Saturday College Basketball Best Bets | November 16, 2024
Written by: Colby Marchio
Last Update: Sat Nov 16, 2024, 11:02 am ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
ncaab
Saturday's college basketball slate has plenty of intriguing matchups, and I've got two spots circled to kick things off. First, we're diving into an ugly Seton Hall vs. Wagner matchup that screams low scoring, thanks to brutal offenses and snail-like tempos. Then, we're targeting a letdown spot for Hofstra as they hit the road to face a UMass team primed for a bounce-back performance.
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College Basketball 2024-25: 12-8 (+3.59 Units)
Wagner vs Seton Hall
Will Seton Hall finally score 60 points?
Wagner vs Seton Hall odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.
Bet: Game Under 123.0 on BetOnline
Let's kick off Saturday with a classic under. Seton Hall hosts Wagner after a rough 49-48 loss to Hofstra on Wednesday. Both teams shot under 38% from the floor, and Seton Hall managed just 47% from the free-throw line—a truly putrid offensive showing all around.
The Pirates have struggled to score all season, failing to hit 60 points in any game so far. That's why the under at 123 feels like the play. While Seton Hall's defense has been stellar—ranking inside the top 50 in most defensive metrics—their offense has been a disaster. They rank in the bottom 20 in 2-point percentage and free-throw percentage and are 321st in offensive turnover percentage. It's a mess.
Wagner isn't much better. They're bottom 15 in free-throw rate, effective field goal percentage, 2-point percentage, and free-throw percentage. Like Seton Hall, Wagner has yet to crack 60 points this season against D1 opponents. Their defense has been shaky, but they've faced a tough schedule, including two top-25 teams in Rutgers and St. John's. That experience might help them against a struggling Seton Hall squad.
Possessions will be scarce, with both teams ranking in the 300s in tempo. Wagner is the second-slowest team in the country, according to Haslametrics, while Seton Hall sits at 307th. If the pace stays slow and these offenses keep sputtering, this one should stay under 123.
Hofstra vs UMass
Can UMass bounce back after back to back losses?
Hofstra vs UMass odds are courtesy of BetOnline, a longtime fixture among the top online sports betting sites. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then bag a big bonus (100% if your first deposit is with Bitcoin, Ethereum, or another cryptocurrency) to bet on College Basketball games.
Bet: UMass (-5.5) on BetOnline
Letdown City, USA for Hofstra, who started the season 3-0 with wins over Iona and, most recently, Seton Hall.
Let's break down that Wednesday night game where the Pride squeaked past the Pirates 49-48. Both teams shot under 38%, and Seton Hall couldn't hit free throws to save their lives, going 8-for-17 from the line. Let's be real—Hofstra didn't beat Seton Hall; Seton Hall beat themselves. A game where neither team cracked 50 points? That's a blown opportunity for the Pirates.
On the flip side, UMass is coming off a 10-point loss to La Tech in a tough one, with the spread essentially a pick 'em. The Minutemen had an off night offensively, shooting under 40% from the floor and just 23% from deep. They've now dropped back-to-back games to teams inside Barttorvik's top 100. This feels like the perfect bounce-back spot for UMass, especially against a Hofstra team coming off an emotional win.
It's also worth noting this will be Hofstra's first true road game of the season, which could be a challenge. The Minutemen like to push the pace—ranked 107th in tempo according to Haslametrics—while Hofstra prefers a slower game. Home teams typically control the pace, and if UMass can speed things up, it could throw Hofstra off their rhythm.
Give me the Minutemen!
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Former D1 (club) baseball player, Colby has been betting since his college days at DePaul, where he had to endure the worst collegiate basketball the Big East has ever seen. He is an advanced analytics nerd and has never seen an underdog he has not liked. Hot. Corn. Bull. It does not matter the dog he loves them all.
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