Thursday delivers a solid slate with plenty of value to be had in conference play.
Our staff has three top college basketball best bets and NCAAB predictions ready for today's action, spotlighting key tilts in the Sun Belt, Big Ten, and the CAA.
Let's dive in as the first game tips at 12 p.m. ET.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7 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. | ||
ULM vs. Marshall
UL Monroe is 3-16 on the season, visiting 12-7 Marshall.
UL-Monroe has been an 'over' team this season (13-4), and projections expect the points to keep coming.
Action PRO's over/under clocks in at 165.9, offering a nice +3.1% edge on the over. While the Warhawks have gone under the total in back-to-back games entering Thursday, they started the season 13-2 to the over.
ULM's top-75 nationally in pace, and both teams are averaging more possessions this season than last.
Pick: Over 160.5
Wisconsin vs. Penn State
That Penn State defense makes any bet on the Nittany Lions require a bettor to hold their nose and close their eyes before submitting the wager.
At least this game comes at home against a Wisconsin team that's been hot and should see shooting regression soon. I'd like Penn State to cover if this number inches higher to +7.5 or so, but at the opening number of just +5.5, I'm staying clear of the spread.
Instead, I'll expect Wisconsin's shooting to regress and look at the under. That's hard to do with Penn State's defensive issues, but there's likely regression coming for the Nits as well. Only three of Penn State's seven Big Ten games have topped this total (160.5).
Even if Wisconsin wants to push the pace, Penn State is allowing the eighth-slowest average possession defensively in the country.
A slower pace is joined by a cold shooting night as snow gathers across the country, making the under the right play.
Pick: Under 159.5
Hofstra vs. North Carolina A&T
By Evan Abrams
This game at Corbett Sports Center activates our Stadium Unders system.
In college basketball, games in specific arenas often trend under due to consistent venue factors such as deeper backboards, unique lighting, and court setups that slow the pace and limit shooting efficiency. Teams in these environments, especially after recent lower-scoring or defensive games, see coaches prioritize control and defense, leading to reliable unders across seasons where rhythm and flow are harder to sustain.
Tonight's CAA matchup features Hofstra visiting a desperate North Carolina A&T that's been blown out lately, losing by 21 to Hampton on Monday. Corbett's setup contributes to tighter, slower contests with reduced perimeter efficiency and fewer possessions—common in similar mid-major home venues.
Hofstra's road offense can cool off against gritty hosts, while NC A&T grinds at home to compete, suppressing totals. The line sits at 148.5, but venue trends and both teams' form point to a controlled, half-court affair.
This system has an incredible 26% ROI this Season and a 27% ROI since 2021.
Pick: Under 148.5
