Top College Basketball Betting Picks for Wednesday, November 25th

College basketball is finally here! While some games have been postponed or delayed, there is still an exciting slate throughout the day to kick off the 2020-21 season. Before getting into my best bets of the day, let me give you some quick pointers on betting this season. 

• Fade low-continuity teams early in the season: This was a general rule in years past as it takes some time for a team to gel together, but now it especially applies.
• Don't be as invested in home-court advantage: Teams such as Purdue or Rutgers, who overly performed on their own courts, shouldn't get as much love at home this year. And teams who play in historically difficult venues for opponents, like Cameron Indoor Stadium, won’t get that boost without fans. 
• Bet right before the bell: Many players will be late scratches due to Covid and injuries, so make sure to get the line right before close. Knowing who will be in and out is invaluable.
• Get a KenPom subscription: For $20 a year, this holy grail of college basketball is the best deal going. If you really want to step up your college basketball betting, this is the way to go.

Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. But if you follow these steps, it will lay a solid foundation for your betting this season. Alright, let’s get into my best bets for the day. 

View the Best Bets for the 2020/2021 NCAAB Championship >>

Memphis at Saint Mary's: Memphis -7.5

Despite the loss of Precious Achiuwa, this Memphis squad returns four starters and is loaded with talent. The Tigers were the youngest team in the nation from 2019-20 but after a year together I expect them to hit the ground running. 

Meanwhile, Saint Mary's lost 55 points per game from a season ago and doesn’t really have top-end recruits to fill the holes. Memphis is an up-tempo nightmare that can run the floor and leave a team like Saint Mary's in the dust. The Tigers boasted the fifth-best defense in the nation a year ago and I expect them to limit the Gaels offense and cover along the way.  

Bowling Green at Michigan: Bowling Green +14.0

With the loss of Xavier Simpson and John Teske, the backbone of this Wolverines team is gone. Bowling Green returns four of five starters and their leading scorer, Justin Turner, is a legitimate threat who can keep Bowling Green in this game. Michigan is not exactly an up-tempo team, and they don't force turnovers, so the Falcons can keep it close enough to cover.

Clemson at Mississippi State: Clemson -4.5 

The loss of Robert Woodard to the NBA seriously hurts Mississippi State, and I expect his absence to be noticed from the start. Clemson returning four of five starters gives me confidence in the Tigers, especially after boasting a top-35 ranked defense in last year's campaign. 

Clemson shrinks the floor on defense and allows a lot of three-pointers. The Bulldogs don't do a lot of scoring from beyond-the-arc however, ranking 344th in the percentage of points coming from downtown last year. Clemson lines up well with Mississippi State and I expect Aaron Simms to lead the way to a victory and cover for this Tiger team.

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Ryan Coleman is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Ryan, check out his archive.