We've reached the next course in Feast Week.
Monday's slate is filled with action throughout the day (11 a.m. ET to midnight ET), and there's plenty of value to be had.
Read below for college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB expert picks and predictions for Monday, November 24.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3 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. | ||
Green Bay vs. Iona
Finally, Doug Gottlieb notched a semi-signature victory over a legitimate Division I opponent over the weekend. Despite missing their alpha Marcus Hall, the Phoenix mustered an inspirational "Ewing Theory" effort to knock off UMass.
Now they seek to leave paradise with a confidence-boosting 2-1 record against a dangerous but highly erratic Iona opponent.
The key to Green Bay’s recent boon is Division III sensation Justin Allen, who averaged 25 a game at Carnegie Mellon. There’s nothing flukey about his emergence, and it arms Green Bay with multiple versatile rim attackers on the offensive end.
Iona’s defense boasts a few premier athletes, but the Gaels are mostly riding fortuitous shooting splits to a 5-1 record — opponents are shooting 25% and 63% from the 3-point line and free-throw line, respectively.
As seen with Green Bay’s gutsy second-half performance against Yale — which preceded the victory over Massachusetts — the Phoenix should be knocking on the back door should Iona race out to an early lead.
Iona fans have witnessed some lackadaisical second-half performances so far this year, which could give Green Bay backers another pathway to cover town if needed.
Pick: Green Bay +7.5 (Play to +6)
UT Rio Grande Valley vs. Illinois
Fading Illinois in the House of Paign is never a fun endeavor, but this sandwich spot screams potential sleepwalk. After a dominant display against LIU and the bounce-back explosion after the Alabama loss, the Illini have one final buy game before the highly-anticipated tilt with UConn this weekend.
This feels like a Deja Vu spot to the Colgate matchup on November 14, which fell in between the Texas Tech and Alabama games.
The Balkan Boys, while healthier, are far from a finished product, especially the Ivisic twins, who are still struggling to find consistency in their new roles.
Ultimately, Illinois may run away with this one in the final 20 minutes, but I expect early turbulence to keep the Vaqueros competitive in the first half.
Kahil Fennell is a terrific coach and proven "class riser." Dating back to last year, UTRGV has posted impressive performances on the road against Nebraska, Creighton, Wisconsin and Baylor, keeping all margins within 20 points.
Pick: UT Rio Grande Valley 1H +20.5 (Play to +18)
Yale vs. Akron
This is a "think small, win big" handicap. The Zips are a well-oiled machine with serious offensive ammunition, buoyed by the summer additions of the Mahaffey brothers.
This dynamic wing duo has taken Akron’s offensive ceiling to new heights and added a new dimension to the defensive end of the floor as well.
Also, Akron’s lack of traditional interior size won’t be exposed with Yale's current DNA.
The Bulldogs have been fortunate to hit shots at an incendiary clip to start the season, which helped them stave off upset bids from Green Bay and Stony Brook. Against stiffer competition (see Rhode Island), the Bulldogs’ advantage was entirely negated.
Perhaps this is an overreaction to a stellar performance against Evansville, but this might be one of the few remaining chances to "buy low" on what could be a bona-fide top-40 caliber mid-major machine against a team still sorting through its backcourt rotations.
Pick: Akron -2 (Play to -3.5)
