March is here! However, we’re still a few days away from conference tournament season. A few conferences are still wrapping up regular-season play, and we have a 23-game slate to start March with. The good news is that we can bet on these games. You don’t have to wait until brackets come out to bet on college hoops. It’s a little-known fact that some don’t realize, but it’s true! We’ve gone through the slate and found three college basketball picks you’ll want to start March with. Let’s get into it.
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College Basketball Preview, Picks, and Best Bets for March 1
Matt Dewoskin ATS College Basketball Picks Record (Est 11/3/2025)
All Selections: 175-159-5
Perfect 3-0 Cards: 17-96
UIC at Indiana State
Start Time: 1:00 PM EST
UIC enters this game with a 17-13 overall record and a 7-7 mark on the road. The Flames are 15-13 overall against the spread and 8-6 ATS on the road.
Indiana State comes into this matchup with a 10-20 overall record and a 7-7 mark at home. The Sycamores are 16-12 overall ATS and 6-6 ATS at home.
Indiana State has won five of the most recent six games in this series. The Sycamores are 4-2 ATS against UIC lifetime. The Flames won at home in January, but Indiana State covered as a 6.5-point underdog.
UIC is 7-3 overall and 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played. The Flames have won and covered in four out their last five road games.
Indiana State is 1-9 in its last 10 games, but it’s managed to cover four times over that stretch. The Sycamores have lost five straight home games.
UIC is currently in a three-way tie for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference. The top three seeds in the MVC get a first-round bye and get to play a team that has to play an opening-round game. The 4th and 5th seeds get a first-round bye, but have to play each other in the quarterfinals.
Indiana State will likely get the 10th seed or the 11th seed, but cannot improve its seeding.
UIC has been a solid road team, this isn’t a terrible travel spot, and they are still playing for seeding in Arch Madness. The Flames can score, and their defense has improved as the year has ground on. UIC is also the better free-throw shooting team, has the better rebounding team, can limit turnovers, and they’re better at generating turnovers. Indiana State has been rough for a few weeks. Let’s lock up UIC to win, cover, and stay in the mix for the two-seed in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Best Bet: UIC -3.5
DePaul at Marquette
Start Time: 4:00 PM EST
DePaul comes into this matchup with a 15-13 overall record and a 3-7 mark on the road. The Blue Demons are 17-11 overall ATS and 7-3 ATS on the road.
Marquette enters this game with a 10-18 overall record and a 9-6 mark at home. The Golden Eagles are 11-17 overall ATS and 6-9 ATS at home.
Marquette is 8-2 in the last 10 games head-to-head with DePaul, but the Blue Demons won and covered as a 2.5-point favorite in Chicago in January.
DePaul is 4-6 overall in their last 10 games played, but 5-5 against the spread. The Blue Demons have won and covered in three of their last four games.
Marquette has covered in six out of their last seven games played, but they’ve only won three times outright over that stretch. The Golden Eagles are only 2-7 ATS as a home favorite this year.
All 11 teams in the Big East make the conference tournament, and both teams are playing for seeding still. DePaul is only one game out of the 5th seed. The 5th seed in the Big East conference tournament gets a first round bye.
Marquette scores more points per game, but DePaul is actually the better shooting team from the field and the free-throw line. DePaul does really well at scoring in the paint, and should find opportunities against a Marquette team that’s been a little soft in the middle. The Blue Demons also have a top-50 defense in the country, and have the athletes to clamp when they want to. DePaul isn’t great at defending the perimeter, but Marquette isn’t very good from beyond the arc this year. The Blue Demons also have a much better rebounding team than Marquette.
The Blue Demons have gotten over their struggles on the road in conference, and this would be a statement win for a team looking to put its stamp on the Big East. DePaul is still playing for seeding, and they’ll stay within the number. Lock up DePaul to get the cover here.
Best Bet: DePaul +4.5
Belmont at Illinois State
Start Time: 5:00 PM EST
Belmont enters this matchup with a 26-4 overall record and an 11-2 mark on the road. The Bruins are 18-11 overall ATS and 8-5 ATS on the road.
Illinois State comes into this game with a 19-11 overall record and a 12-2 mark at home. The Redbirds are 15-14 overall ATS and 8-5 ATS at home.
Belmont is 6-4 outright in their last 10 games against Illinois State, but these teams have each covered five times.
The handicap here is simple. Belmont has clinched the regular-season title in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bruins have nothing to play for. Illinois State is still playing for seeding in the tournament. Illinois State is currently fifth in the standings in the conference, but there are a bunch of teams one game up on them. The Redbirds need help, but they can potentially improve their seeding with a little help. The fifth seed is the last team to secure a bye in the first round of Arch Madness. Let’s lock up the Redbirds to win and cover the short spread in a game Belmont will likely not care about.
Best Bet: Illinois State -1
The College Basketball Experience
For more analysis of every college basketball game in the 2025-26 season, tune in to The College Basketball Experience. Colby Dant, Moneyline Mac, and Noah Bieniek talk about each game on the entire slate. Listen for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
