Thursday, 11/23/2023 (785) NC STATE vs. (786) VANDERBILT
Favoring: NC STATE against the spread.
Play Against - An underdog (VANDERBILT) - off 2 consecutive home wins by 5 points or less against opponent off 2 consecutive home wins by 10 points or more
(45-14 since 1997.) (76.3%, +29.6 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0 0 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (787) BYU vs. (788) ARIZONA ST
Favoring: BYU against the spread.
Play On - Neutral court teams as a favorite or pick (BYU) - an excellent defensive team (<=63 PPG) against a good defensive team (63-67 PPG), after allowing 65 points or less 3 straight games
(45-15 over the last 5 seasons.) (75.0%, +28.5 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (2-0 +2 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (787) BYU vs. (788) ARIZONA ST
Favoring: BYU against the spread.
Play Against - Neutral court teams (ARIZONA ST) - off a close home win by 3 points or less, good team from last season who won 60% to 80% of their games
(39-13 since 1997.) (75.0%, +24.7 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (0-3 -3.3 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (789) MICHIGAN ST vs. (790) ARIZONA
Favoring: ARIZONA against the spread.
Play Against - An underdog (MICHIGAN ST) - after a blowout win by 30 points or more against opponent after scoring 75 points or more 5 straight games
(26-6 over the last 5 seasons.) (81.2%, +19.4 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0 0 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (781) OKLAHOMA vs. (782) IOWA
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - All teams where the total is greater than or equal to 160 (IOWA) - an excellent offensive team (>=76 PPG) against an excellent defensive team (<=63 PPG), after scoring 85 points or more
(37-8 since 1997.) (82.2%, +28.2 units. Rating=4*)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0 0 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (789) MICHIGAN ST vs. (790) ARIZONA
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - Neutral court teams where the total is between 140 and 149.5 points (MICHIGAN ST) - after leading in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half
(148-71 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.6%, +69.9 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (12-5 +6.5 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (785) NC STATE vs. (786) VANDERBILT
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - Neutral court teams where the total is between 140 and 149.5 points (NC STATE) - after leading in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half
(148-71 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.6%, +69.9 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (12-5 +6.5 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (781) OKLAHOMA vs. (782) IOWA
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - All teams where the total is between 160 and 169.5 points (IOWA) - an excellent offensive team (>=76 PPG) against an excellent defensive team (<=63 PPG), after scoring 85 points or more
(33-8 since 1997.) (80.5%, +24.2 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0 0 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (781) OKLAHOMA vs. (782) IOWA
Favoring: OKLAHOMA on the first half line.
Play On - Neutral Court favorites vs. the 1rst half line (OKLAHOMA) - an excellent offensive team (>=76 PPG) against a poor defensive team (74-76 PPG), after scoring 75 points or more 4 straight games
(52-20 since 1997.) (72.2%, +30 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (1-0 +1 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (789) MICHIGAN ST vs. (790) ARIZONA
Favoring: MICHIGAN ST on the first half line.
Play Against - Neutral Court favorites vs. the 1rst half line (ARIZONA) - after beating the spread by 30 or more points total in their last five games, a top-level team (>= 80%) playing a good team (60% to 80%)
(28-7 over the last 5 seasons.) (80.0%, +20.3 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (0-0 0 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (787) BYU vs. (788) ARIZONA ST
Favoring: ARIZONA ST on the first half line.
Play On - Neutral Court underdogs vs. the 1rst half line (ARIZONA ST) - terrible shooting team - shooting <=39% on the season
(85-41 over the last 5 seasons.) (67.5%, +39.9 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (8-3 +4.7 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (789) MICHIGAN ST vs. (790) ARIZONA
Favoring: MICHIGAN ST on the first half line.
Play Against - A favorite vs. the 1rst half line (ARIZONA) - after beating the spread by more than 6 points in four consecutive games, undefeated on the season
(26-6 since 1997.) (81.2%, +19.4 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (1-0 +1 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (789) MICHIGAN ST vs. (790) ARIZONA
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - Neutral court teams where the first half total is 65.5 to 70.5 (MICHIGAN ST) - top caliber team - outscoring their opponents by 12+ points/game, after leading in their previous game by 20 or more points at the half
(32-8 over the last 5 seasons.) (80.0%, +23.2 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (3-0 +3 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (787) BYU vs. (788) ARIZONA ST
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - Neutral court teams where the first half total is 65.5 to 70.5 (ARIZONA ST) - after a close win by 3 points or less against opponent after scoring 85 points or more 2 straight games
(43-14 since 1997.) (75.4%, +27.6 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (2-0 +2 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (789) MICHIGAN ST vs. (790) ARIZONA
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - Neutral court teams where the first half total is 65.5 to 70.5 (MICHIGAN ST) - top caliber team - outscoring their opponents by 12+ points/game, after leading in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half
(56-23 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.9%, +30.7 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (6-3 +2.7 units).

