NCAAB Picks and AP Top 25 Update

The 2022-2023 NCAAM College Basketball Season tips off on Monday, Nov. 7. Last week, we listed the AP Top 25 and made some early picks about which teams were overlays, underlays, and worth looks to win the title. This week, we’re grabbing a few teams from the AP Top 25 preseason poll and adding our two cents about those teams. Check out more info about this upcoming NCAA Men’s College Basketball Season that should help you determine the plays to make.

AP Top 25 College Basketball Analysis and Betting Opportunities | November 2nd Edition

2022-23 NCAA Men’s College Basketball Season

When: Monday, Nov. 7, 2022 – Monday, April 3, 2022

AP Top 25 College Basketball

North Carolina
Gonzaga
Houston
Kentucky
Kansas
Baylor
Duke
UCLA
Creighton
Arkansas
Tennessee
Texas
Indiana
TCU
Auburn
Villanova
Arizona
Virginia
San Diego State
Arizona
Oregon
Michigan
Illinois
Dayton
Texas Tech

Why is money going to Creighton?

The Blue Jays should send the beast team in their history to the court. Creighton is loaded, which means Doug McDermott, the former Blue Jay star and NBA player, has no excuses.

The roster starts with South Dakota State transfer Baylor Scheierman. Scheierman is a 6’ 7” guard who averaged close to 17 points, 8 boards, and 5 assists per game last season.

Guard Ryan Nembhard averaged over 11 points per game. Forward Arthur Kaluma will improve off his over 10 points and more than 5 boards per game averages. If Scheierman doesn’t get hurt, the Blue Jays should win the Big East regular season.

What are ACC watchers saying about the Duke Blue Devils in their first season after Coach K’s retirement?

By all accounts, Coach K left new Blue Devils head coach John Scheyer a loaded hand. North Carolina should be the best team in the ACC but even without Paolo Banchero, the top pick in the NBA Draft this past summer, Duke has enough to challenge the Tar Heels for the ACC title.

It all starts with recruiting and Scheyer nabbed the nation’s top class. 7’ 1” 5-star center recruit Derrick Lively II moves like a guard. He’s got incredible post up moves, is quick, and can shoot a midrange jump shot.

Lively II is also a great rim protector. Freshman guard Tyrese Proctor hails from Australia. Proctor is a fantastic shooter, which means Scheyer already has his inside / outside game with Lively II and Proctor.

Third year player Jeremy Roach adds experience and leadership. ACC watchers believe the Scheyer era will get off to a fantastic start.

Why is Gonzaga the chalk to win it all?

The Zags did transfer the terrific Malachi Smith from Chattanooga. But Smith, who averaged close to 20 points per game last season, won’t have as much of an effect at Gonzaga as he did playing for Chattanooga.

Drew Timme returns and that’s a big deal. Still, the 2022-2023 Zags team doesn’t seem nearly as formidable as the 2021-2022 squad while teams like Kentucky, Houston, Duke, and North Carolina should be better this season than they were last season.

So the reason the Zags are the chalk might be because college basketball fans believe the Zags are due. Mark Few is too good of a coach not to win the title, the thinking goes. So, that must be the reason, Gonzaga is due.

What are handicappers saying about Kansas versus Baylor in the Big 12?

Most feel Baylor wins the conference over rival Kansas. The Jayhawks lost a ton from last season’s National Championships squad.

Bill Self is a master at replacing top talent. So, eventually, Kansas will gel. But it might not be until the NCAA Tournament, which means Baylor takes the regular season and conference tournament championships.

Scott Drew at Baylor recruited one of the best in the class of 2022, Keyonte George. The freshman will form a three-headed guard monster along with L.J. Cryer and Adam Flagler. Once again the Bears enter the season a National Championship contender.