Are you tired of short college basketball slates? College basketball just came back, but we like the bigger slates, too. The college hoops schedule for November 5th is a lot bigger and more intriguing than the small slates we’ve had over the past two nights. The schedule has its share of buy games, but we also get a nice mix of mid-major matchups and unique low-major games to pick from. Let’s dig into our best bets in college basketball for November 5th.
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College Basketball Preview, Picks, and Best Bets for November 5
Matt Dewoskin ATS College Basketball Picks Record (Est.November 2, 2026)
All Selections: 5-4
Perfect 3-0 Cards: 1-2
Long Island at Seton Hall
Start Time: 6:30 PM EST
The Long Island Sharks are 0-1 straight up and 0-1 against the spread this year. LIU dropped their first game at Florida Atlantic by 14 points and just missed covering the 10.5-point spread.
Seton Hall is 1-0 straight up and a 1-0 ATS already. The Pirates held St. Peter’s to only 42 points and covered a 20.5-point spread.
The Sharks brought in an expensive portal class of guys with high-major experience. They brought in guard Vasean Allette from TCU, Daquan Davis from Florida State, and forward Jahki Howard from Utah. They also added a few interesting pieces from the JUCO and mid-major levels to round out their roster. Long Island has athletes to hang with a Seton Hall team that’s projected to finish at or near the bottom of the conference.
Long Island is off a tough loss, while Seton Hall cruised against an offensively challenged St. Peter’s. This is also a regional battle. Seton Hall is only a 45-minute drive from Long Island. The Sharks’ team bus should be able to make it over the bridge in time for this one. This is the case of too many points. Let’s swim with the Sharks in the early window.
Best Bet: Long Island +18.5
UMass-Lowell at Merrimack
Start Time: 7:00 PM EST
The Merrimack Warriors are 0-1 straight up and 0-1 against the spread. Merrimack lost to Appalachian State in the early hours of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. The Warriors got embarrassed, even if most fans were asleep when it happened.
UMass-Lowell is 1-0 after crushing DIII Rivier University in their season opener.
This is UMass-Lowell’s first road game and first game against a D1 opponent. Merrimack should contend for the Metro Conference, and they’re off a bad loss on a national stage. The Warriors should absolutely roll against a UMass-Lowell team that struggles away from their home gym and should finish at or near the bottom of the America East Conference.
UMass-Lowell returns no starters and hasn’t been tested. The Warriors only return one starter from last year’s team, but they do bring back several rotation pieces. They’re also known for developing homegrown talent. Merrimack gets UMass-Lowell coming into their arena, has already played against a mid-major, and has a better roster. This is a great spot for the Warriors, and they should roll at home.
Best Bet: Merrimack -7.5
UMBC at Marist
Start Time: 7:00 PM EST
These two teams have played twice in the past three years. Marist won both matchups, but is only 1-1 against the spread against UMBC.
Marist lost its home opener outright as a 7.5-point favorite to Dartmouth. UMBC got boatraced by George Mason in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon. The Retrievers lost by 28 points as a 19.5-point underdog.
Marist returns only one starter from a team that finished tied for fourth in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, but they do have several key rotation pieces returning. The Red Foxes added a little in the transfer portal, but are known for developing their own talent. They’re expecting several players who played smaller roles last year to step into bigger roles this year.
UMBC won the America East Conference regular season and the conference tournament. The Retrievers return one starter from last year’s team, but had to bring in 10 new players from the transfer portal or high school ranks. UMBC was outmatched by George Mason, and now has to face a Marist team with eyes on a Metro Conference regular season title. Marist rarely drops back-to-back games at home, and should look to bounce back against a UMBC team that’s still finding its identity. Let’s lay the short number with the Red Foxes looking to pick up their first win.
Best Bet: Marist -2.5
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 every night for ATS and moneyline college basketball picks!
