NCAA Basketball Predictions, Odds & Best Bets (3/3)

A new week is here, and it’s actually the first full week of March. Let’s start off strong as the major conference tournaments are quickly approaching, and some smaller tourneys are in full swing. Our expert’s dove into the College Hoops slate and found their best bets to kick off your week.

For all of our Expert NCAA Basketball Picks, check out our page here.

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NCAA Basketball Best Bets – March 3rd, 2025

Austin Peay vs North Alabama Predictions

Austin Peay should have trouble scoring the ball tonight

Best Bets: Austin Peay TT Under 66.5 (+100) BetOnline

Check out our Austin Peay vs North Alabama Preview!

McNeese vs Stephen F. Austin Predictions

Ethan Mayes and the Lumberjacks host McNeese tonight

Best Bets: McNeese/SFA Under 136.5 (-105) BetOnline

Back the under in this Southland matchup. These teams already played at McNeese, barely going over a 133 total as the Cowboys won 79-59. We see an opening line of 135.5 and snagged it as it moved up a point on BetOnline.

McNeese is a much slower team, ranking 296th in possessions per game. Their offense is very efficient, but defensively they are phenomenal. They are 71st overall defensively, Top 50 in eFG% and FT Rate defense, and are 12th at forcing turnovers. The Cowboys don’t take very many threes even though they blow teams out, and despite Stephen F. Austin being a bit faster, they have no shot keeping up offensively. The Lumberjacks only hope is slowing things down.

SFA is Bottom 7 overall offensively, Bottom 35 in eFG% and Bottom 3 in turnovers. McNeese will generate plenty of steals in this game, resulting in a slow offensive possession on the other end. Defensively, however, the Lumberjacks are decent. They are 4th in the conference overall, 6th in eFG% and 3rd in forcing TOs of their own. Stephen F. Austin should know their only hope of pulling off this Senior Night win is by stopping the Cowboys offense, and I think they could be capable of doing so.

McNeese will win, but I don’t see them running away with it. Feed me the under.

New Orleans vs Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Predictions

Garry Clark leads the Islanders in rebounds and points this season

Best Bets: TAMU-CC -14.5 (-110) BetOnline

The Islanders are simply the better team here. They already beat New Orleans by 14 on the road, covering the -10.5 and soaring over 152.5 as they won 97-83. Now they are laying 14.5 at home to the Privateers, the worst team in the conference.

The Islanders are looking to stay ahead of Northwestern State before the conference tournament begins, and that could happen with a win tonight. Corpus Christi is plenty fast, ranking 152nd in possessions per game and boasting a Top 100 eFG% offense and defense. Texas A&M-CC gets to the free throw line plenty, ranking 58th in FT Rate, but could shoot it better when they get there. They are exceptionally good at guarding the three point line, ranking Top 80 in 3P Rate defense and 34th in 3P%D, holding their opponents to less than 29% from deep.

New Orleans will speed this game up. They are Top 75 in possessions per game and are HORRENDOUS defensively. Offensively they aren’t anything special either.

The Privateers are north of 300 in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, eFG% on both sides of the ball, and offensive rebounds allowed. They are also 285th in turning the ball over, and really can’t shoot from anywhere. Defensively the only thing they do well is keep teams off the line, but opponents do whatever else they please on offense. The Privateers are on a 12 game losing streak, allowing 80+ points four times during that stretch, and 73+ in all 12 games.

On the flip side, the Islanders haven’t scored 70+ in a month. But tonight against a terrible defense, I think they see plenty of opportunity to cover this number at home.

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