Best College Basketball Bets Today | NCAAB Picks November 16

As we anxiously await for what will be another incredible Friday slate, we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves: there are still games on Thursday to watch. The No. 6 Houston Cougars are the only ranked team playing on November 16th; however, there will still be a few other enticing matchups that we can sink our teeth into, including Wright State versus Indiana. Let’s break both of these games down below in hopes of continuing our hot streak!

No. 6 Houston @ Towson 

• Date: Thursday, November 16

• Time: 6:30 pm EST

• Spread: Houston -21.5 (-110) | Towson +21.5 (-110)

• Total: Over 128 (-105) | Under 128 (-115)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets using our exclusive link.   

My Pick:  Houston -21.5 (-110)

Kelvin Sampson and the Houston Cougars have turned their basketball program into somewhat of a juggernaut; they lost their two best players last season (Marcus Sasser and Jarace Walker), who were both selected in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, and are still ranked sixth in the nation heading into this matchup against Towson.

However, the Cougars do return starting point guard Jamal Shead and starting forward J’Wan Roberts, as well as Ja’Vier Francis, Terrance Arceneaux, and Emmanuel Sharp. Further, they brought in highly-coveted scoring guards L.J. Cryer (Baylor) and Damian Dunn (Temple.) It turns out that Sasser and Walker can be replaced.

The Cougars have so many talented scorers that Jamal Shead, who averaged just shy of 11 points per game last year, third-most on the team, has only posted four points per game. Shead’s focus has turned completely to facilitating, as he is putting up seven assists per game thus far. 

KenPom seems to agree with our evaluation of the Cougars; he has them ranked second in adjusted efficiency margin, including boasting the best adjusted defensive efficiency score in the nation. The Cougars are holding opponents to an effective field goal percentage of just 39.2%, while forcing opponents to commit the most turnovers in the country. 

Let’s take a quick look at the scoring differentials so far in Houston’s first three games: the Cougars have won by 53, 32, and 31 points. This is no knock on Towson’s squad at all, as it has already logged two wins on the season, but they lost by 18 points to No. 25 Colorado. What do you think this exceptional Cougars team will do to them? Take Houston at -21.

Wright State @ Indiana 

• Date: Thursday, November 16

• Time: 7:00 pm EST

• Moneyline: Wright State +410 | Indiana -550

• Spread: Wright State +9 (-105) | Indiana -9 (-115)

• Total: Over 152 (-112) | Under 152 (-108)

My Pick: Indiana -9 (-115)

Indiana might be 2-0 to start the 2023-24 regular season, but it has not been pretty. The Hoosiers beat Florida Gulf Coast by just six points, nearly throwing the game away by turning the ball over on back-to-back out-of-bounds plays. Then, in their next outing, they beat Army West Point by just eight points. Both of these games were at home in Assembly Hall and Indiana had virtually every rostered player at its disposal. If that trend continues, it could be a long season ahead for the Hoosiers and their fans.

The Hoosiers enter this game as nine-point favorites (they opened around 12 points), once again playing in front of their home fans in Bloomington, Indiana. Will they finally put together a solid game and pull away comfortably by the final horn, or will mid-majors continue to put up just enough of a fight to keep this bout close?

This line overcorrected after it opened. While 12 or 12.5 points might have been a bit too rich, nine points is solid value for a team that doesn’t lack talent, just chemistry. And chemistry comes with time. Further, the Hoosiers were well-positioned to cover against the Florida Gulf Coast before Malik Reneau gave up a wide-open three and then turned the ball over from an out-of-bounds play on consecutive possessions with roughly one minute remaining in the game.

Colorado State (55th in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin) just crushed Wright State by 28 points; Indiana ranks 61st in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency margin. These two teams are similarly skilled and the Hoosiers have a much higher upside, as they have three five-star forwards in their starting frontcourt: Mgbako, Ware, and Reneau. 

Additionally, Xavier Johnson is amongst the best point-of-attack defenders in the nation, and Wright State’s best player is guard Trey Calvin; he could be in for a rough day, especially considering that freshman perimeter pest Gabe Cupps and experienced jack-of-all-trades Trey Galloway will be shadowing him whenever Johnson isn’t on the floor. Play Indiana to -10.