Tuesday College Basketball Must Bet Totals | November 5, 2024

We’ve got two games tonight that are sure to get the adrenaline pumping—one with a slow burn and the other a high-speed shootout. Expect a grind-it-out battle between a defensive juggernaut and a team still figuring things out, while the other matchup could turn into a fast-paced scoring fest. Let’s dive into today’s best bets.

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2023-24 College Basketball Season: +33.35 units

Monday’s College Basketball Card: 4-2 (1.9 Units)

Evansville vs North Texas

Moulaye Sissoko looking to lead the way for North Texas this season

Evansville vs North Texas odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Best Bet: Under 133 (-115) on BetOnline

Death. Taxes. North Texas unders. Another season, another opportunity to cash in on North Texas’ slow pace and defensive intensity.

Tonight, North Texas hosts the Evansville Purple Aces. Evansville is coming off a 17-win season but had to replace all of last year’s top five scorers. They do bring back Tanner Cuff, who averaged 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Through the portal, they’ve added Eastern Kentucky transfer Tayshawn Comer, who averaged 7.9 points, 3.3 assists, and a steal per game, though he’s been inconsistent with his shooting (33.8% from three, 64.9% from the line). JUCORecruiting.com’s No. 37 junior college recruit, Ramond Battle, also joins the Aces.

Evansville is ranked 319th in offensive efficiency and 291st in adjusted offense according to Haslametrics. With so many new faces, I expect them to look a bit disjointed in their first game, especially against a North Texas squad known for playing slow and locking down on defense.

North Texas enters ranked 88th in Haslametrics, with the 90th-best defensive efficiency and 94th-ranked offense. They, too, have lost a lot, with their top six scorers gone. Fairfield transfer Jasper Floyd will lead the offense, which leaned heavily on the three-ball last season, ranking 14th in 3-point percentage. They return senior center Moulaye Sissoko, who averaged three points and 4.6 rebounds after starting every game last year, adding some much-needed continuity and veteran presence under new head coach Ross Hodge.

North Texas doesn’t score much inside, relying on outside shooting and working at a deliberate pace. With limited possessions and two unfamiliar rosters adjusting to new roles, the setup here favors a slow, low-scoring affair. I’m all in on the under in this matchup.

Central Arkansas vs BYU

Dallin Hall looks to take BYU to another level after an amazing 2023-24 season

Central Arkansas vs BYU odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.

Best Bet: BYU Team Total Over 92.5 (-108) on BetOnline

Buckle up, because these two teams are set be at Ludicrous Speed, both ranked inside the top 100 in tempo. Both squads are bringing back plenty of players, setting the stage for a high-speed showdown.

The Cougars kick off a new era under former Suns assistant Kevin Young, who’s keeping the up-tempo style that Mark Pope established. Young has his sights set on building an “NBA pipeline,” emphasizing efficient ball movement and a fast-paced system. Key returners include last year’s assist leader, Dallin Hall, and Dawson Baker, who’s looking to return to his 2022-23 form when he averaged 15.3 points and 3.2 rebounds at Long Beach State. Fousseyni Traore, their top rebounder, also returns to anchor the inside.

Central Arkansas, on the other hand, gave up over 80 points per game last season, ranking 17th worst in the country. They return most of their roster, though their defensive efficiency is ranked 350th and offensive efficiency 329th per Haslametrics. With a fast pace but little defense, the Bears should give BYU plenty of scoring chances.

BYU lived and died by the three last season, with over 50% of their shots coming from deep. With both teams pushing the tempo and Central Arkansas struggling on defense, the Cougars should get ample opportunities—they just need to hit their shots. Early as it is, the Cougars’ offense, ranked 31st by Haslametrics, will need to make the most of this quick pace.