Today's marquee game takes place at TD Garden in Boston, where BYU and Connecticut will clash, with postseason seeding ramifications possibly at stake. We also have a Big Ten-SEC battle on tap, as well as an intense rivalry game to round out Saturday's betting card.
Top College Basketball Best Bets for Today
For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, player performance and the transfer portal, head RotoWire's latest college basketball news page or follow @RotoWireCBB on X.
BYU 
vs. Connecticut
Most college hoops fans are well aware of BYU's high expectations this season, in part because it has five-star freshman A.J. Dybantsa headlining the roster, one of the top two recruits in the nation, per 247sports. The team is living up to its high expectations so far, sporting a 3-0 record with an offensive efficiency rating that ranks eighth in the nation. The bad news is that its defense hasn't had the same level of success. The Cougars rank 53rd in defensive efficiency, not awful, but it's still a clear vulnerability that a good offensive team can exploit.
Speaking of teams that are great at scoring, BYU's opponent Saturday fits the bill. Under head coach Dan Hurley, UConn has transformed into an offensive juggernaut, boasting an offensive efficiency rating that ranks in the top four in the nation in three of the last four years, including the current one, in which they rank fourth.
One thing that's different so far this year is that UConn is playing with a quicker pace than in past seasons. Despite the Huskies' prodigious scoring abilities in recent years, Hurley's teams have consistently played with an extremely slow tempo, ranking below 300th in average offensive possession length in the past two seasons. This year, through three games, UConn ranks 126th in average possession length, marking a potential change in playing style.
Given the impressive offensive abilities of each team, and the fact that each is playing at a quick tempo, I like our odds of seeing a ton of points scored on Saturday. I'm taking the Over.
College Basketball Best Bet: Over 152.5 (-110 at Caesars Sportsbook)
Check out Caesars Sportsbook this March Madness and use the Caesars Sportsbook promo code for one of the top college basketball betting promos out there.
Oklahoma 
vs. Nebraska 
The Sooners earned a pair of easy wins against teams positioned at the bottom of D1, although they got torched when they traveled to Spokane, losing to Gonzaga, 83-68. Offensively, Oklahoma looks to be in decent shape, ranking 48th in adjusted efficiency, but the defense is looking pretty shaky. The Sooners sit at 85th in defensive efficiency, which would easily be their worst standing in five years under head coach Porter Moser.
The Cornhuskers, meanwhile, get the benefit of the doubt as they still haven't played a challenging opponent. Their best competition so far was FIU (No. 206 in overall efficiency), and Nebraska won 96-66, slightly exceeding the projected score.
Based on the current stats, the biggest weak link in the game is Oklahoma's defense. For this reason, I lean towards Nebraska with a short spread, but at the same time, its easier schedule makes me less certain about picking it to cover.
Instead, I like our chances with the Over. Both teams are playing at a fast pace this season, with Oklahoma ranking 79th in average offensive possession length, and Nebraska ranking 40th in the same category. There's a chance that the Huskers' defense will prevent us from hitting our target, but I like our odds assuming each team continues to play at a quick tempo.
College Basketball Best Bet: Over 161.5 (-110 at BetMGM)
Cash in on the best sportsbook promos available at the best college basketball betting sites during March Madness 2025. The BetMGM bonus code gets new players one of the best welcome bonuses in the industry.
New Mexico 
at New Mexico State 
I picked the Under in New Mexico's season-opening game, primarily because its new head coach, Eric Olen, developed UC San Diego into an outstanding, nearly elite defensive team. Sure enough, the Lobos defeated East Texas A&M by a score of 76-54, an easy victory, and an easy Under winner. Now, the Lobos will head down South to face archrival New Mexico State.
The Aggies currently sit at No. 139 on KenPom's efficiency chart, although I'm not sure this will hold up. New Mexico State is 2-0, but both wins came at home against D2 schools, Adams State and New Mexico Highlands. This, by itself, doesn't mean anything, except the margins weren't as great as one would expect (11 points and 16 points, respectively). KenPom's database excludes games featuring teams outside of D1, so NMSU would likely be lower in overall efficiency if those games were factored in. Regardless, we'll find out a lot more about the Aggies very soon.
Considering the prospects of UNM's new head coach, and the uncertainty with NMSU, I like the Lobos' odds of coming away from the Pan American Center with a win.
College Basketball Best Bet: New Mexico Lobos -3.5 (-110 at Fanatics Sportsbook)
Check out Fanatics Sportsbook to bet on National Championship Odds and use the Fanatics Sportsbook promo for a great welcome offer.
Saturday College Basketball Best Bets:
Here's a recap of my best college basketball bets for Saturday:
- BYU vs. UConn - Over 153
- Oklahoma vs. Nebraska - Over 161
- New Mexico Lobos -3.5
For up-to-date information on the latest college basketball betting odds and props from multiple sportsbooks, check out the college basketball odds page on RotoWire.
