We've reached Thursday of Champ Week, and we have a loaded slate featuring a lot of ranked teams and some juicy bubble matchups.
So, our staff has decided to pick out the best value for your betting card.
Read below for college basketball picks, including a massive dumpster diving edge in the SWAC that highlights Thursday's daytime NCAAB best bets.
College Basketball Picks
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 11 a.m. | |
  | 2 p.m. | |
  | 2:30 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. | ||
UMass vs. Miami (OH)
By Ryan Minion
This is the third meeting this season between these MAC rivals, with undefeated Miami (OH) obviously prevailing in both of the first two contests.
Both matchups were pretty close, with the RedHawks winning by just two points on their home floor, followed by a nine-point victory on the road in Amherst just a couple of weeks ago.
At the risk of sounding too cliché, it's very difficult to beat the same team three times. This may be a more closely-contested matchup than the odds suggest.
Miami (OH) is coming off three consecutive victories all by a two-point margin, and it feels as if the dominoes may inevitably fall for the team’s first defeat.
After two pretty close matchups with UMass in its first two encounters, I don't mind taking a shot on the 'dog in this spot. Despite their atrocious skid, the Minutemen have had several spike offensive performances this season and are very well-coached by Martin, who has experience winning in March.
While they may not win outright, I'll back the Minutemen getting points.
Pick: UMass +7.5
Alabama A&M vs. Texas Southern
Sometimes you have to go dumpster diving for the best edges, and that's the case here as Alabama A&M takes on Texas Southern in the quarterfinals of the SWAC Tournament.
In this case, we're expecting the total to fly over based on our Action PRO projections, which says that this game should be closer to 146 rather than the 142.5 number that FanDuel currently has at the time of writing.
That gives us nearly a four-point edge, and one that's unique compared to other sportsbooks (most totals have this in the 144-145.5 range).
So, jump on this one immediately and root for points in the SWAC.
Pick: Over 142.5
Creighton vs. Seton Hall
By Evan Abrams
For Seton Hall, this one matters from a bubble perspective. And that's good news for our under pick because the Pirates like to slow it down and rely on their defense to win games.
However, schematics aren't the only reason to feel confident about this play.
I have a Bet Labs Sports Insights system that says Seton Hall and Creighton won't reach the total currently posted at BetMGM.
This system has a 26% return on investment (ROI) all-time and a strong 19% ROI this season alone (65-39 record).
In college basketball, games played in specific arenas (in this case Madison Square Garden) often trend under due to consistent environmental and stylistic factors tied to the venue rather than neutral-court unfamiliarity.
Many of these stadiums, both home and neutral, feature deeper backdrops, unique lighting (definitely the case for this one) and court setups that slow pace and limit shooting efficiency.
Teams playing in these environments — especially those coming off an under in their previous outing — tend to continue that pattern as coaches emphasize defense and control over tempo.
Across multiple seasons, these venues have shown a reliable tendency for lower scoring outcomes, making the under a favorable position in stadiums where shooting rhythm and offensive flow are historically harder to sustain.
Pick: Under 135.5
