Conference tournament season starts today with the first round of the Horizon League tournament. We also have several conferences still wrapping up regular-season conference games, and some bubble teams still have a chance to pad their resumes. Today’s slate only has 18 games, but we’ve found three college basketball picks that you’ll want to lock up before tip-off. Let’s get into it.
Are you looking for a sportsbook to place bets on our college basketball picks? Check out MyBookie.ag!
College Basketball Preview, Picks, and Best Bets for March 2
Matt Dewoskin ATS College Basketball Picks Record (Est 11/3/2025)
All Selections: 177-160-5
Perfect 3-0 Cards: 17-97
IU-Indy at Cleveland State
Start Time: 7:00 PM EST
This game is a part of the Horizon League conference tournament, but will be played in Cleveland State’s arena.
IU-Indy comes into this game with a 7-24 overall record and a 2-14 mark on the road. The Jaguars are 12-17 overall against the spread and 7-9 ATS on the road.
Cleveland State enters this matchup with a 10-21 overall record and a 6-8 mark at home. The Vikings are 11-17 overall ATS and 3-8 ATS at home.
These two teams split this year’s series, with each team winning and covering at home.
IU-Indy only has two wins in its last 10 games played, but it has covered five times over that stretch. Cleveland State is 3-7 in its last 10 games, but the Vikings have also covered five times over that stretch.
Both of these teams can score, play at pace, and neither really plays defense. The metrics slightly favor Cleveland State on the defensive side. They’re not completely terrible in the paint, but they are not a good defensive team. IU-Indy loves to get up and down the floor and rely on hot shooting over defense. Playing in a strange gym doesn’t favor the Jaguars.
On the offensive end, Cleveland State can shoot from range and has the advantage at the free-throw line. The Vikings have an advantage on the boards, and they get to play this game in their gym. Cleveland State beat IU-Indy by 13 points as a 1.5-point favorite in January. History repeats itself, and Cleveland State bounces the Jaguars from the tournament and covers as a short favorite.
Best Bet: Cleveland State -1.5
SELA at New Orleans
Start Time: 8:00 PM EST
SELA comes into this matchup with an 8-22 overall record and a 1-15 mark on the road. The Lions are 13-15 overall ATS and 6-10 ATS on the road.
New Orleans enters this game with a 14-16 overall record and a 5-5 mark at home. The Privateers are 18-12 overall ATS and 7-3 ATS at home.
New Orleans won outright as a 2.5-point underdog at SELA in January. SELA is on a five-game losing streak and hasn’t covered any of their five most recent road games. New Orleans just had a three-game winning streak snapped with a home loss against McNeese. The Privateers are 7-3 in their last 10 games, and they’ve covered nine times over that stretch.
The metrics favor New Orleans on both sides of the court and can still improve their seeding in the Southland Conference tournament with a win. SELA is out of the tournament. The Lions season is over and players have started to enter the transfer portal. Let’s lock up the Privateers to win and cover against a terrible SELA team with nothing to play for.
Best Bet: New Orleans
Idaho State at Sacramento State
10:00 PM EST
Idaho State enters this matchup with a 12-18 overall record and a 3-11 mark on the road. The Bengals are 13-14 overall ATS and 7-7 ATS on the road.
Sacramento State comes into this game with a 9-19 overall record and a 9-4 mark at home. The Hornets are 11-14 overall ATS and 7-3 ATS at home.
Sacramento State has won six times in the last 10 in this series, but Idaho State has covered six times in the last 10 in this series. Idaho State beat Sacramento State by 13 as an 8.5-point favorite in Pocatello, ID.
The Bengals have lost eight of their last 10 games overall and have only covered three times over that stretch. Idaho State has lost each of its last five road games and only covered once away from Idaho over that stretch.
Sacramento State is 3-3 at home in their last six games, and 3-3 ATS at home over that stretch of games. The Hornets are on a six-game losing streak.
Sacramento State plays at pace, but isn’t very good on offense. The Hornets focus on volume over skill and just try to get the ball back and score as quickly as possible. They’re actually solid at not turning the ball over and are 82nd in the nation in steals per game.
While Sacramento State’s pace should mess with Idaho State playing on the road, let’s throw out the metrics. The line is telling us what will happen in this game. Sacramento State is laying points on a six-game losing streak and having lost by 13 at their opponent? Why would Sacramento be favored here? Sacramento State is winning this game and covering as a short favorite. Let’s lock up these Hornets laying points.
Best Bet: Sacramento State -1.5
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 for input on ATS and moneyline college basketball picks every night!
