Thursday is normally a day when the mid-majors take center stage in college basketball.
That holds true this week, as we don't have a single power-conference battle in action.
However, there's plenty of games — and betting value — still on the board, so our staff has their top college basketball picks for the day.
College Basketball Best Bets
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 6:30 p.m | |
  | 6:30 p.m | |
  | 9 p.m | |
  | 10 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 Kentucky vs. IU Indy
Both Northern Kentucky vs. Indianapolis have burned holes in bettors' wallets this season. The Norse are 9-14 against the spread, the Jaguars 10-14
In a clash of two horrid ATS squads, beware if you're picking Indianapolis to cover.
The "After Score 80, Fade on Quick Turnaround" PRO System consistently identifies teams due for regression.
It's simple: If a team's on zero or one day of rest after scoring 80+, they're historically terrible at covering spreads. Indianapolis, off a 92-88 loss just two nights ago, fits the bill.
Northern Kentucky's defense has admittedly been poor this season. However, the Norse are allowing 10+ points fewer per game than the Jaguars, who cough up nearly 90 per contest.
Pick: Northern Kentucky -5.5
Vermont vs. Binghamton
Looking for a path to picking one of the worst teams in the country to cover at home? It's possible. Binghamton played Vermont incredibly tough on the road in Burlington. Vermont trailed by six points with under five minutes to play before eking out a one-point win.
Quigley was awesome, posting 21 points and eight assists, with 10 rebounds as a 5-foot-11 point guard.
This was before the injury issues really tanked the season for the Bearcats. Last week, when two players left a loss to UMBC, Sanders was left without a scholarship player on the bench.
Becker is too smart to let a team like this band hang around with his Catamounts again.
It doesn't take a lot of courage to pick a Binghamton blowout loss, yet that's what I see here.
Pick: Vermont -11.5
Memphis vs. North Texas
Projections are nowhere near the Memphis vs. North Texas total.
Action PRO's over/under for Tigers vs. Mean Green opened 124.9, and sits at 131.9 after adjustments – an extreme gap from the current total after a big market move from the opening number of 132.5
Pick: Under 138.5
UCSB vs. UC Riverside
By Evan Abrams
This game has triggered one of our Action PRO betting systems:
The “Undervalued Conf Favorite ATS Overcorrection” system identifies undervalued college basketball favorites who win consistently but have struggled against the spread, facing opponents with similar ATS struggles.
UC Santa Barbara enters as a reliable conference contender with a strong 9-4 mark in league play, boasting efficient offense and recent momentum, including a solid win over UC Irvine.
Yet they've posted a middling ATS record this season, going just 5-5 as 6.5-point or larger favorites, reflecting market skepticism despite their outright success.
UC Riverside has also underperformed against the spread, riding a three-game skid and struggling in conference matchups.
In Big West play, where familiarity breeds tighter games and motivation stays high for contenders chasing standings position, the better overall team, like UCSB, often overcomes perception dips caused by mutual ATS woes.
When a proven winner sits as a small favorite on the road, suggesting the line has tightened due to shared spread struggles rather than true parity, this setup screams overcorrection.
The system capitalizes on that market adjustment, backing reliable programs that continue winning outright at a steady clip when public and oddsmakers have over-discounted them based on recent ATS misses.
Pick: UC Santa Barbara -6.5
