Best College Basketball Bets Today: NCAAB Picks for November 9

The first Saturday of the 2024-25 regular season has arrived!

Thankfully, the first Saturday of college basketball includes two ranked matchups: the 16th-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks versus the eighth-ranked Baylor Baylor and No. 11 Auburn versus No. 4 Houston.

Below, we will break down these two matchups, including our best college basketball picks for November 9th. Check it out!

No. 16 Arkansas @ No. 8 Baylor 

• Date: Saturday, November 9

• Time: 7:30 pm EST

• Moneyline: Arkansas +114 | Baylor -126

• Spread: Arkansas +2.5 (-104) | Baylor -2.5 (-114)

• Total: Over 153.5 (-110) | Under 153.5 (-110)

All odds are available via FanDuel Sportsbook but are subject to change. Place your bets at FanDuel and claim $150 in bonus bets + 3 months of NBA League Pass

PICK: Baylor -2.5 (-110)

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Earlier this week, the Bears lost by 38 points to the ‘Zags and didn’t appear to be in the same stratosphere (as a team) as the Bulldogs, who shot 57% from the floor and 42% from behind the arc. 

However, Baylor should be given grace since it is still developing cohesion among its newcomers, including several key pieces, such as VJ Edgecombe, Jeremy Roach, Norchad Omier, Rob Wright III, and Jalen Celestine.

On the other hand, Gonzaga brought back most of its contributors from last year, carrying its momentum from the end of the 2023-24 campaign into this season.

Arkansas is in a similar situation to Baylor. The Razorbacks have had a near-total roster overhaul since hiring legendary head coach John Calipari in April, meaning there will be ups and downs for a while.

Calipari brought Boogie Fland, Karter Knox, Zvonimir Ivisic, Adou Thiero, and DJ Wagner from Kentucky (or from being Kentucky commits) to Arkansas.

Coach Cal also managed to sway FAU star Johnell Davis, one of the top portal transfers, and Tennessee big man Jonas Aidoo to transfer to Arkansas; he even got Trevon Brazile to stay despite the massive roster overhaul and coaching change.

The Razorbacks have already had a volatile start to the season. While technically 1-0, they played in two exhibition games: one against No. 1 Kansas and the other against TCU.

Arkansas beat top-ranked Kansas and lost to TCU. Again, volatility should be expected.

So, which of these two new-look teams will walk away from their matchup in American Airlines Center with a ranked win early in the 2024-25 season?

Gonzaga is a legitimate title contender this season, so the Bulldogs’ drubbing of Baylor should not be held against it.

This Bears team projects as one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the country after returning Langston Love (48.0%) and Jayden Nunn (43.9%), two elite shooters from deep, and bringing in Jeremy Roach (42.9%).

Love missed Baylor’s first game against the ‘Zags with an ankle injury, but he will probably be back in the lineup, giving the Bears another elite shooter. The likelihood of the Bears going 3-for-21 from 3-point land again is extremely low.

Great offense beats great defense. Plus, this will basically be a home game for the Bears, as it will be played in Texas.

No. 11 Auburn @ No. 4 Houston

• Date: Saturday, November 9

• Time: 9:30 pm EST

• Moneyline: Auburn +125 | Houston -176

• Spread: Auburn +2.5 (-104) | Houston -2.5 (-114)

• Total: Over 146.5 (-110) | Under 146.5 (-110)

All odds are available via FanDuel Sportsbook but are subject to change.

PICK: Houston -2.5 (-114)

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Houston and Auburn, the top two teams in adjusted defensive efficiency so far this season, will battle each other in what could very well become a Final Four or National Championship game come March.

And, to no one’s surprise, this will be an ugly, defensive-centric game.

Cougars’ head coach Kelvin Sampson always constructs elite defenses. 

They have consistently been ranked at the top of KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric. 

In fact, Houston finished in the top ten of that statistic in four consecutive seasons. 

While still early, this season appears to be trending similarly.

Houston lost star guard Jamal Shead and a few other players; however, it still brought back Mylik Wilson, Ramon Walker Jr, Terrance Arceneaux, J’Wan Roberts, LJ Cryer, Joseph Tugler, and Emanuel Sharp. 

Auburn also has several players back from its SEC Tournament championship team, including Johni Broome, one of the best forwards in the country.

Broome protects the rim and paint, anchoring an elite Auburn defense that ranked first in opponent 2-point percentage last year.

The Tigers also defend the perimeter as well as any team in the nation, holding opponents to roughly 30% shooting from deep.

Auburn will have plenty of success during its 2024-25 campaign, but that success won’t come against Houston at a “neutral site” that basically serves as the Cougars’ home game.

If we know anything about this Houston team, it is that they are unbeatable at home or on a home-adjacent court. The Cougars were 10-5-2 against the spread at home last year and held a 17-0 record.

It will be a tight game, but Houston should pull this out, especially with a legitimate pass-first, playmaking guard like Milos Uzan joining the laundry list of returners above.

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