Tuesday's slate is quite a come-down from Monday's marathon, but thankfully, we still have at least one big-time matchup on tap, along with a few other high-profile programs also taking the court.
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College Basketball Betting Picks Today
Texas vs. Duke 
The Longhorns enter the new season with a good amount of continuity, returning most of their backcourt with guards Jordan Pope, Tramon Mark and Chendall Weaver. The biggest change was at the head coach position, where Texas hired Sean Miller, formerly head coach of Xavier and Arizona. To bolster the team, Miller brought in forwards Dailyn Swain (from Xavier), Lassina Traore (Xavier) and center Matas Vokietaitis (FAU), among others. KenPom has Texas ranked No. 39 entering its season opener.
One issue that could hamper the team early on is its health. Vokietaitis is recovering from a severe ankle sprain and is expected to play, while Traore is overcoming a mid‑foot sprain, although he too is expected to suit up. Even if they play, it's hard to assume they'll be at 100 percent health and 100 percent conditioning, two qualities that are desperately needed to beat an opponent like Duke.
As most college hoops fans are likely well aware, the Blue Devils reloaded their roster with another group of elite freshman prospects. Cameron Boozer dominated the game in Duke's exhibition at Tennessee (24 points, 23 boards), and the coaches expect another true freshman, Nikolas Khamenia, to have a big impact on the team.
KenPom is projecting a final score of 81-74, which is currently a point or two within the spread. I like the experience Texas offers, but I'm also not ready to bet against the ultra-talented Blue Devils. Instead, I like our odds when considering how the game might unfold.
Texas head coach Sean Miller was quoted as saying that he aims to play with "a style that allows them to get up and down." This lines up with how his recent Xavier teams played. When Miller coached the Musketeers, the team finished in the top 50 of quickest offensive possession lengths each of his three years.
Three simple facts guide today's pick. Duke has elite talent. Texas has experienced and solid guards. Texas intends to play fast. Add all this up, and I believe we'll have a high-scoring game. I'm taking the over.
College Basketball Best Bet: Over 152.5
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Long Beach State 
at San Diego State 
The Beach endured a brutal season in its first year under head coach Chris Acker. Long Beach State finished 7-25 (3-17 conference) and ranked 308th in KenPom's final efficiency rankings. Considering the disastrous results, it's no surprise to see that Long Beach State completely overhauled its roster, bringing back just one player while adding 13 new faces. KenPom suggests that the new players brought in should help, as the Beach enters the season ranked 205th.
Even still, the Beach faces a daunting challenge on Tuesday, as San Diego State once again appears likely to make the NCAA tournament while sporting a dominant defense. According to T-Rank, the Aztecs return 61.9 percent of their minutes from a year ago, the second most returning minutes in the nation among teams Torvik ranks in his top 50. And the returning players are the ones you want back as well, as the Mountain West media members named junior guard Miles Byrd and freshman guard Elzie Harrington as Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year and Preseason Freshman of the Year, respectively. In addition, Reese Dixon-Waters, Magoon Gwath, and Byrd were selected to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team.
Furthermore, according to San Diego State's media guide, in the Brian Dutcher era, the Aztecs have held their opponent to 60 points or less 117 times and have won 110 of those games (110-7, 94.0 percent). Overall, Dutcher's Aztecs have held their opponent to 60 or fewer points in 44.0 percent (117-of-266) of the games he has coached.
A game that features an elite defensive team doesn't always guarantee a low-scoring game, but a slow pace of play certainly makes it more likely. In Chris Acker's first season as LBSU head coach, the Beach were among the slowest teams in the nation, ranking 334th in adjusted tempo, per KenPom. This aligns with SDSU's preference, as the Aztecs have finished 240th or lower in adjusted tempo in seven consecutive seasons.
There's a chance that San Diego State scores too many points and busts the projected point total, but I have a hard time believing a brand new group of Beach players will be able to crack the code of the Aztecs' defense. If I had to pick a side, I'd lay the points with SDSU, but ultimately, I prefer our odds of a low-scoring game. I'm on the under.
College Basketball Best Bet: Under 138
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Hawaii 
at Oregon 
Perhaps the most important note in this game is the status of Oregon point guard Jackson Shelstad. The third-year star broke his hand in early October, and the latest reports indicate that he will likely return to the court around mid-November, but it's worth confirming his status ahead of the game just to be safe.
The Ducks also have star center Nate Bittle returning to the fold, but even with this dynamic duo, KenPom has Oregon ranked 36th on its overall efficiency chart to start the season. The Ducks once again have legitimate NCAA tournament aspirations, but only time will reveal how high their ceiling actually goes.
Hawaii, on the other hand, enters the season at 111th on KenPom's rankings, but the Rainbow Warriors, perhaps under the radar, have played well over the years under head coach Eran Ganot. For example, per Hawaii's media guide, it "is coming off just its second-ever losing season, and first in eight years, under head coach Eran Ganot, who enters his 11th season."
The Rainbow Warriors were selected third in the Big West preseason poll, perhaps a positive sign of things to come for the program. The Big West might not be among the most highly regarded conferences, but it does feature feisty programs such as UC San Diego and UC Irvine. And, believe it or not, the latter traveled to Eugene nearly three years ago (Nov. 11, 2022) and defeated Oregon straight up, 69-56. As fate would have it, the 2022-23 UC Irvine squad was ranked 104th in KenPom while the opposing Ducks were ranked 28th, very similar to the rankings of the current Oregon and Hawaii teams that are preparing to face off on November 4th, 2025.
Going into Eugene and keeping the game close is a tall task, but recent history shows that a Big West team is capable of winning the game outright. I don't necessarily expect that to happen on Tuesday evening, but, given a lofty spread, I like our chances of seeing Hawaii keep the game within a few possessions. I'll take the points in this spot.
College Basketball Best Bet: Hawaii +13
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Tuesday College Basketball Best Bets:
Here's a recap of my best college basketball bets for Tuesday:
- Texas vs. Duke - Over 152.5
- Long Beach State at San Diego State - Under 138
- Hawaii +13
For up-to-date information on the latest college basketball betting odds and props from multiple sportsbooks, check out the college basketball odds page on RotoWire.
