Free College Basketball Picks: NCAAB Predictions & Best Bets

Free picks on all NCAAB games for April 1, 2026

Oklahoma Sooners logo OKLA @ Colorado Buffaloes logo COLO Apr 01 | 8:00 PM ET
Game Prop
Colorado Buffaloes logo u78.5 Team Total (-110)
Best Odds
Pick made: yesterday
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Three of Colorado's four leading scorers (guard Isaiah Johnson, forward Sebastian Rancik, forward Bangot Dak) have already entered the transfer portal. While Johnson averaged a team-high 16.9 points per game, the trio altogether scored more than half of the team's points (40.7 of the 80.0 points per game).

Spread
Oklahoma Sooners logo OKLA -8.5 (-110)
Best Odds
Pick made: yesterday
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Oklahoma beat five NCAA Tournament teams, as well as Auburn who is still alive in the NIT semifinals in its 8-3 stretch over its final 11 games. Because of its 12th-most Wins Above Bubble (WAB) in that span, it was the last team left out of the NCAA Tournament field.

Baylor Bears logo BAY @ Minnesota Golden Gophers logo MINN Apr 01 | 10:30 PM ET
Game Prop
Minnesota Golden Gophers logo o72.5 Team Total (-115)
Best Odds
Pick made: yesterday
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Since a seven-game losing streak in conference that ended on Feb. 1, Minnesota ranks in the top-50 of Bart Torvik's power ratings. In that span, its offense is top-52 in effective field goal percentage and adjusted offensive efficiency, and it jacks up 3-pointers at the 34th-highest rate.

Spread
Minnesota Golden Gophers logo MINN +3.5 (-105)
Best Odds
Pick made: yesterday
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Baylor’s 3-7 stretch over its final 10 games leaves something to be desired, and I love Minnesota’s veteran leadership as the 36th-most experienced team in the country.

New Mexico Lobos logo UNM @ Tulsa Golden Hurricane logo TLSA Apr 02 | 7:00 PM ET
3 Point FG
DA Deyton Albury o0.5 3 Point FG (-112)
Best Odds
Pick made: 9 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Deyton Albury is not a volume 3-point shooter, attempting two or fewer in each of his last six games. But he has connected on each of his last four 3-point attempts and has at least one made three in four of his last six games.

Spread
Tulsa Golden Hurricane logo TLSA +4.5 (-115)
Best Odds
Pick made: 9 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Tulsa entered its second NIT game with the fourth-best plus-minus in the country from its starting five, trailing only teams that made the Sweet 16 (Purdue, Arizona, and Houston).

Stanford Cardinal logo STAN @ West Virginia Mountaineers logo WVU Apr 02 | 8:00 PM ET
Moneyline
Stanford Cardinal logo STAN (-109)
Best Odds
Pick made: 7 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Stanford won the Acrisure Invitational this year while beating Minnesota (fellow Crown invitee) and Saint Louis (NCAA Tournament Round of 32 participant). The Cardinal became the first team in the NET era to record at least 20 wins, with five coming in Quad 1 games and a winning record in Quad 1 and 2 combined, but miss the NCAA Tournament.

Game Prop
West Virginia Mountaineers logo u67.5 Team Total (-120)
Best Odds
Pick made: 7 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

West Virginia plays at the third-slowest tempo in the country, which helped its defense to a top-50 defensive efficiency rating in 13 games versus the KenPom top 50. But it wasn’t successful overall in those games because it is a highly limited offensive team, with a 143rd offensive efficiency rating against that same competition.

Illinois State Redbirds logo ILST @ Auburn Tigers logo AUB Apr 02 | 9:30 PM ET
Game Prop
Auburn Tigers logo o77.5 Team Total (-125)
Best Odds
Pick made: 9 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

All Tigers should have plenty of shot volume with Auburn being plus-29 in rebounds over its opponents in the NIT thus far, and I am banking on its SEC athleticism to be too much for the Redbirds to handle.

Total
Illinois State Redbirds logo Auburn Tigers logo u149.5 (-110)
Best Odds
Pick made: 9 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Illinois State is a top-40 scoring defense that also ranks in the top-100 in seven other statistical categories, including the 12th-best defensive rebounding rate. The Redbirds know how to turn games into half-court grinds with the 222nd-slowest tempo.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights logo RUTG @ Creighton Bluejays logo CREI Apr 02 | 10:30 PM ET
Spread
Creighton Bluejays logo CREI -3.5 (-110)
Best Odds
Pick made: 7 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Creighton had a disappointing season after being picked to finish third in the Big East preseason poll. But it has also won 14 of its last 16 postseason openers, and is one of two teams since 2011-12 to win at least 19 of 26 non-conference games against the Big Ten.

Game Prop
Creighton Bluejays logo o78.5 Team Total (-105)
Best Odds
Pick made: 7 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Rutgers' defense ranked 15th out of 18 teams in Big Ten play in defending the 3-point line. But they should also be carved up in pick-and-roll action after grading out in the seventh percentile in PNR defensive efficiency rating.

