Last season? This column hit at a 56.4% rate and swept 23 of 137 cards. It was three picks a day, every day. This year? We’re aiming higher. College hoops started this year earlier than ever. Notre Dame has already beaten Villanova in Italy, but we have a full day of college basketball to look forward to today. While we’re still figuring out who is eligible and who isn’t, the books have slept on a few crooked numbers. Let’s get into our best bets for the first full day of college basketball.
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College Basketball Preview, Picks, and Best Bets for November 2
Matt Dewoskin ATS College Basketball Picks Record (2025-26)
All Selections: 227-182-5
Perfect 3-0 Cards: 23-114
Bowling Green at Georgia State
Start Time: 7:00 PM EST
Bowling Green travels to Atlanta to open their season against Georgia State as part of the MAC-Sun Belt Challenge.
The Bowling Green Falcons also won their first game last year as a home favorite against Texas State. Georgia State lost their first MAC-Sun Belt Challenge game last year to Eastern Michigan in Ypsilanti, MI.
The Bowling Green Falcons only return one starter and two rotation members from last year, but they’ve been able to retool through the transfer portal. Former South Carolina State guard Jayden Johnson is expected to be a key part of the Falcons’ backcourt. He was second-team all-MEAC last year. The Falcons also added a pair of shooters in Eastern Kentucky transfer Juan Cranford Jr. and DII transfer Zach Howell. Swingman Tristan Beckford transferred in from South Florida, and center Christ Essandoko came in from South Carolina. The Falcons have scoring, depth, and size. They finished in the middle of the MAC last year, and should be able to replicate or improve upon last season.
Georgia State finished second-to-last in the Sun Belt last year, and should be near the basement again this year. The Panthers don’t return any starters and have a first-year head coach coaching his first game with a new roster and a new system. This is their first game against a team that has a little continuity and a better overall roster. The play here is Bowling Green as a short underdog.
Best Bet: Bowling Green +4.5
UT-Martin at Tulane
Start Time: 8:00 PM EST
UT-Martin travels to New Orleans to open their season against the Tulane Green Wave. These two teams haven’t played each other since 2018.
The UT-Martin Skyhawks finished fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference last year and went 8-6 on the road. UT-Martin also went 9-4 in their non-conference schedule. They also picked off a few bigger schools last year with wins over UNLV and Bradley on the road.
The Skyhawks rebuilt their roster last year, drawing heavily from the international ranks. They only return one starter from last year’s team, but they do have a handful of rotation members returning. UT-Martin has reloaded with another international class. It worked last year; why not run it back with a team that has an identity and has found a way to compete against bigger schools?
Tulane also returns one starter and a handful of rotation members. However, the Green Wave struggled to score consistently last year. They don’t appear to have completely solved last year’s issues through the portal and are still a bit of a work in progress. This team may show improvement this season, but they may need some time to get it together. The play here is to ride with a team that we’ve seen succeed in the non-conference schedule as an underdog.
Best Bet: UT-Martin +7.5
Bethune-Cookman vs Furman
Start Time: 8:00 PM EST
Bethune-Cookman will meet Furman in Rock Hill, SC, as part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon.
Furman and Bethune-Cookman have never played each other. The Furman Paladins did play in the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon last year, but they got wrecked by High Point. This is a chance to avenge last year’s loss.
Furman doesn’t return any starters from a team that made the NCAA tournament last year. However, they have reloaded through development and the transfer portal and are expected to contend for another SoCon regular season title this year. Forward Marcus Kell transferred in from Western Carolina and should contend for SoCon Player of the Year. Guard Luka Toews came in from Boston College. Big man Jordan Butler came in from South Carolina. Combo guard Jaxson Bell made the switch to Furman from Army. All are expected to be key contributors.
Bethune-Cookman has one of the larger budgets in the SWAC and can reload after losing four out of five starters from a team that finished second in the conference last year. However, there’s a huge gap in talent between the top of the SWAC and the top of the SoCon. Furman will want to avoid a repeat of last year’s loss, and they have a clear advantage on the sidelines with coach Bob Richey. Bethune-Cookman coach Reggie Theus has been around the block, but Richey has been courted by Power Four schools. Richey will have his new group ready to roll against a talented Bethune-Cookman squad. Let’s ride with Furman as a short favorite in the tournament they’ll want to bounce back in.
Best Bet: Furman -4.5
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!
