This. Is. March.
While the first day of the month doesn't bring with it a ginormous slate, it does set the tone for one of the best months of the sports calendar.
Our college basketball writers came through with 3 best bets for Sunday's slate, including picks for Michigan State vs. Indiana, Northern Iowa vs. Drake and Charleston vs. UNC Wilmington.
Let's dive into our college basketball picks and NCAAB best bets for Sunday, March 1.
College Basketball Picks, Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from Sunday's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3 p.m. | |
  | 3:45 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. | ||
Northern Iowa vs Drake Pick
Projections are still humming with value after Saturday's 143-game college basketball.
We have some smart value picks derived from our Action PRO Projections for Sunday's March 1 slate — and there's a game in which the line and total are both way off from our odds.
That double-pick game would be Sunday's in-state Missouri Valley Conference rivalry between the Northern Iowa Panthers and Drake Bulldogs.
When it comes to the spread, PRO's fair line opened at -6. That gives us almost three points worth of value on UNI, so take the Panthers to cover, as projections see this as the better side.
Moving onto the total, PRO released it much lower (closer to 130.5) — a sizable gap vs. the market's 138.5. That’s a strong under play and an A+ grade.
Pick: Northern Iowa -3.5 · Under 139.5
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Michigan State vs Indiana Pick
By Evan Abrams
Sunday's Big Ten college basketball game between Michigan State and Indiana fits a historically profitable betting system called "Power Five Outright Love" from our Bet Labs database.
In college basketball conference play, home teams from Power Five leagues consistently hold a measurable advantage when facing comparable or slightly weaker opponents.
With spreads in the competitive range, these teams benefit from strong home environments, experienced coaching and familiarity with conference officiating and travel rhythms.
Games played in the heart of the season, especially January through March, often feature elevated defensive effort and crowd intensity, which amplify the edge for established programs protecting home court.
Bettors often underestimate this advantage when lines remain modest, yet the combination of talent, motivation and situational stability makes these home moneyline spots highly reliable within major conference play.
Pick: Indiana ML +140
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Charleston vs UNC Wilmington Pick
By Ryan Minion
In what surely could be a preview of the CAA Championship game that will take place soon, both teams have a great chance to end the regular season with some confidence and momentum.
During the first meeting in Charleston, the Seahawks dominated for all 40 minutes, building a double-digit lead in the first half and never relinquishing it for the remainder of the contest.
Head coach Takayo Siddle’s bunch has really looked like the best team in the conference by a substantial margin for the majority of the season, though Charleston is likely one of just a couple of teams in the conference with any chance of defeating the CAA’s top team in the upcoming conference tournament.
While I often love buying into the revenge angle of a matchup, I'm having a tough time fading UNCW in this spot.
Senior Nolan Hodge leads the team in scoring this season with just shy of 15 points per contest, also tallying nearly five rebounds on average.
Alongside Hodge, Madison Durr and Christian May have been very impressive in their final collegiate seasons.
UNCW’s offense has recorded over 77 points per game this season, while the Seahawks allow just 67 on the other end of the floor, maintaining a stellar double-digit scoring margin this season.
I think Charleston could surely contend in the conference tournament on a neutral floor, but the Cougars have a tall order playing on the road against a team that has dropped just one home game in 2026.
I think UNCW should get off to a great start in the first 20 minutes of this contest, and I'll be looking to back the Seahawks to cover the first-half spread in Sunday’s CAA clash.
Pick: UNC Wilmington 1H -2.5