Illinois Fighting Illini logo ILL @ UConn Huskies logo CONN Apr 04 | 6:09 PM ET
3 Point FG
Keaton Wagler logo Keaton Wagler u2.5 3 Point FG (-145)
Best Odds
Pick made: 5 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Wagler has come a long way since a three-point output against the Huskies, and is a big part of an offense that ranks 15th in 3-point attempt rate. But UConn should drape the freshman with its best perimeter defenders, and only four players outside of the Furman game have made multiple threes against the Huskies in the last five games, with none making at least three.

Points
David Mirkovic logo David Mirkovic o12.5 Points (-114)
Best Odds
Pick made: 5 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Since an eight-point clunker against the Huskies, Mirkovic has 15 games with multiple threes, versus just six games where he did not make a single 3-pointer. In addition, he is one of five Illini players with a 30.5% free throw rate, so he should have more than the three free throw attempts he had in the first matchup.

Rebounds and Assists
TR Tarris Reed o12.5 Rebounds and Assists (+102)
Best Odds
Pick made: 5 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Reed’s offensive and defensive rebounding rates are at 18.6% and 33.6% over the last four games, up from 13.4% and 23.2% in the regular season, respectively.

Rebounds
Tomislav Ivisic logo Tomislav Ivisic u5.5 Rebounds (-145)
Best Odds
Pick made: 6 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

With a healthy Tarris Reed dominating with an 18.6% offensive rebounding rate and 33.6% defensive rebounding rate in the NCAA Tournament, that should mean less dominance on the glass from Ivisic.

 

3 Point FG
Solo Ball logo Solo Ball u1.5 3 Point FG (+113)
Best Odds
Pick made: 6 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Solo Ball is a 29.2% 3-point shooter after making 41.4% of his 3-point attempts a year ago. He has especially struggled of late, making just three of his last 25, and only finishing with multiple threes once in the last six games. 

 

Spread
Illinois Fighting Illini logo ILL -2.5 (-102)
Best Odds
Pick made: 2 days ago
Rob Paul image
Rob Paul
Publishing Editor

Illinois is No. 1 nationally in offensive efficiency, and No. 11 in defensive efficiency since the start of the tournament. The Fighting Illini are also the tallest team in the country, and that length could create problems for UConn.

Michigan Wolverines logo MICH @ Arizona Wildcats logo ARIZ Apr 04 | 8:49 PM ET
Assists
Koa Peat logo Koa Peat o2.5 Assists (+100)
Best Odds
Pick made: 6 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Since returning from a three-game injury absence, Koa Peat has dished out two or more in nine of the 10 games. Thus, these plus-money odds are generous, especially when considering Peat has finished with at least three assists in five of six games against top-10 KenPom opponents. 

 

Points
Yaxel Lendeborg logo Yaxel Lendeborg u16.5 Points (-105)
Best Odds
Pick made: 6 hours ago
Mike Spector image
Mike Spector
Author

Lendeborg will draw the primary defensive assignment from Ivan Kharchenkov, Arizona’s most versatile defender. Kharchenkov is no stranger to huge assignments, as he forced BYU’s AJ Dybantsa into one of his least efficient games of the season in the first meeting.

Moneyline
Michigan Wolverines logo MICH (-114)
Best Odds
Pick made: 2 days ago
Rob Paul image
Rob Paul
Publishing Editor

Michigan's shooting will be the difference. The Wolverines are No. 6 in the nation in effective field-goal percentage (58.8%), and can shoot threes when needed. Arizona is No. 36 in effective field-goal percentage (55.1%) and is third-last in the country in 3-point rate (26.4%).

Recent News

College basketball picks & best bets today

Every day during the season, including weekday conference clashes and Saturday’s packed slates, the Sportsbook Review college basketball team shares its top picks and predictions across the biggest games on the board. We cover the betting markets that matter most: spreads, totals, moneylines, and player props in the top matchups across Division I.

Our picks widget above highlights our favorite bets each day, with live college basketball odds from trusted sportsbooks. Whether it’s a top-10 showdown, a heated rivalry game, or a mid-major worth streaming, you’ll find sharp insights and value plays for the matchups you’re most likely to bet - and watch.

We break down each matchup with picks on the spread, Over/Unders, and moneyline, plus player props like points, rebounds, and assists. You’ll also see parlays and same-game parlays (SGPs) for anyone chasing a bigger payday. Whether you're backing your favorite school or fading a trendy public side, we aim to help you find the right angle to bet with confidence.

Our experts use advanced stats like tempo, adjusted offensive/defensive efficiency, and 3-point shooting splits. We track injury updates, recent form, and line movement to pinpoint smart bets. And we don’t stop when the regular season ends. We ramp up during the conference tournaments and go all-in for March Madness.

Bookmark this page and come back throughout the season for the latest college basketball picks and betting advice from the team at Sportsbook Review, including women’s March Madness, the NIT, and more.

