Top College Basketball Betting Picks of the Week – November 4th Edition

The 2019-20 men’s college basketball season will be an intriguing one, because unlike last year, when Duke seemed like the predestined champion, there really is not a clear favorite going into the campaign. Many sports betting prognosticators have the Michigan State Spartans as a preseason favorite, but Josh Langford is still not healthy and has no solid timetable for returning to the lineup. Also, the Spartans get a lot of press every off-season, but they haven’t won a title since 2000, despite putting together several great teams since then. Gonzaga lost its four best players from last year, but now Killian Tillie is healthy, and Corey Kispert will now get the floor time he has been waiting for. Admon Gilder, a graduate transfer from Texas A&M, will contribute right away. But what should you bet on this week in college hoops? We have a couple of college basketball betting picks for you.

Top College Basketball Betting Picks of the Week – November 4th Edition

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Tuesday, November 5

#3 Kansas vs #4 Duke (in New York City) (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)

One matchup in the State Farm Champions Classic features the Kansas Jayhawks and the Duke Blue Devils. Kansas won 26 games last year but lost its top two scorers, as Lagerald Vick and Dedric Lawson have moved on, along with Quentin Grimes, who was in the starting five for all 36 contests last year. Kansas won each of their exhibition games by a total of 90 points, including a 60-point shellacking of Pittsburgh State. Duke enters Coach K’s 40th season at the helm, and they have gone 37-2 in season openers under his leadership, currently riding a 20-game winning streak in their opening games. However, usually they open with teams like Elon instead of facing another contender. Duke struggled in their exhibition opener, beating Division II foe Northwest Missouri State by just six, but then they routed Fort Valley State by 69 points on Wednesday. Tre Jones had 24 points in the two-game exhibition slate, and Matthew Hurt had 36 points combined. In this matchup, Kansas has the experience, but Duke has the higher ceiling. College Basketball Prediction: Kansas 81, Duke 77

#1 Michigan State vs #2 Kentucky (in New York City) (9:30 pm ET, ESPN)

This is the later State Farm Champions Classic matchup on Tuesday night. Michigan State went 32-7 last year, going to the Final Four, while Kentucky went 30-7 last year, seeing their season end in the Elite Eight. Michigan State brings back senior guard Cassius Winston, their leading scorer last year, and Xavier Tillman, who was second in rebounding on the team last season. Josh Langford missed all of last season and hurt his foot in preseason practice, with January the early indication as to his returning point. Kentucky lost Keldon Johnson, Tyler Herro and P.J. Washington to the NBA, and Quade Green transferred out, but Kentucky has another crew of blue chip recruits and should contend again this year. Junior forward Nick Richards is back, along with Immanuel Quickley, Ashton Hagens and E.J. Montgomery. Top recruits Kahlil Whitney and Tyrese Maxey should start and play as well. But can Kentucky overcome a tendency of starting their regular seasons slowly? College Basketball Prediction: Michigan State 77, Kentucky 70