NCAA Basketball Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (2/2)

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! Come on down and end your weekend with our expert’s College Basketball best bets for today! Of course, we have a smaller slate, but we still had to find some spots worth betting.

For all of our Expert NCAA Basketball Picks, check out our page here. But for now, let’s get right into it!

Listed below are my College Hoops best bets for today, but be sure to get all of my picks on my Twitter (@Shaggy_Bets)

NCAA Basketball Best Bets – February 2nd, 2025

South Florida vs Florida Atlantic Predictions

Best Bets: USF/FAU Over 152 (-110) Bovada

South Florida and FAU battle it out in Boca Raton and we are backing points!

Give me the over in this game as the Owls are a Top 60 team in pace and Top 65 overall offense. FAU is also Top 30 in turnovers and Top 45 in offensive rebounds, so I expect a good look down the floor each time, and perhaps some second chance points. Defensively, they do not have it, ranking 290th overall, 335th in eFG% Defense and 300th in offensive rebounds allowed. FAU is a one trick pony, and that one trick is putting the ball in the hoop.

As for the Bulls, they rank 142nd in pace, speeding up to 111th away from home. In 11 games outside of their own gym, South Florida is a Top 55 team in terms of eFG%. They shoot very well on the road, and with the amount of possessions they’ll get in this game, I see both teams having no problem contributing to this over. While South Florida is 13-7 to the under this year, they have not scored or allowed 70+ points in four straight games. I see their shooting improving in this one based on volume, which should be enough to get us to 153 total points.

Merrimack vs Rider Predictions

Best Bets: Merrimack/Rider Under 131.5 (-110) BetOnline

Here we go again, betting a Merrimack under. For starters, we are 5-0 when backing the under in a Warrior’s game this season, and we’re actually 7-0 betting on anything involving Merrimack. I love this team, I love Budd Clark, and I love the way they play.

As you’ve heard before, Merrimack plays incredibly slow, and they are lightyears better on defense than they are with the ball. They are 323rd in possessions per game, 294th in offensive efficiency, but 83rd defensively. They are Top 20 at forcing turnovers and holding onto the ball themselves, and after losing to Mount Saint Mary’s, I see them coming incredibly focused on stopping their opponent.

Rider is also a team that plays slow, ranking 309th in pace this season, dropping to 327th at home. Rider should know they are outmatched. Merrimack is the better team. So if they want to try to win this game, they will need to play even slower, and keep the ball out of Budd Clark’s hands. Rider is 288th offensively, 332nd in eFG% and 348th at getting the the FT line. Defensively, they are 64th in FT Rate, so I don’t expect very many free throws in this contest.

Ultimately, Merrimack plays slow, Rider plays slow, and neither offense is that great. Smells like another under to me.

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