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (785) NC STATE vs. (786) VANDERBILT
Favoring: Under on the total.
Play Under - Neutral court teams where the first half total is 65.5 to 70.5 (NC STATE) - top caliber team - outscoring their opponents by 12+ points/game, after leading in their previous game by 15 or more points at the half
(56-23 over the last 5 seasons.) (70.9%, +30.7 units. Rating=3*)
The situation's record this season is: (6-3 +2.7 units).

Sports have become a big part of the Thanksgiving holiday as friends and family gather around the television to celebrate with food and conversation, though most associate football with today's schedule.

However, college hoops is also rolling out a solid Thanksgiving slate with 14 lined games on the college basketball odds board.

And for those getting the festivities started early, or simply needing a distraction, Texas Tech vs. Northern Iowa and Penn State vs. No. 12 Texas A&M tip at noon ET.

Interestingly, our college basketball betting model has taken a particular liking to Penn State vs. Texas A&M, which offers one of the biggest edges on Thursday's entire sports slate.

As of the time of writing, live college basketball odds show Texas A&M as a 7-point spread favorite against Penn State with the over/under sitting at 136.5.

And despite the longer number, our College Basketball PRO Projections suggest that spread is too short.

We project this spread at -11, which translates to an 8.8% edge when compared to the widely available -7.

In addition, there are a handful of sportsbooks, like Caesars and BetMGM, offering the Aggies at -6.5, so be sure to shop for the best odds to increase your Penn State vs. Texas A&M edge even further for Thursday's Thanksgiving matinee.

