This is the final Saturday where we’ll have 100+ college basketball games on the slate, with the conference tournaments starting to come up next week. Therefore, let’s enjoy the massive slate while we can and earn some profit with our NCAAB best bets for March 2.
Let’s break down the NCAAB odds available at the top-rated sportsbooks!
NCAAB Top Pick: Ole Miss -1.5 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Syracuse Orange vs. Louisville Cardinals
Saturday, March 02, 2024 – 08:00 PM ET at KFC Yum! Center
The Syracuse Orange escaped Louisville at home, 94-92, in an epic finish. Since that win, the Orange have turned things around, winning five of their last seven games.
Syracuse is currently on a three-game winning streak after scoring at least 84 points against North Carolina State, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.
Now they’re 19-10 this season and 10-8 in conference play. The Orange have a legitimate chance at making the NCAA Tournament.
Louisville Cardinals
Meanwhile, Louisville is 8-20 with three home games left on the schedule. They’ve improved to three wins in conference play this year. But the offense hasn’t scored more than 59 points in the last three games.
That changes tonight. Not Louisville winning, but Louisville’s scoring. Louisville will take on a Syracuse defense that has allowed 34.7% from deep and 53.1% from inside the arc. The Cardinals have an opportunity to add many offensive rebounds and second chances against an Orange squad that has allowed 31.8% of offensive rebounds.
NCAAB Best Bet
On the other hand, Syracuse will likely get to 90 points easily. Louisville has allowed 36.7% from downtown and 53.6% from inside the arc. This team rarely adds turnovers and continues to give up high-quality looks.
The last game almost had 200 points. This game could be the same. Let’s back the Over 156.5 (-105).
NCAAB Pick: Over 156.5 (-105) at BetOnline
Ole Miss Rebels vs. Missouri Tigers
Saturday, March 02, 2024 – 08:30 PM ET at Mizzou Arena
The Ole Miss Rebels began the season 18-3.
Now they’re 19-9 and just 6-9 in SEC play this season. Lucky for them, they’ll get to go up against the Missouri Tigers, who are still looking for their first conference win of the season.
Missouri Tigers
Missouri has lost 15 consecutive games in the SEC and has dropped to 8-20 on the season and 0-15 in conference play.
The Tigers have been playing some tight games. After all, they only lost to Ole Miss, 79-76, on the road in mid-February.
Neither team is good on the defensive glass, but Missouri typically fouls at a much higher rate than they get to the foul line.
NCAAB Best Bet
Ole Miss doesn’t take a ton of three-point shots. But the Rebels also have an advantage from downtown. They’ve hit 37.7% from downtown, while Missouri has allowed teams to shoot 34.1% from three.
Ole Miss also figures to add more offensive rebounds, as the Rebels have added 30.4% of offensive rebounds, and Missouri has only hauled in 26.2% of offensive rebounds.
I know this game might seem like a trap, with Ole Miss sitting at just -1.5 against a Missouri squad that hasn’t won a game this season. But it’s not. Ole Miss hasn’t played very well either. Still, the Rebels match up better and should be able to earn the win and cover as long as the three-ball goes down consistently.
NCAAB Pick: Ole Miss -1.5 (-110) at BetOnline
TCU Horned Frogs vs. BYU Cougars
Saturday, March 02, 2024 – 09:00 PM ET at Marriott Center
The TCU Horned Frogs are looking to get back on track against BYU on the road tonight. TCU lost a home game to Baylor after scoring just 54 points in the game.
The Horned Frogs are typically solid offensively. They’ve shot 35.3% from downtown and have nailed 52.8% from inside the arc. However, TCU has still turned the ball over nearly 18% of the time.
BYU Cougars
That likely won’t matter too much, with BYU averaging only 16.5% of turnovers themselves. But TCU really gets to opponents with its offensive rebounding. The Horned Frogs have added 35.4% offensive rebounds per game, which is great. The Horned Frogs usually dominate the paint. It just won’t against BYU, who has shut teams down to under 24% of offensive rebounds.
Opponents have hit only 30.5% from downtown and 49.4% from inside the arc against BYU this season.
On the other hand, BYU is much better offensively. The Cougars won’t get to the foul line at a very high rate. But they’ve shot 35.2% from three and nearly 58% from inside the arc.
NCAAB Best Bet
BYU is the opposite of TCU. The Cougars will take a ton of threes, while TCU will try and score in the paint most of the time. Still, BYU takes good shots, and even with a higher three-point shot rate, they’ve still nailed more than 35% of their shots.
The Cougars aren’t getting to the foul line heavily, but they could see the foul line more, at home, against a TCU team that fouls regularly. As long as BYU limits turnovers like it’s done most of the season, the Cougars will escape with a win and cover.
NCAAB Pick: BYU -6.5 (-110) at BetOnline
*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.
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