Football is officially over, so it's time for all college basketball, all the time, until early April.
To start, I'm targeting three spots on Monday.
Let's dive into my college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB expert picks and predictions for Monday, February 9.
College Basketball Best Bets, Picks
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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:00 PM | |
  | 8:00 PM | |
  | 8:00 PM | |
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. | ||
Southern Illinois vs. Indiana State Pick
Charleston is reasserting its command of the CAA, while the Seahawks are starting to look vulnerable.
Sure, UNCW may be angry tonight off a brutal home loss to William & Mary, but the lack of depth could start to catch up to them in the dog days of conference play.
Head coach Takayo Siddle has discussed his focus on managing the workload of a thin rotation that runs about six or seven deep on any given night.
The interior presence of Patrick Wessler poses matchup problems for most CAA foes, but not Charleston, which will counter with giant rim protectors in Chol Machot and Christian Reeves.
Machot is the more bouncy shot blocker, but Reeves likely draws the Kessler matchup due to his girth and strength.
The Seahawks boast potent wing scorers as well, but the Cougars’ perimeter firepower is prolific.
Jlynn Counter is finally healthy and surging into Player of the Year consideration, while backcourt mate Connor Hickman is cooking as well.
But the X-Factor is Colby Duggan, who will be tasked with shutting down one of UNCW’s wing scorers.
Charleston is long overdue for a hot shooting night as well, but its ability to score inside has alleviated some long-range shooting droughts during this streak.
If the Cougars catch fire tonight, look out.
Pick: Southern Illinois +2 (Play to +1.5)
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UNC Wilmington vs. Charleston Pick
Indiana State is starting to turn a corner lately, buoyed by a healthier rotation and a restored identity under Matthew Graves — it was a choppy handoff at first from Mark Schlessinger to Graves after his medical leave of absence due to heart issues.
However, this sets up for a relatively low price to back a desperate Saluki team, which matches up well against the hyperextended Sycamore defense. Per CBB Analytics, only Murray State and its overzealous defense surrender more paint and rim 2-point attempts than Indiana State.
The return of Markus Harding is a big boost to the Trees’ rim defense, but the Salukis are midrange assassins, especially Quel’Ron House, who could carve up Indiana State in ball-screen action.
CBB Analytics charts Southern Illinois as top-50 nationally in both midrange field goal percentage and paint field goal percentage (parsing out shots at the rim).
This may not seem like a Moneyball shot diet recipe for success, but the Salukis should be able to generate comfortable looks against the fat-and-happy Trees, who just walloped Evansville over the weekend.
Pick: Charleston -2 (Play to -4)
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Illinois State vs. Evansville Pick
No Connor Turnbull equals big problems for Evansville.
The official MVC injury report confirms the Aces’ premier interior defender is out today, a gut-wrenching loss for a team in a tailspin.
Turnbull’s been in and out of the lineup in his aim to return from injury over the past month, but his absence was surely felt on Friday against Indiana State. Big man Markus Harding had a monster game up front, picking on the Turnbull-less frontline.
Now, Evansville must find a way to defend Chase Walker, who went for 22 points in 26 minutes in the Redbirds’ rout of the Aces on New Year’s Day.
Evansville’s relatively stronger quality at home this season is on the cusp of eroding under the emotional and psychological pressure of an extended losing streak, compounded by the confirmation of no Turnbull.
I’m betting on a repeat of that first meeting and the Aces to eventually cave down the stretch.
Pick: Illinois State -9.5 (Play to -10)
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