CBB Best Bets Today – Monday, November 3, 2025

By: Dean Whitaker Published 11/03/2025, 09:07 AM ET
Ja'Kobi Gillespie looks to lead the Tennessee over Mercer
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Monday night College Basketball is back, and the slate is loaded with opportunity. We’ve analyzed every matchup, broken down the stats, and locked in three sharp plays backed by trends and matchup insight. The goal: find the edges, make smart moves, and cash in on the hardwood tonight!

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CBB Best Bet #1 - Tennessee Opens With An Easy Win

The Volunteers open their season at home ranked No. 18 nationally after a 30‑win campaign and Elite Eight run, and this matchup against Mercer profiles as a tune‑up where their size, depth, and athleticism should overwhelm quickly. Tennessee returns key contributors like Felix Okpara and adds Maryland transfer Ja’Kobi Gillespie, who impressed in preseason action, while five‑star freshman Nate Ament gives them another versatile scoring option. Mercer, by contrast, is in full rebuild mode after a 14-19 season, losing its top five scorers and returning only a handful of role players. The Bears struggled defensively last year, giving up 75.3 points per game, and now face one of the SEC’s most physical teams on the road. With Tennessee’s dominance at home — 16-1 in Knoxville last season — and Mercer’s lack of proven scoring, the Vols are well‑positioned to roll to a lopsided win that clears the 28‑point spread.

Best Bet #1

  • Tennessee -28

CBB Best Bet #2 - Rider & Virginia Bring The Defense

Even with Ryan Odom ushering in a faster tempo for Virginia, this season opener at John Paul Jones Arena still profiles as a lower‑scoring game given the Cavaliers’ roster turnover and Rider’s offensive limitations. Virginia is breaking in 12 newcomers, including transfers Malik Thomas and Dallin Hall, and while the talent is there, early‑season chemistry issues often slow scoring efficiency. Rider, meanwhile, returns just four players from last year’s 14-19 squad and struggled with shooting consistency, hitting only 39.9% from the field and 31% from three a season ago. With Virginia still likely to lean on its length and defensive pressure, and Rider lacking the firepower to push pace, this matchup projects closer to the mid‑130s, making the Under 144.5 the sharper side.

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  • Rider/Virginia Under 144.5

CBB Best Bet #3 - Kansas Routs The Phoenix

The Jayhawks open their season at Allen Fieldhouse against a Green Bay team that finished just 4-28 last year and ranked near the bottom nationally in both scoring defense (80.3 points allowed per game) and field goal percentage defense (47.3% allowed). Kansas, meanwhile, comes in ranked No. 19 with a reloaded roster that includes five‑star freshman guard Darryn Peterson, expected to be an immediate impact scorer. Bill Self’s teams have historically dominated home openers — Kansas has won 52 straight season openers at Allen Fieldhouse — and their size, depth, and athleticism should overwhelm a Phoenix squad picked last in the Horizon League preseason poll. With Green Bay’s lack of firepower and Kansas’ ability to push tempo and score efficiently, this projects as a lopsided game where the Jayhawks roll to a blowout win and cover the 30‑point spread.

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  • Kansas -30

Recapping Tonight's CBB Best Bets

  • Tennessee -28 over Mercer
  • Rider/Virginia Under 144.5
  • Kansas -30 over Green Bay

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