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (771) FLA ATLANTIC vs. (772) BUTLER
Favoring: FLA ATLANTIC against the spread.
FLA ATLANTIC is 10-0 ATS (+10 Units) after 3 consecutive non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was FLA ATLANTIC 82.3, OPPONENT 64.3 - (Rating = 5*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (763) VILLANOVA vs. (764) N CAROLINA
Favoring: VILLANOVA against the spread.
N CAROLINA is 0-10 ATS (-11 Units) in road games versus teams who attempt 21 or more 3 point shots/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was N CAROLINA 75.5, OPPONENT 77.7 - (Rating = 5*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (771) FLA ATLANTIC vs. (772) BUTLER
Favoring: FLA ATLANTIC against the spread.
FLA ATLANTIC is 12-1 ATS (+10.9 Units) after 2 consecutive non-conference games over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was FLA ATLANTIC 78.2, OPPONENT 64.1 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (761) TEXAS TECH vs. (762) N IOWA
Favoring: N IOWA against the spread.
N IOWA is 10-0 ATS (+10 Units) versus excellent defensive teams - shooting pct defense of <=35% since 1997.
The average score was N IOWA 71.1, OPPONENT 67.3 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (787) BYU vs. (788) ARIZONA ST
Favoring: Under on the total.
BYU is 9-0 UNDER (+9 Units) after a blowout win by 20 points or more over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was BYU 75.7, OPPONENT 64.1 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (771) FLA ATLANTIC vs. (772) BUTLER
Favoring: Under on the total.
BUTLER is 17-3 UNDER (+13.7 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was BUTLER 57.2, OPPONENT 72 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (771) FLA ATLANTIC vs. (772) BUTLER
Favoring: Under on the total.
BUTLER is 16-3 UNDER (+12.7 Units) versus teams who are called for 17 or less fouls/game over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was BUTLER 64.5, OPPONENT 68.2 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (761) TEXAS TECH vs. (762) N IOWA
Favoring: Over on the total.
TEXAS TECH is 12-1 OVER (+10.9 Units) versus teams who attempt 21 or more 3 point shots/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was TEXAS TECH 76.4, OPPONENT 72.2 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (771) FLA ATLANTIC vs. (772) BUTLER
Favoring: FLA ATLANTIC on the first half line.
BUTLER is 3-17 (-15.7 Units) against the 1rst half line as an underdog vs. the 1rst half line over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was BUTLER 25.9, OPPONENT 34.5 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (785) NC STATE vs. (786) VANDERBILT
Favoring: VANDERBILT on the first half line.
NC STATE is 0-10 (-11 Units) against the 1rst half line off a home win scoring 85 or more points over the last 3 seasons.
The average score was NC STATE 34.4, OPPONENT 37.7 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (763) VILLANOVA vs. (764) N CAROLINA
Favoring: VILLANOVA on the first half line.
N CAROLINA is 1-10 (-10 Units) against the 1rst half line in November games over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was N CAROLINA 37.2, OPPONENT 32.9 - (Rating = 3*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (777) LOYOLA-IL vs. (778) BOSTON COLLEGE
Favoring: BOSTON COLLEGE on the first half line.
LOYOLA-IL is 3-12 (-10.2 Units) against the 1rst half line after failing to cover the spread in 2 or more consecutive games over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was LOYOLA-IL 30.9, OPPONENT 34.9 - (Rating = 2*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (787) BYU vs. (788) ARIZONA ST
Favoring: Under on the first half line.
BYU is 12-1 UNDER (+10.9 Units) the 1rst half total after 2 or more consecutive wins over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was BYU 34.2, OPPONENT 29.5 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (769) PENN ST vs. (770) TEXAS A&M
Favoring: Under on the first half line.
TEXAS A&M is 12-1 UNDER (+10.9 Units) the 1rst half total vs. good free throw shooting teams - making >=72% of their attempts over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was TEXAS A&M 32.1, OPPONENT 27 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (773) IOWA ST vs. (774) VA COMMONWEALTH
Favoring: Under on the first half line.
VA COMMONWEALTH is 11-0 UNDER (+11 Units) the 1rst half total after 3 straight games - allowing a shooting pct. of 37% or less since 1997.
The average score was VA COMMONWEALTH 27.6, OPPONENT 27.9 - (Rating = 4*)

Thursday, 11/23/2023 (789) MICHIGAN ST vs. (790) ARIZONA
Favoring: Over on the first half line.
MICHIGAN ST is 10-1 OVER (+8.9 Units) the 1rst half total in road games versus teams who attempt 21 or more 3 point shots/game on the season over the last 2 seasons.
The average score was MICHIGAN ST 33.3, OPPONENT 36.2 - (Rating = 3*)

Bryant shocked Florida Atlantic last weekend when the Bulldogs went on the road to Boca Raton and upset the Owls 61-52. The Owls entered this season as everyone's favorite mid-major team in the sport, and for good reason.

Last year's Florida Atlantic team made a historic run to the Final Four, ultimately losing a dramatic game to San Diego State. The Owls returned all key pieces, including head coach Dusty May, and have bigger dreams this year. The only problem is that they have not played very well to start the season.

On the other end, Thad Matta's Butler Bulldogs enter this year with a 3-1 record, a full week removed from their first loss in a road game to Michigan State. Butler has a new look and feel this season, and the offense was showing signs of promise before getting stuck in the mud in East Lansing last Friday.

With both teams entering off a loss, a win for either side would go a long way toward getting back on track.

It has been a tale of two teams for Florida Atlantic. In one game, the Owls are scoring 100 points on Eastern Michigan in a 43-point blowout victory. In the next game, they score just 52 in a loss to Bryant (who just fired its head coach).

Against Bryant, the Owls simply could not make a shot from outside. The team as a whole shot 5-30 from deep, good for just a 16% showing overall.

However, that is highly unlikely to happen again. The Owls were 19-42 from deep entering the Bryant game, and it is reasonable to believe that was a complete anomaly.

