Conference tournament season is in full swing in college hoops, but a few conferences are still wrapping up league play. The slate for March 5th has conference tournament play from the Missouri Valley Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, the MAAC, the Summit League, the Patriot League, the Ohio Valley Conference, and the West Coast Conference. This is one of the best Thursday night slates that we’ve had all year. We’ve also found three college basketball picks for today’s games that you’ll want to lock up. Let’s get into it.
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College Basketball Preview, Picks, and Best Bets for March 5
Matt Dewoskin ATS College Basketball Picks Record (Est 11/3/2025)
All Selections: 183-162-5
Perfect 3-0 Cards: 18-99
Bethune-Cookman at Florida A&M
Start Time: 7:30 PM EST
Bethune-Cookman comes into this game with a 17-13 overall record and a 7-10 mark at home. The Wildcats are 15-14 overall against the spread and 9-8 ATS on the road.
Florida A&M enters this matchup with a 12-15 overall record and a 7-4 mark at home. The Rattlers are 14-12 overall ATS and 5-5 ATS at home.
Bethune-Cookman has won nine of its last 10 games head-to-head with Florida A&M, but these two teams have split the series ATS. Florida A&M lost by four at Bethune-Cookman in January, but covered as a 7.5-point spread.
Bethune-Cookman has clinched the number one seed in the SWAC conference tournament. The Wildcats don’t have anything to play for. Florida A&M is still playing for seeding. This is also their Senior Night game, and the final game of the SWAC regular season. With a win and a lot of help, Florida A&M could clinch the two-seed in the SWAC conference tournament.
The metrics favor Bethune-Cookman, but the Wildcats have no reason to play everyone with a normal minute load ahead of the tournament. This is a get-up spot for a Florida A&M team that has a lot to play for. The Rattlers played Bethune-Cookman close on the road, and the short line is telling. Let’s lock up Florida A&M to cover and sprinkle the money line.
Best Bet: Florida A&M +2.5
UT-Arlington at Tarleton State
Start Time: 8:00 PM EST
UT-Arlington enters this matchup with a 15-13 overall record and a 6-8 mark on the road. The Mavericks are 13-13 overall ATS and 6-8 ATS on the road.
Tarleton State comes into this game with a 14-16 overall record and a 10-5 mark at home. The Texans are 14-12 overall ATS and 5-6 ATS at home.
This is the third regular-season game of the season between these two teams. Tarleton State won and covered at home, while UT-Arlington won and covered at home.
UT-Arlington has dropped seven of its last eight games played, and that stretch includes four road losses. The Mavericks only covered once in their last eight games. It was the one game that they won.
Tarleton State is on a three-game losing streak, but they’ve won two of their last three home games outright. The Texans’ best player, Dior Johnson, has played 29 or more minutes in each of their last two games. He missed a month due to injury, and the Texans are a much better team with Johnson in the lineup. Tarleton State has been off for four days. Hopefully, the Texans kept Johnson in bubble wrap.
This has been a home team series, and Tarleton State is playing at home with, hopefully, their best player in the lineup. The Texans are the side either way. Johnson only played nine minutes in their home win against UT-Arlington in December due to foul trouble. Lock up Tarleton State to win and cover at home.
Best Bet: Tarleton State -2
Georgia Southern at Arkansas State
Start Time: 8:30 PM EST
This game is in the third round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament, and it’s being played at a neutral site in Pensacola, FL.
Georgia Southern enters this game with a 17-15 overall record and a 13-17 overall mark ATS.
Arkansas State comes into this matchup with a 20-11 overall record and a 15-14 overall record ATS.
These two teams played twice during Sun Belt Conference regular-season play. The Red Wolves won by 26 as an 8.5-point favorite at home, and won by 17 points as a 1.5-point favorite on the road.
The handicap here is simple. Georgia Southern just finished a chippy game against Old Dominion last night, and now they have a quick turnaround. The Red Wolves play at the 10th quickest pace in the nation; they’re on six days’ rest, and Georgia Southern will likely have tired legs. Arkansas State has the better shooting team, the better defense, and is better on the boards. The system has been to fade teams on the quick turnaround, and Arkansas State wrecked this team twice this season. Arkansas State should absolutely roll here. Let’s lock up the Red Wolves to win and cover the 6.5 points.
Best Bet: Arkansas State -6.5
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!
