy for DePaul. Plus, Holtmann’s squad has the offensive firepower needed to cover a bigger spread against a weaker opponent.
