College Basketball Picks Today: 3 Predictions and Player Props for Tuesday, Nov. 3

Today’s Best College Basketball Bets in Summary

• Tennessee -25.5 (-110)
• Georgia Tech -14.5 (-120)
• Missouri -25.5 (-118)

The 2026-27 college basketball season is officially underway, and Tuesday's schedule gives bettors plenty of opportunities even without a loaded slate of marquee matchups. Several high-major teams are facing sizable underdogs in their season openers.

We've narrowed down three spreads worth considering, with a focus on teams that have significant talent advantages and favorable opening-night matchups. Here are our three best college basketball bets for tonight.

Let's check out FanDuel Sportsbook's college basketball odds and select some of the best bets of the day.

College basketball odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, and they may change throughout the day after this article is published. All stats are from Bart Torvik, KenPom and Sports Reference unless noted otherwise.

Today’s Best College Basketball Predictions, Picks

Tennessee -25.5 (-110)

Tennessee vs. Wofford — 6:00 p.m. ET

The Tennessee Volunteers have plenty of questions to answer with a revamped roster, but this is a favorable spot to start the season. Tennessee is ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll and welcomes a Wofford Terriers team that went 19-13 last season but was picked third in the Southern Conference preseason poll.

The Vols should have a substantial talent advantage, particularly after adding several high-level transfers. Juke Harris averaged 21.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game last season while multiple other Tennessee newcomers averaged at least 17 points at their previous schools.

There is also reason to trust Tennessee's ability to dominate the glass. The Vols posted a +12.6 rebounding margin last season, one of the best marks in the country, and they had at least 10 offensive rebounds in 36 of 37 games. That should create a significant possession advantage against Wofford.

Georgia Tech -14.5 (-120)

Hampton vs. Georgia Tech — 7:00 p.m. ET

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets begin the season at home against the Hampton Pirates, and the matchup gives the Yellow Jackets a chance to establish control early.

Georgia Tech's biggest advantage should come from its ability to create easier scoring opportunities against a Hampton defense that struggled last season. Hampton is expected to struggle again, with KenPom slotting the Pirates 242nd overall. They’re ranked 262nd in offense.

If the Yellow Jackets can force turnovers and turn those possessions into transition opportunities, the gap could grow quickly.

Playing at home against an opponent from the CAA, the Yellow Jackets should have enough athleticism and depth to pull away in the second half.

Missouri -25.5 (-118)

The Missouri Tigers get one of the more favorable opening-night matchups on the board against the Cleveland State Vikings.

Cleveland State went just 11-22 last season and was picked 11th in the Horizon League preseason poll. The Vikings also went 3-12 on the road last campaign, making an already difficult assignment at Mizzou Arena even tougher.

Missouri should be able to exploit Cleveland State's defensive issues. The Vikings allowed 85.9 points per game last season while Missouri shot 49.0% from the field.

If the Tigers are efficient offensively, they have a path to building a large enough lead to cover this number before the final minutes.

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College Basketball Betting FAQ

What is a point spread in college basketball betting?

A point spread gives the favorite a handicap that it must overcome for a bet to win. For example, if a team is listed at -6.5, it needs to win by at least seven points for a spread bet on that team to cash. An underdog listed at +6.5 can lose by six points or fewer, or win the game outright, and still cover the spread.

What does the over/under mean in college basketball?

The over/under is a sportsbook's projected combined score for a game. Bettors can wager on whether the two teams will combine for more points than the total (over) or fewer points than the total (under). For example, a game with a 148.5-point total would need at least 149 combined points for an over bet to win.

What is a moneyline bet in college basketball?

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game outright, regardless of the final margin. Favorites typically have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds. Unlike a point-spread bet, a moneyline bettor does not need the favorite to win by a certain number of points.

Is home-court advantage important in college basketball betting?

Yes. Home-court advantage can be particularly meaningful in college basketball because of travel, crowd noise and the familiarity teams have with their home environments. The impact varies considerably by program, though, so bettors should consider the specific teams involved rather than applying the same home-court adjustment to every matchup.

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Which bets stand out to you across the nation tonight? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's latest college basketball odds to see the full menu of options.

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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.