Monday is the eve of the Champions Classic, as four blue bloods get set for the non-conference's premier event.
But before we fast forward to Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, there's betting value in college basketball on Monday.
So, read below for college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB expert picks and predictions for Monday, November 17.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 8 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. | ||
Saint Joe's vs. Penn
A revenge spot and bounce-back spot collide into one enticing situational play with the Hawks, who are fresh off a butt-whooping against Virginia Tech.
Shockingly, the Hawks’ length and athleticism was carved to pieces by a white-hot Hokies offense.
Frankly, I can’t see Penn replicating Virginia Tech’s successful blueprint on Monday, and Steve Donahue’s revved up defensive pressure could bother Penn’s backcourt.
Above all, Donahue’s return to the Palestra — where he was relieved of his duties earlier this spring — gives him a rare chance to return the favor to his old employer. He has the deeper, more talented roster and isn’t at risk of being exposed by a well-oiled offensive machine.
Fran McCaffery’s continuity-based offenses are bound to have some ebbs and flows early on, especially with a brand new team.
Pick: Saint Joe's -5.5 (Play to -6)
SIU Edwardsville vs. Wisconsin
Wisconsin isn't known as a terrifying favorite under the Greg Gard regime. For context, dating back to COVID, the Badgers are 31-24-2 ATS as a 'dog, compared to 57-58 as a favorite.
However, this season's Badger buzzsaw looks primed to rip mid-major opponents to smithereens.
Monday's tilt against SIU Edwardsville marks Wisconsin's fourth buy game foe of the season. The Badgers are 2-1 against the spread in their first three contests, with Northern Illinois being the only non-cover (yet they still won by 25).
Their "spurtability" has been fueled by an uptick in ball pressure defensively, keyed by Nick Boyd and a super rangy perimeter that grades out as the seventh-tallest team in college basketball, per KenPom’s average height metric.
SIU Edwardsville's floor general Jack Campion, a Wisconsin native, will face his first true test of power-conference pressure, which could expose the Cougars’ ball handling weakness for the first time all season.
Without a reliable secondary handler, Campion could be in for a long night if he’s left on an island against Boyd, John Blackwell and company.
Pick: Wisconsin -25.5 (Play to -26)
Loyola Marymount vs. UC Santa Barbara
This is a showdown between two of the more prolific West Coast mid-major squads this season.
Loyola Marymount is never short on talent, but this season’s concoction is lifted by a renaissance campaign for Myron Amey Jr., the former San Jose State standout.
After enduring numerous injuries the last two years, Amey looks reinvigorated playing for Stan Johnson, and the supporting pieces are falling neatly into place.
UC Santa Barbara’s talent is equally sublime, but there’s a notable lack of balance on both sides of the ball. Against lesser-talented opponents in their last two outings, the Gauchos looked porous at stopping dribble penetration and shoddy at protecting the rim, two areas where the Lions are poised to pounce on Monday.
Jalen Shelley is the two-way demon for the Lions with a favorable matchup advantage against the Gauchos, who are relying on two undersized 5s in Hosana Kitenge and Colin Smith (both of whom look a little rusty defensively coming off serious injuries).
Pick: Loyola Marymount +3.5
