College Basketball Picks Today: 3 Predictions and Player Props for Thursday, Nov. 5

Today’s Best College Basketball Bets in Summary

• Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt Under 155.5 Points (-105)
• LIU vs. Seton Hall Under 135.5 Points (-105)
• Towson +9.5 (-110) vs. Utah

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The 2026-27 college basketball season is underway, and Thursday's slate features several intriguing non-conference matchups. With ranked teams such as Duke, Vanderbilt, Illinois, and Arizona in action, we have plenty of opportunities to find value in the early-season betting markets.

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

College basketball odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, and they may change throughout the day after this article is published. All stats are from Bart Torvik, KenPom and Sports Reference unless noted otherwise.

Today’s Best College Basketball Predictions, Picks

Wake Forest-Vanderbilt Under 155.5 Points (-105)

Wake Forest vs. Vanderbilt — 6:00 p.m. ET

Vanderbilt opened its season with an impressive 93-47 victory over Bellarmine, but the Commodores' defensive performance was arguably more noteworthy than their offensive production.

Vanderbilt limited Bellarmine to 38% shooting from the field and recorded nine steals. At one point, the Commodores held their opponent without a made field goal for more than 10 minutes, showcasing the defensive pressure that could make life difficult for Wake Forest

Wake also started its season with a comfortable win, defeating Maryland Eastern Shore 83-62. The Demon Deacons forced 18 turnovers and generated 31 points off those mistakes.

Both teams benefited from favorable matchups and turnover-driven scoring opportunities in their openers, but Thursday represents a significant step up in competition for each side. Vanderbilt's defensive pressure should make it tough for Wake Forest to generate efficient offense while the Demon Deacons have shown enough defensive activity to potentially disrupt the Commodores’ offense.

Despite the offensive success both teams enjoyed on opening night, a total of 155.5 points pushes me toward the under.

LIU-Seton Hall Under 135.5 Points (-105)

LIU vs. Seton Hall — 6:30 p.m. ET

The under looks appealing in this matchup, especially considering the defensive performance we saw from Seton Hall in its season opener.

The Pirates held Saint Peter's to just 42 points in a 66-42 victory on Monday. Seton Hall limited the Peacocks to 0.71 points per possession, highlighting the team's ability to control the game defensively. The Pirates also scored just 66 points themselves.

Meanwhile, LIU struggled offensively in its opener against Florida Atlantic, scoring 60 points in a 74-60 loss. The Sharks shot 40.0% from the field and only 20.0% from three-point range.

With Seton Hall's usual slow pace and defensive-minded approach combined with LIU's early offensive struggles, points should be hard to come by tonight.

Towson +9.5 (-110)

Towson vs. Utah — 9:00 p.m. ET

Utah enters Thursday's matchup as a sizable favorite, but the Utes didn't exactly inspire confidence in their season opener.

Utah needed a 17-point comeback to defeat Long Beach State, escaping with a narrow 66-63 victory. The Utes scored just 66 points despite playing at home, and a similar offensive performance could make covering this spread difficult.

Towson opened its campaign with an 89-70 loss to what may prove to be a pretty darn good Santa Clara squad, but there were some positives. Jaquan Womack finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds while Zion Stanford added 15 points of his own.

The Tigers certainly need to improve defensively after allowing 89 points in their opener, but Utah's offensive struggles could help keep this game competitive.

Towson also has a potentially useful advantage on the glass with Womack's rebounding ability. If the Tigers can limit second-chance opportunities and avoid prolonged scoring droughts, they can stay within this number.

College Basketball Betting FAQ

What is a point spread in college basketball betting?

A point spread gives the favorite a handicap that it must overcome for a bet to win. For example, if a team is listed at -6.5, it needs to win by at least seven points for a spread bet on that team to cash. An underdog listed at +6.5 can lose by six points or fewer, or win the game outright, and still cover the spread.

What does the over/under mean in college basketball?

The over/under is a sportsbook's projected combined score for a game. Bettors can wager on whether the two teams will combine for more points than the total (over) or fewer points than the total (under). For example, a game with a 148.5-point total would need at least 149 combined points for an over bet to win.

What is a moneyline bet in college basketball?

A moneyline bet is a wager on which team will win the game outright, regardless of the final margin. Favorites typically have negative odds, while underdogs have positive odds. Unlike a point-spread bet, a moneyline bettor does not need the favorite to win by a certain number of points.

Is home-court advantage important in college basketball betting?

Yes. Home-court advantage can be particularly meaningful in college basketball because of travel, crowd noise and the familiarity teams have with their home environments. The impact varies considerably by program, though, so bettors should consider the specific teams involved rather than applying the same home-court adjustment to every matchup.

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Which bets stand out to you across the nation tonight? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's latest college basketball odds to see the full menu of options.

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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.