Free March Madness picks & best bets

Once the bracket is revealed and the madness begins, our experts ramp up coverage with picks and predictions for every round. From early upsets to Sweet 16 showdowns and Final Four runs, we’re on top of the March Madness odds and betting lines that matter most.

We break down every tournament matchup with predictions against the spread, totals, moneylines, and player props. You’ll also find tips on bracket pools, survivor picks, under-the-radar Cinderella teams, and how to spot betting value before the lines adjust.

Expect deeper analysis as the stakes rise and the field shrinks. Whether you’re riding a blue blood to the title or hunting long shots with big upside, we’re here to help you make smarter March Madness bets.

Betting on March Madness futures means wagering on outcomes that will be decided later in the tournament, rather than on individual games. The most common futures market is betting on which team will win the NCAA Tournament, but you can also bet on teams to reach the Final Four, Elite Eight, or even win specific regions. These bets are available well before the tournament begins and are updated throughout the season and during March Madness itself.

For example, you might see futures odds like:

  • UConn to win the national title: +550
  • Kansas to reach the Final Four: +300
  • Alabama to win the West Region: +500

If you place a $100 bet on UConn at +550 and they win it all, you’d win $550 profit (total payout $650). These odds can shift dramatically based on a team’s performance, injuries, bracket placement, and betting action. Futures are popular for bettors who want to lock in a long-shot pick before the field is set or ride with a favorite they believe will survive the bracket.

The key to futures betting is finding value early - before sharp money shortens the odds. Bettors often look at strength of schedule, late-season momentum, tournament experience, and coaching history to spot contenders. Futures can also be part of a hedging strategy, where you bet on multiple teams at different odds to guarantee a profit once the field narrows.

Free college basketball moneyline picks

A moneyline bet is as simple as it gets - just pick the team you think will win the game. No spread involved.

Example:

TeamMoneyline odds
Kansas–160
Kentucky+140
  • A $100 bet on Kansas (–160) wins $62.50 (total payout $162.50) if they win
  • A $100 bet on Kentucky (+140) wins $140 (total payout $240) if they win

Moneyline bets are great when you’re confident a favorite will win or you see value in a live underdog.

Free college basketball Over/Under picks

Over/Under bets focus on the combined total score from both teams. It doesn’t matter who wins - just how many points are scored.

Books might set the line at 145.5, and you choose:

  • Over if you think the game will hit 146 points or more
  • Under if you expect a defensive grind

Most totals are priced around -110 odds. You can also bet first-half totals, team totals, or jump in with live Over/Unders as the game unfolds.

Free college basketball spread picks

Spread betting levels the playing field between favorites and underdogs. It’s the most popular way to bet college hoops.

For example:

  • Duke -5.5 means the Blue Devils must win by 6+ to cover
  • Miami +5.5 means the Hurricanes can win outright or lose by 5 or fewer

Spread bets are typically offered at –110 odds, and that “.5” hook means there’s no tie - your picks against the spread will either win or lose.

Free college basketball prop picks

Player props in college basketball let you focus on individual performances, which can be more predictable than betting the full game.

Popular prop bets include:

  • Player points Over/Under
  • Rebounds or assists
  • First team to 10 points
  • Race to 20 points

Example:

  • Braden Smith Over 22.5 points (-115)
  • JT Toppin to score 20+ points (+180)

Prop bets can offer better odds and more entertainment value, especially when you’re dialed into the matchups. They’re also great for building parlays or adjusting mid-game in live betting.

The odds for player props usually hover around -110, though some may vary based on betting action or player popularity. These bets are ideal if you follow specific teams or players closely, as you can identify mismatches, usage trends, or hot streaks that might not be factored into the line. Props also offer more flexibility and entertainment - especially when betting on a game that may not have value on the spread or total. And during the NCAA Tournament, when matchups tighten and stars play heavier minutes, player props can be a profitable way to target consistent performers.

How we make our college basketball picks & predictions

At Sportsbook Review, we don’t rely on hunches or hot takes. Every pick is backed by data, research, and real analysis.

We study:

  • Offensive and defensive efficiency (KenPom, Torvik, etc.)
  • Tempo, shooting splits, and turnover rates
  • Injury updates, player usage, and matchup history
  • Betting market movement and sharp action

Our experts aim to spot the edge before the market does. Whether it’s a mid-major flying under the radar or a blue blood in a bounce-back spot, we help you find value.

Why trust our college basketball experts?

Sportsbook Review has been covering sports betting for over 20 years. We’ve built a reputation for honest reviews of our best March Madness betting sites, sharp analysis, and expert picks that deliver results.

Here’s why you can count on our college hoops team:

  • Experience: We've been picking games since before one-and-dones were a thing
  • Focus: Our experts cover the teams and conferences they know inside and out
  • Transparency: We rate each pick from 1 to 5 stars so you can gauge confidence
  • Real action: We only share picks our experts would actually bet themselves

From tip-off in November to the nets getting cut down in April, we’re here to help you win your bets - and enjoy the ride.

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