College Basketball Odds & Picks: How to Bet Monday’s Slate of Games (December 7)

College Basketball Odds & Picks: How to Bet Monday’s Slate of Games (December 7) article feature image
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Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images. Pictured: JaCorey Williams (left) and Antwain Johnson (right).

  • There may not be much star power on Monday's college basketball slate, but the betting value is still there.
  • Our college basketball staff broke down their three favorite bets for two lesser-known games on Monday's schedule.
  • Check out all three picks with complete betting analysis below.

There may be very few top-25 matchups on Monday's college basketball slate, but that doesn't mean there isn't betting value. In fact, if you asked our college basketball staff, they would tell you the exact opposite.

With two identical picks, our staff broke down their three favorite bets from two lesser-known games on the college basketball docket.

Without further ado, we present to you Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga and Eastern Kentucky vs. Morehead State.


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How to Bet Monday's College Basketball Slate

Here's a rundown of our favorite betting spots on Monday's slate of games:

Tip Time
Matchup
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Eastern Kentucky vs. Morehead State

All listed odds have been updated as of Sunday night and via DraftKings. Specific bet recommendations at the end of each matchup breakdown 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.


CLICK THE DROPDOWN ARROW TO EASILY NAVIGATE TO ANY GAME
Tip Time
Matchup
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Eastern Kentucky vs. Morehead State

Middle Tennessee State (-2) vs. Chattanooga

By BJ Cunningham


ncaa-college basketball-best bets-december 7
Middle Tennessee State Odds-2 [BET NOW]
Chattanooga Odds+2 [BET NOW]
Moneyline-136 / +112 [BET NOW]
Over/Under138 [BET NOW]
Time7 p.m. ET
TVC-USA TV
(Photo Credit: Frank Mattia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

Last season was a difficult one for the Blue Raiders. They came into the season projected to finish eighth in Conference USA but ended up with only five wins against Division I opponents. However, Middle Tennessee brought in a ton of talent via the transfer portal and is projected to improve, as four of those transfers averaged double figures at their previous schools. 

Middle Tennessee State plays a soft 1-3-1 pressure and falls back into man-to-man on defense, which left it susceptible to giving up buckets in the paint.

However, the Blue Raiders drastically improved through their first three games, allowing 0.95 points per possession. In fact, they are allowing only 60 points per game against solid offensive competition. Bottom line, Middle Tennessee is going to have more talent and depth in 2020 and should drastically improve from only five wins last season. 

Chattanooga head coach Lamont Paris is a Bo Ryan disciple, meaning he values taking care of the ball over everything. The Mocs improved upon that number in 2019 but still have a long way to go.

They will also have to do it without their frontcourt from last season, as Matt Ryan and Ramon Vila have moved on. Point guard David Jean-Baptiste is set to conduct the offense for the fourth and final time and will be the engine that drives the Mocs this season. 

The problem though for the Mocs lies on the defensive side of the ball. Last season, they were near the bottom in the SoCon in effective field goal percentage allowed, turnover percentage, and 2-point percentage allowed. They are likely going to struggle to improve those numbers with their two starters in the frontcourt gone. 

For Middle Tennessee to win this game, it’s going to have to dominate down low. It has the ability to do so with Tyson Jackson, who was a member of the Conference USA All-Freshman team last year. 

I have Middle Tennessee projected as -4.28 favorites, so I think there is value on them at -2 at home.


[Bet Middle Tennessee now at BetMGM and get a $500 INSTANT deposit match]

CLICK THE DROPDOWN ARROW TO EASILY NAVIGATE TO ANY GAME
Tip Time
Matchup
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Eastern Kentucky vs. Morehead State

Middle Tennessee State (-2) vs. Chattanooga

By Reed Wallach


ncaa-college basketball-best bets-december 7
Middle Tennessee State Odds-2 [BET NOW]
Chattanooga Odds+2 [BET NOW]
Moneyline-136 / +112 [BET NOW]
Over/Under138 [BET NOW]
Time7 p.m. ET
TVC-USA TV
(Photo Credit: Frank Mattia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

Middle Tennessee grabbed its first win of the season last time out over Murray State and now plays host to 3-0 Chattanooga. After a sluggish first two games in which MTSU struggled to break the 60-point mark, the team broke through in the 17-point win.

