The Jimmy V Classic tips off from Madison Square Garden on Tuesday and features four top-25 teams, including two in the top 10.
Our staff has Jimmy V Classic best bets below, including predictions for Illinois vs. Florida Atlantic and UConn vs. UNC on December 5.
Jimmy V Classic Best Bets & Picks
| Time (ET) | Bets |
|---|---|
| 6:30 p.m. | |
| 9 p.m. | |
| 9 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. | |
Illinois vs. Florida Atlantic
Illinois +1.5
By D.J. James
The Florida Atlantic Owls are a great team, but they have some glaring weaknesses that could play into this matchup in the Jimmy V Classic with the Illinois Fighting Illini.
First, FAU can shoot inside and out. It's hitting over 38% from 3-point range, while shooting 58.6% from inside the arc. Per ShotQuality, the Owls rank 10th in Rim-and-3 Rate and 41st in Open 3 Rate.
However, the Fighting Illini could be the antidote to the Owls’ efficient shooting. Illinois maintains the second-ranked Rim-and-3 Rate defensively in the country. They also rank 40th in defensive Open 3 Rate (comparable to FAU).
Adding to that, the Illini are holding opponents to a 3-point attempt rate of only 28% (10th in the nation), and opponents are shooting just 36.3% from inside the arc on them.
Finally, the Illini have the best effective field goal percentage on defense, too.
That's not all, though. Illinois has four straight victories with 50+ rebounds. It can crash the glass from every position on offense and defense. FAU ranks only 87th offensively and 191st defensively in rebounding, while the Illini rank 33rd and 17th.
Lastly, Illinois looked like it could be a threat from deep against Rutgers, one of the best defenses in the country. Illinois went 9-for-21 from outside, so Luke Goode and Terrence Shannon Jr. should loom large again. FAU allows opponents to shoot 32% from deep, so this could become a concern.
Look for defense to reign supreme and for the Illini to get more shot opportunities than they give up.
Take them to -1.5.
Pick: Illinois +2 (Play to -1.5)
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UConn vs. UNC
UConn -5.5
By John Feltman
We're in store for a terrific matchup at Madison Square Garden between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the UConn Huskies.
The big news in this game is UConn freshman guard Stephon Castle will be available for the first time in about a month.
I already liked the Huskies heading into this game, but this makes me love them even more. This is a classic bounce-back spot for them after a tough loss at Kansas on Friday.
The backcourt matchup is going to be fascinating to watch. Heel guards Elliot Cadeau and R.J Davis will have to outlast Castle and Tristen Newton all evening long.
The Heels will have to win this battle because I don't see them having much success inside. I realize Armando Bacot is extremely talented and is a veteran, but Donovan Clingan has been an absolute force inside for the Huskies, and he's a huge reason they're 10th in the nation in 2-point defense.
Carolina went pretty cold from 3 on Saturday against the Noles, but they can't afford to go through that again in this one. I think the Huskies have plenty of firepower in order to dominate this Heels team.
UConn has a clear defensive edge and will be able to counter the strong rebounding group that the Heels possess. I love the Huskies in a clear bounce-back spot.
Pick: UConn -5.5 (Play to -6)
Did you know legal betting is coming to the Tar Heel State? North Carolina sports betting is coming online in 2024, so you’ll be able to bet wager legally at major sportsbooks in NC.
UConn -5.5
After dropping their first non-conference game in 24 tries, we can finally bet on a bounce-back spot for the Huskies.
And I don’t mind backing UConn off a loss against a North Carolina team that’s shot its way to a 7-1 start.
The Tar Heels are shooting and scoring at will, but I do think they’re a tad overvalued. They’re shooting 36% from 3 and 77% from the charity stripe, monster jumps from their 31% and 74% marks last season.
I also think this is a tough matchup for them.
North Carolina likes to run the floor with its Davis-Cormac Ryan-Cadeau three-guard attack and funnel the ball to Bacot in the post.
As mentioned, it’s working well.
That said, UConn ranks above average in transition PPP allowed (1.00) and above the 80th percentile of teams in post-up PPP allowed (.68).
Behind the monstrous Clingan, scoring on the interior against UConn is tough. And the Huskies play relatively slowly, so they only allow six fast-break points per game.
So, I expect them to mess with the flow of UNC’s offense and hang with Bacot down low – much like Villanova did, as the Heels managed only six fast-break points while Bacot managed only eight points in a two-point overtime loss to the Big East Wildcats.
Meanwhile, Connecticut’s offensive attack can play against UNC. Dan Hurley runs many handoff, cutting, off-screen and post-up actions to generate buckets.
The Heels have been good against handoffs (.64 PPP allowed, 79th percentile) but mediocre against cutters (1.17 PPP allowed, 49th percentile) and posters (.92 PPP allowed, 30th percentile), while grading out as downright dreadful against off-screen stuff (1.4 PPP allowed, second percentile).
UConn has also been unlucky shooting the ball, which is surprising for a 7-1 team. The Huskies are generating a whopping 14 unguarded jumpers per game (fourth nationally) but scoring only 1.03 PPP on those attempts (226th nationally).
The Huskies have fallen back on their elite interior scoring prowess to win seven of eight, but this team could score at an even higher clip once the open shots start falling.
UNC will let teams shoot, ranking sub-240th nationally in 3-point rate allowed and allowing over eight unguarded jumpers per game. So, perhaps this is the game where Connecticut turns into an unstoppable offensive attack.
I’m betting the jumpers start falling in a good schematic and situational spot for the defending champs, and I’m laying the points with our Huskies.
Pick: UConn -5.5
UConn -5.5
The premier matchup in this game is Bacot versus Clingan. At times, that battle of the big men will look like something out of a Godzilla movie. Both are dominant rebounders who use their size and strength to clear the space needed to score around the rim.
I'll have a keen eye on how that battle is being officiated, with quick whistles on either leading to foul trouble and issues on the interior for that team.
Ultimately, however, this game will be decided on the perimeter. North Carolina has to prove that it can defend in space against shooters, which UConn has in spades.
I don't know that Newton can shoot like he did against Kansas again, but Cam Spencer and Alex Karaban will be ready for the open looks they get.
Add in a pro-Huskies crowd at Madison Square Garden, and this feels like a great spot for UConn to nab a win following a loss.
Pick: UConn -5.5
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