Tonight’s College Basketball Picks: 3 Smartest Predictions

Despite 59 lined games on Thursday's schedule, there are just three top-25 teams in action, which could certainly have an impact on how bettors approach tonight's college basketball picks.

As we know, recreational bettors prefer high-profile games between blue-blood programs and/or top-25 teams, and the lack thereof might impact tonight's handle.

But just because star power may be missing from a slate doesn't mean it's not worth betting because, with nearly 60 matchups, there are plenty of opportunities to find value.

Action Network's PRO betting tools don't care about the names on the front of the jerseys either and have identified South Florida vs. No. 10 Memphis (7 p.m. ET), Oral Roberts vs. North Dakota (8 p.m. ET) and No. 14 Illinois vs. Michigan (8:30 p.m. ET) as three of Thursday's smartest college basketball picks.

Let's dig in.

Tonight's College Basketball Picks

*College basketball odds as of Thursday morning

South Florida vs. Memphis Pick

7 p.m. ET | ESPN

Let's start with South Florida vs. Memphis, which includes savvy bettors making large wagers on the spread.