The seasons are changing, not only in our weather but also in our sports. Professional and recreational bettors alike are scouting the odds to make some college basketball picks today.
College basketball is a favorite of professional bettors because the sportsbooks have to post so many lines; they are bound to make mistakes. For example, tonight’s slate features over 100 games, with plenty of players who have never been seen before.
Below, you’ll find three basketball predictions in which we believe we have an edge on the opening night of college basketball season.
Theme for Today’s Picks
This guide highlights College Basketball picks for November 3, offering spread picks, matchup context, and insight on where smart money may land.
Today’s betting lines will involve a lot of calculation and scouting, as many teams have a lot of turnover through the transfer portal and the incoming freshman class.
We will rely on the rankings of the incoming classes plus our knowledge of the coaches taking over their new teams. We have plenty of opportunities to make sharp bets and games to watch in order to find out how to bet these teams moving forward.
Let’s get into our first featured game.
Arizona vs. Florida (Florida -3.5)
This game showcases the defending national champions, who take on one of the top programs in college basketball.
Florida lost top guards but brought in strong transfer guards Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee. Menawhile, Arizona is ranked by experts as the the #2 recruiting class, featuring Koa Pete and Braden Burries.
The matchup between Florida’s transfer guards and Arizona’s freshman guards should decide this game.
The Gators’ combination of experience and returning frontcourt talent should be the difference against Arizona’s talented but inexperienced freshmen. Bet Florida -3.5, the Gators are ready to make a statement tonight with an impressive performance.
Expert Pick: Florida -3.5 (-112) at BetOnline
Villanova vs. BYU (BYU –8)
BYU will have the eyes of college basketball fans and pro scouts on them this year as they take the court with freshman forward AJ Dybantsa, who is a potential number one pick for the 2026 NBA draft.
Dybantsa will team with veterans Richie Saunders and Keba Keita to make the Cougars a true contender to win the national championship this year.
Villanova features a new head coach Kevin Willard, eight transfers, and three freshmen. While Villanova has a lot of talent, it will be tough for these new players to play together with cohesion in their first game.
The line is high but I like BYU –8 due to their experience and talent advantage.
Expert Pick: BYU –8 (-110) at Bookmaker
Lehigh vs. Houston ( Houston –35.5)
The #2-ranked Houston Cougars bring in the highest-rated recruiting class to match their veteran backcourt. It will once again rely on its excellent defense, which only allowed 58.5 PPG last season.
Lehigh was 11-19 in the Patriot League last season, and this will be a tough matchup.
However, they do return experienced players such as guard Nasir Whitlock and Hank Alvey. This game will be a good opportunity for them to test their young players against the class of the college basketball world.
I’m leaning Lehigh +35.5.
Expert Pick: Lehigh +35.5 (-110) at BetOnline
What We’ve Covered and Next Steps
Our official college basketball picks today include three key matchups:
Of those, my top pick is Florida -3.5.
Because we have the least amount of variance on the performance we can expect from this team. I will also bet BYU -8. But Lehigh also presents a plausible value play, especially if public betting shifts their line to get even more points.
Top Recommendations:
- Lehigh +35.5 (look to get more points before tip)
Timing is everything in sports betting — line movement, injury revelations, and public action can change the value quickly. For more picks across all matchups. So when you’re ready, take a look at the NCAAB odds and place your bets early to capture favorable spreads.
Best Offshore Sportsbooks
To maximize your edge, always shop around for the best sportsbooks and best odds. Use the best offshore sportsbooks page to compare lines, promos, and payout reliability.
Even a half-point difference can matter, and prop lines often shift more across books. Double-check before locking in your wagers — your future profits depend on it.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
