The college basketball season always provides a flurry of twists and turns that few saw coming -- especially when March Madness comes around. This can make college basketball one of the most challenging sports to bet on.

Fortunately, we have plenty of tools available that can aid our chances of taking the most favorable college basketball bets. Bart Torvik and KenPom are excellent sources that give insights into team-level efficiency, and Sports Reference provides a wide range of useful team stats, as well.

Let's check out FanDuel Sportsbook's college basketball odds and select some of the best bets and player props for today's slate.

Please note lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. Metrics via numberFire unless otherwise stated.

College Basketball Best Bets

No. 21 Virginia at Virginia Tech

Virginia +3.5 (-118)

The Commonwealth Clash renews tonight when the 21st-ranked Virginia Cavaliers (20-6, 11-4 conference) visit the Virginia Tech Hokies (14-11, 6-8). After taking the first meeting by eight, Virginia is well-positioned to keep things tight and cover as 3.5-point underdogs.

Virginia has hit their stride since that earlier win over Virginia Tech, winning 9 of their last 10 games. The Cavaliers have benefited from a lighter ACC schedule of late, but they've still managed to pick up key road wins over Clemson and Florida State. They've skyrocketed into third place in the conference and sit just one game back of first. Entering Monday, Virginia was +1200 to win the ACC regular season title.

Virginia Tech has gone in the opposite direction since their earlier matchup with the Cavaliers. They've dropped four of their last five games and are on the outside looking into the NCAA Tournament.

The Hokies have been better at home (11-2) compared to on the road (1-7), but they don't exactly have a signature home win. They dropped home bouts with Duke and Miami, the latter of which Virginia blasted by 22 points earlier this month.

Virginia held Virginia Tech under 40% shooting the last time these teams faced, and that's where they'll have the edge tonight. The Cavaliers boast the conference's top scoring defense, allowing just 60.9 points per game in ACC play. They've held conference opponents to the third-lowest field goal percentage and the fifth-lowest three-point field goal percentage.

Virginia's recent play and defensive prowess should be enough for them to cover +3.5 tonight.

No. 10 Iowa State at No. 3 Houston

Iowa State +9.5 (-114)

We're treated to a top-10 matchup at the Fertitta Center tonight with the third-ranked Houston Cougars (22-3, 9-3) playing host to the 10th-ranked Iowa State Cyclones (20-5, 9-3).

Tonight's game pits the top two teams in the Big 12 against each other. A win would put either side in the pole position to win the conference, though Houston (-180) is still a sizable favorite to win the Big 12 regular season compared to Iowa State (+170).

Both sides carry some momentum coming in. Iowa State has rattled off four straight wins, including road Ws at Cincinnati and Texas. Houston is riding a three-game win streak and won their last two home games by double-digits.

Still, the Cougars will be hard-pressed to blow the Cyclones out of the building. ISU has lost by 10 points just once this season, but they've since rebounded to win seven of the following eight games.

Houston is no stranger to large margins of victory, winning all four Big 12 home games by at least 15 points. Still, they dropped their previous date with Iowa State, 57-53, so the Cyclones aren't in unfamiliar territory here.

Iowa State held Houston to just 38% shooting and turned the ball over just 12 times in that one. They also forced Houston into 16 turnovers, and the turnover battle will likely play a huge role in tonight's result. In Big 12 play, Iowa State and Houston rank first and third, respectively, in forced turnovers per game. They turn the ball over at the two lowest rates themselves, with Houston's 13.5% mark ranking sixth nationally.

Houston and Iowa State are in the top three nationally in KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency. After combining for just 110 points in the first meeting, Under 127.5 (-106) is certainly worth a look.

However, I'm inclined to back the Cyclones here given the low total.

The numberFire model gives Iowa State a 59.8% chance of covering here, projecting Houston to win by 6.2 points.

College Basketball Prop Bets

Kansas State at Texas

Max Abmas Over 16.5 Points (-115)

Texas Longhorns guard Max Abmas is in a nice spot to go over his 16.5-point prop in tonight's home bout with the Kansas State Wildcats.

Abmas has averaged 17.4 points per game in Big 12 play, shooting 41% overall and 39% from beyond the arc. His 13.5 shot attempts per game easily leads the Longhorns.

The fifth-year senior is coming off his worst scoring total of the season, finishing with just 7 points via 2-of-14 shooting in a blowout loss at Houston. Still, Abmas has gone for 17 points in three of six conference home games, so he's well-positioned to bounce back against a reeling K-State defense.

The Wildcats have dropped six of their last seven games, allowing 73.9 points per game over that stretch. A bulk of that has come from opposing guards -- over their last seven games, six different guards finished with at least 17 points.

Abmas has also been much more efficient at home, upping his field goal percentage to 45%. Following his worst game of the year, expect a bounce back effort from the career 20.2-point-per-game scorer.

No. 10 Iowa State at No. 3 Houston

J'wan Roberts Over 7.5 Rebounds (-116)

Houston big man J'wan Roberts corralled eight rebounds the last time these teams faced off. With both sides featuring elite defenses, I'm not expecting a whole lot of offense in tonight's rematch. That scares me off the offensive player props but bodes well for J'wan Roberts to go over 7.5 Rebounds.

Roberts has racked up eight boards in just 5 of Houston's 12 conference games, but he's been more aggressive of late. The 6'7" senior has gone for 7, 8, 0, 13, and 8 rebounds over his last five games. That 0-rebound effort came in a game he fouled out of after just 12 minutes of action, but that was the only time he's fouled out of a game all season.

While a low total lends itself to a big rebounding night for Roberts, so does the Iowa State roster. In conference play, the Cyclones have compiled a measly 48% rebound rate, 11th of 14 Big 12 teams.

They've given up the third-most offensive rebounds per game in Big 12 action -- music to J'wan Roberts' ears. J'wan leads the Big 12 with 3.3 offensive rebounds per game, while 5 of his 8 rebounds in the first meeting were on the offensive end.

A low total and advantageous matchup put J'wan Roberts in a nice spot to go over his rebounding prop, currently set at 7.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

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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.