Both teams have been pests on the defensive end, ranking in the top 30 each in turnover percentage, according to KenPom, but this Blue Raider defense is legit. The unit is allowing an effective field goal percentage of 40.8% and has been stifling from deep, allowing a sub-18% 3-point mark through the young season.

Chattanooga is paced by point guard David Jean-Baptiste, who is going to be tasked with protecting the ball from the MTSU defense. Like the Blue Raiders, the Mocs have not been stellar on the offensive end, posting a 43.7 effective field goal percentage. The club has gotten to the free-throw line often and feasted when there, hitting shots at a 76.9% clip.

I’m betting on the continued positive regression for the Blue Raider offense while the defense can continue to give the opposition fits and get some transition buckets. Chattanooga has been strong on the defensive end, but this could be a good buy-low spot on the Blue Raiders. At home, I’m banking on the offense to continue to round into form. I’d play Middle Tennessee to -3.


[Bet Middle Tennessee now at DraftKings and get a $1,000 bonus, including a $500 risk-free bet]

CLICK THE DROPDOWN ARROW TO EASILY NAVIGATE TO ANY GAME
Tip Time
Matchup
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Middle Tennessee State vs. Chattanooga
7 p.m. ET
Eastern Kentucky vs. Morehead State


Eastern Kentucky (-12.5) vs. Morehead State

By Mike Randle


ncaa-college basketball-best bets-december 7
Eastern Kentucky Odds-12.5 [BET NOW]
Morehead State Odds+12.5 [BET NOW]
Moneyline-1000 / +650 [BET NOW]
Over/Under145.5 [BET NOW]
Time7 p.m. ET
TVESPN+
(Photo Credit: Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images).

Eastern Kentucky head coach A.W. Hamilton has made one thing clear as he enters his third season with the Colonels: fast is not fast enough.

In his three seasons at the helm, Eastern Kentucky has ranked second, sixth, and second again this season in adjusted tempo, per KenPom. The Colonels have hit 95-plus points in each of their past two games, an overtime loss at Xavier and a 17-point home win over South Carolina Upstate. 

Eastern Kentucky is led by 6-foot-9 junior Tre King, who has dominated the interior. King leads the Colonels in scoring (18 ppg), rebounds (9.5 pg), steals (2.8), and blocks (1.1) while shooting 41.7% (5-of-12) from deep.

They also have a fantastic point guard in junior Jomaru Brown, who was named to the preseason Ohio Valley Conference team along with King. The speedy 6-foot-2 guard has played in the last two games for Eastern Kentucky and is averaging 15 points, four rebounds, 4.5 assists, and two steals while shooting 85.7% from the free-throw line. 

Morehead State has suffered through disappointing 13-win seasons the past two years and has started just 1-3 in 2020. Outside of a home win over Arkansas State, the Eagles have suffered three losses by an average of 29 points per game. Morehead State tries to slow the pace down, ranking 321st in adjusted tempo, per KenPom, but doesn’t have the talent to do so effectively. 

The Eagles’ defensive metrics are abysmal, as they rank 311th in adjusted defensive efficiency and 249th in effective field goal percentage while allowing opponents to shoot a blistering 57.6% from inside the arc. 

Morehead State is also brutal on offense, averaging 17.8 turnovers per game and shooting just 26% from 3-point range and 65% from the free-throw line. It lost by 33 points against an Ohio State team that does not look to push the pace. 

This is an intrastate Kentucky rivalry, but the talent disparity is the biggest it's been in recent memory. Eastern Kentucky’s pressure defense should force a ton of turnovers that will lead to easy baskets. The Colonels shoot poorly from beyond the arc (25.4%) but should score easily inside. Eastern Kentucky is also the much better free-throw shooting team, hitting its freebies at a 76.8% clip. 

This line opened at only 10 points because the last six games between these two teams have been decided by six points or less. However, the stabilizing inside-outside play with King and Brown, combined with the defensive pressure (forced 25 turnovers at Xavier), should get the Colonels the cover. I’m taking Eastern Kentucky and laying the 12.5 points.


[Bet Eastern Kentucky now at BetMGM and get a $500 INSTANT deposit match]

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