One big concern for the Owls is that their best player last season, Alijah Martin, has not looked like himself. He missed much of the preseason nursing an injury, and he has not gotten in rhythm at all yet, even in Florida Atlantic's strong performances. This team needs him to get on track, and quickly.

After a miserable season last year, Butler rebuilt its roster starting in the backcourt. Thad Matta went out and acquired Posh Alexander, DJ Davis and Pierre Brooks, all of whom have given the Bulldogs a nice scoring punch early in the season.

While the offense has a bit more firepower, the strength of this Butler team is its defense, and the Bulldogs rank 54th in the country in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency. They force turnovers and don't give up anything easy at the rim.

This is the type of defense that can cause problems for a struggling offense, and if Florida Atlantic misses a few shots early, it would not be a surprise to see Butler have success on that end.

While Butler certainly has the profile of a team that can make things difficult on Florida Atlantic, it feels more likely that the Owls get back on track here.

The ESPN Events Invitational gets underway with Penn State taking on Texas A&M on Thursday. These two teams met in the NCAA Tournament last season, where Penn State handled Texas A&M with ease by pouring in 3s from all over the court in a comfortable win.

This year's game should be much different, as the Nittany Lions have a totally new roster along with a new head coach now that Micah Shrewsberry departed for Notre Dame. There is reason to believe Penn State will still be a successful basketball team this season under Mike Rhoades, but it will look quite a bit different.

Texas A&M, on the other hand, looks very similar to last year's team that tore through the SEC. Superstar guard Wade Taylor returns, along with a supporting cast of Tyrece Radford and Henry Coleman, who are capable of beating anyone on any given night.

We should be in store for a fun game before your Thanksgiving dinner!

While the shooting issues can certainly open the door for an upset, this Penn State team has been too inept offensively to inspire belief that it can make this one interesting. The line opened at seven points and has been bet up to 7.5, which feels accurate.

The Rady Children's Invitational gets started on Thursday in San Diego, California, when Iowa and Oklahoma face off. Two teams that have quietly taken care of business this season will look for their first statement win on a neutral floor.

Both teams can really fill it up offensively, and each team has scored 80 or more points in every game this season. Expect a ton of offense, and a little bit of defense mixed in (maybe).

Iowa is the elite of the elite offensively. The Hawkeyes play fast and score at will, and they're currently ranked 13th in Adjusted Offensive Efficiency. Keegan and Kris Murray are gone, but the Sandfort brothers have stepped in, alongside Ben Krikke and Tony Perkins.

Oklahoma can keep up though, and that's not something that many teams in the country can say. The Sooners have depth and balance — in their most recent win against UT Rio Grande Valley, three different players scored 13 or more points off the bench.

Porter Moser has a nice team on paper, led by Otega Oweh, who averages 15 points per game. Moser paired Oweh with Javian McCollum, a transfer guard from Siena who chips in 12 points per game of his own.

The biggest strength of the Oklahoma offense is scoring inside, as the Sooners rank sixth in the nation in field goal percentage. They've been beasts inside, dominating on the offensive boards by rebounding 41% of their missed shots.

They don't beat themselves, they make shots from inside and out and they have depth, balance and versatility. The only critique of Oklahoma is that it hasn't played anybody with a pulse yet.

Like Oklahoma, Iowa can light the nets on fire with made shots. The Hawkeyes play at the sixth-fastest pace in college basketball, which has been a staple of McCaffery's offense for years.

This year's version has less star power than the Luka Garza, Murray twin-led teams of the last five years, but it might have more balance, which may be a good thing. On any given night a different player on Iowa can beat you, and it won't be easy for Oklahoma to shut the Hawkeyes down.

On the defensive end, the problems that fans have come to associate with McCaffery's program still persist. This Iowa team is ranked 109th in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency, and there isn't much to like from the Hawkeyes on that end.

Opponents consistently generate wide open shots against Iowa, and if you give those shots to Oklahoma, the Sooners will likely capitalize.

This one is a pick'em, which makes sense given where both teams are ranked and how they stack up in the metrics.

While both offenses stack up pretty evenly, the Oklahoma defense should be the difference.