Feast Week has been very different this season, with the Players Era Festival taking the spotlight over the Maui Invitational and the Battle 4 Atlantis.
But the same thing remains true for us bettors: We're searching for the best value on the board.
So, read below for college basketball best bets, including three NCAAB picks, predictions and odds for Wednesday, November 26.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
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  | 7 p.m. | |
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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. | ||
Columbia vs. Fairfield
Columbia’s renaissance under new coach Kevin Hovde has been something to behold. With a ton of carry-over from last year (14th in minutes continuity, per KenPom), the Lions are off to a roaring 5-1 start, both overall and against the spread.
Through their first six games, the ATS ATM machines have a cover margin of +8.4 points per game.
That includes three impressive road efforts: an 18-point win at New Haven (covered -8), a respectable 89-62 loss at powerhouse UConn (covered +33) and an 82-67 win at Lehigh (easily covered -1.5). With a veteran rotation featuring four seniors, it makes sense that the Lions have traveled well.
However, it's the Lions’ young guns that have raised their performance ceiling. Freshmen Connor Igoe and Miles Franklin have been revelations, with the 6-foot-7, 240-pound Igoe serving as a powerful passing hub (25.9% assist rate, 220th in the country) and the 6-foot-5, 200-pound Franklin emerging as a two-way menace on the wing.
Fairfield, to its credit, has gotten help from its freshmen as well, specifically Brandon Benjamin and the immaculately-named Declan Wucherpfennig.
However, the Stags barely beat Loyola MD (needed OT) and Stonehill at home, two much worse teams than Columbia. They'll struggle mightily to score inside against a stingy Columbia defense.
I'll lay it with the burgeoning Lions and their savvy first-year boss, up to -3.
Pick: Columbia -2.5 (Play to -3)
Eastern Michigan vs. Cincinnati
In a week of neutral site events, Cincinnati remains tethered to a typical home schedule. The Bearcats welcome Eastern Michigan to town, part of a round robin of sorts between the Bearcats, Eastern Michigan, Louisville and NJIT (Cincinnati’s last two opponents).
Under Wes Miller, Cincinnati has struggled offensively. The Bearcats have yet to rank in the top 50 in offensive efficiency, per KenPom, and this season's offense currently ranks as Miller’s worst in his tenure (160th).
However, an extreme change in pace gives Cincinnati a far better chance at covering as a big favorite.
To date, Miller’s fastest team, per KenPom, was ranked 112th. This season's squad is all the way up to 31st, slamming the gas pedal to generate more opportunities in transition. More possessions should equal more opportunities for the talent gap to play out, generally a positive for the favorite.
From a spot lens, Cincinnati still has a buffer game (Tarleton State on Monday) before perhaps looking ahead to the Crosstown Shootout with archrival Xavier.
Eastern Michigan should struggle badly to score against the elite Cincinnati interior. The Bearcats rank 10th nationally in 2-point percentage allowed, and they don't surrender offensive rebounds, nor do they foul. They are huge (25th in average height) and have plenty of depth.
Eastern Michigan’s only real method to score is via jumpers over the top, but the Eagles rank a lowly 347th in 3-point attempt rate.
Admittedly, Cincinnati has struggled as a big favorite this year (0-3 ATS as a favorite of 20+ points). Stretchy forward Baba Miller is also doubtful. However, I think this is the right matchup and spot for a blowout victory.
Pick: Cincinnati -23 (Play to -25)
Kansas vs. Tennessee
Tennessee got a massive measure of revenge on Tuesday, knocking off Houston – the team that sent the Vols home from the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
An opportunity to knock off a blueblood now awaits.
Because of the funky (ok, dumb) structure of the Players Era Festival, Tennessee and Kansas are playing in the third-place game despite both being 2-0 so far.
However, Tennessee had a much more impressive win (Houston) than either of Kansas’ victories (Notre Dame, shorthanded Syracuse).
The format does also highly incentivize the favorite here, as the winner gets a share of more NIL money ($300K) than the loser ($200K). There’s no worry about a letdown for Tennessee.
From a matchup lens, the battle in the paint should be a war. Kansas’ Flory Bidunga and Bryson Tiller have emerged as key pieces, particularly on the glass. But Tennessee’s endless onslaught of big men – Felix Okpara, Jaylen Carey, J.P. Estrella, Cade Phillips, DeWayne Brown II – presents an extreme challenge for the young Jayhawk post men.
Tennessee leads the country in offensive rebound rate, and that barrage will continue in waves, wearing down Kansas' thinner interior rotation.
The Vols also hold a massive edge on the perimeter. The best player on the floor will either be Nate Ament, the Vols’ smooth 6-foot-10 NBA draft prospect, or Ja’Kobi Gillespie, the Vols’ All-American-caliber point guard.
Kansas is down its own lottery pick point guard, Darryn Peterson, creating a major playmaking void. That hasn't haunted Bill Self’s team against Notre Dame and Syracuse, but it will against Tennessee’s top 10 defense.
A final feather in Tennessee’s cap: Ament and Gillespie are terrific free throw shooters, should Tennessee need to seal a cover late with freebies.
I’d lay up to -5 as a result.
Pick: Tennessee -4.5 (Play to -6)
