College Basketball: Champions Classic Betting Picks

The 2023 Champions Classic tips off tonight at 7:00 ET from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

This will be the 13th rendition of the Classic and the fourth time the Windy City has hosted.

Tonight's action kicks off with the 18th-ranked Michigan State Spartans taking on the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils. Shortly after, the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks face the 17th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

Even with four high-profile teams, it can be hard to get a feel for these squads this early in the season.

Fortunately, we have plenty of tools available that can aid our chances of taking the most favorable college basketball bets. Bart Torvik and KenPom are excellent sources that give insights into team-level efficiency, and Sports Reference provides a wide range of useful team stats, as well.

Let's check out FanDuel Sportsbook's college basketball odds to find the best bets for the 2023 Champions Classic.

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published.

Champions Classic Best Bets

No. 18 Michigan State at No. 9 Duke

Duke -3.5 (-110)

Last week, this matchup was slated to pit No. 4 Michigan State against No. 2 Duke.

Now, after both fabled programs suffered opening-week home losses, we'll have to settle for a top-25 affair.

While both squads showed some real flaws with last week's losses, I have to lean Duke here. The Blue Devils lost to then-No. 12 Arizona, while the Spartans lost to James Madison. But it wasn't just who they lost to, but how they lost and what those Ls showed about the state of their teams.

For Duke, they were dominated physically by the Wildcats. Arizona outrebounded them 45-33, including 15-8 on the offensive glass. Zona got to the line 18 times compared to Duke's 12.

I don't think Duke will face nearly as difficult of a time against a relatively undersized Spartans team. Michigan State, too, was outrebounded in their loss. James Madison came down with 51 'boards compared to MSU's 48. That isn't a huge difference in the grand scheme of things, but it highlighted what is going on to be an ongoing issue for the Spartans.

Center Mady Sissoko (7.0 rebounds per game) and forward Malik Hall (5.0) both stand under 6'10". They have a pair of 6'11" underclassmen who come off the bench, but neither has much experience. I don't see them edging out either Sissoko or Hall, even against a bigger Duke team.

Outside of their frontline, MSU starts a trio of guards under 6'4". One of whom -- Jaden Akins -- actually leads the team with 9.0 rebounds per game, but it's hard to feel great about Akins' prospects against the Blue Devils.

That's because Duke starts seven-foot center Kyle Filipowski (7.5 rebounds) and 6'9" forward Mark Mitchell (5.0), while 6'10" senior Ryan Young (4.5) gives them depth off the bench. In general, this projects to be a strong rebounding team, last game notwithstanding. Duke finished fifth in the nation in total rebound rate (55.7%) last season, while Michigan State was down at 83rd (52.2%).

That rebounding is going to be a major factor, especially if Michigan State's offense continues to struggle. The Spartans have made just 2 of 31 threes (6.5%) this season. They're outside the top 250 in offensive rating (98.7) and have dropped to 51st in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency.

They do boast an elite individual scorer in Tyson Walker. Walker is averaging 24.5 points per game via a stellar 56.1% effective field goal percentage and a 31.3% usage rate. No other Spartan averages more than 8.5 points nor commands higher than a 23.3% usage rate.

Duke also supports a star who commands a high usage rate, but their offense has been much more efficient overall. The aforementioned Filipowski averages 25.0 points per game while posting a 68.8% effective field goal percentage and a 27.4% usage rate. Guard Jeremy Roach (15.5 points) is the only other Blue Devil to average double-digit points thus far, but Duke's offense has remained top-tier.

The Blue Devils sit at No. 109 in offensive rating (114.6) but are 14th in KenPom's adjusted offensive efficiency.

Michigan State ranks higher in adjusted defensive efficiency (13th to Duke's 20th), but the gap isn't big enough to overcome the deficit they'll have on the glass and on offense. I'm more than comfortable laying the points here, but Duke ML (-170) isn't the worst option if you're nervous about some positive regression from three for the Spartans.

No. 1 Kansas at No. 17 Kentucky

Kansas -6.5 (-115)

For as hyped up as these two top-25 matchups have been, I'm pessimistic we get two good games.

Duke-Michigan State should be tight, but I don't see Kentucky keeping things close with top-ranked Kansas in the nightcap. Laying 6.5 points may feel like a lot, but I won't be shocked to see a double-digit victory for the Jayhawks -- they're that good.

Let's start with Kentucky.

The Wildcats are 2-0 thus far, but both wins came at home against teams ranked outside KenPom's top 200. As is customary in Lexington, this year's UK basketball team looks a lot different than last year's. They return just one starter and only 18.6% of minutes from last season.

They aren't without experience, however. Fifth-year senior Antonio Reaves is the only returning starter from last year's squad, and he currently leads the team with 16.0 points per game. He's joined by a pair of top recruits in DJ Wagner (12.0 points) and Justin Edwards (14.0 points) -- both of whom are expected to be drafted into the NBA next season.

Sophomore Adou Thiero (7.0 rebounds) and fifth-year Tre Mitchell (13.5 points; 8.5 rebounds) hold down the frontcourt. Mitchell is at his fourth school in five years and has appeared in more than 100 games in his career, but Thiero averaged just 9.7 minutes a night last season. We have yet to see this undersized frontcourt (both players stand under 6'10") against tournament-level competition.

That's where I think Kansas really has an edge. Kentucky ranks just 117th in rebound rate (54.5%) through two games, and they outrebounded Texas A&M-Commerce by only three.

Kansas, meanwhile, ranks 31st in rebound rate (59.9%). They, too, haven't played anyone inside KenPom's top 200, but they also have outrebounded their opponents by 14 and 13.

That starts with former All-American Hunter Dickinson. The 7'2" senior paces the Jayhawks in scoring (19.5) and rebounding (8.0) and also blocks 1.5 shots per game for good measure. Averaging a career-best 3.5 assists per game and shooting 38.0% from three for his career, Dickinson is the definition of a matchup nightmare.

He's hardly the only Jayhawk with size and experience. KJ Adams -- a 6'7" forward -- averages 13 points and 5.0 rebounds and has 39 career starts under his belt. Six-foot-ten grad transfer Parker Braun (10 points; 5.0 rebounds) gives them a big body off the bench, and he's appeared in more than 100 games across his five-year career.

And then there's 6'7" wing Kevin McCullar. McCullar has started 84 games between Texas Tech and Kansas, but it looks like he saved his best for last. So far this year, he's averaged 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists while maintaining an absurd 73.8% effective field goal percentage.

Dajuan Harris (79 career starts) and freshman Elmarko Jackson (7.5 assists) round out KU's starting lineup.

The Jayhawks should have too much experience and size for Kentucky to handle. They're well-rounded (eighth in adjusted offensive efficiency; fourth in adjusted defensive efficiency) and will have the best player on the court (Dickinson). Throw in the coaching advantage Bill Self brings them, and that's more than enough for me to lay 6.5 points with Kansas.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.