NCAA Basketball Picks: Top 25 Ranked Teams

The Associated Press released their Top 25 for the week. Houston continues to show the way at the top. Kansas lands in second place followed by Purdue and the surprising Alabama Crimson Tide. Check out the current Top 25 along with the week’s best College Basketball Betting opportunities.

AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Schools, Analysis and Betting Opportunities

2022-23 Men’s College Basketball Season

When: Nov. 7, 2022 – March 12, 2023

AP Top 25

Houston
Kansas
Purdue
Alabama
UCLA
Gonzaga
Texas
Xavier
Tennessee
Virginia
Arizona
Iowa State
Kansas State
TCU
UConn
Auburn
Miami
Charleston
Clemson
Marquette
Baylor
Providence
Rutgers
Florida Atlantic
Arkansas

This Week’s Best Play and Best Second Play Among the Top 5 Teams

Top Play: Houston Cougars

Since a loss to Alabama back on Dec. 10, the Houston Cougars have rolled to eight straight wins. Houston started the season the favorite to win the title. After the first two weeks in 2023, the chalk appears to have zero flaws.

Second Play: Kansas Jayhawks

Alabama should be considered in this spot as well. But on Sunday morning, Tuscaloosa authorities charged Bama player Darius Miles with murder. There’s no telling if his arrest will have an affect on the Crimson Tide.

Kansas is the safer play. Bill Self’s squad won the title last season. Junior forward Jalen Wilson has emerged as Kansas’ top scorer and Dajuan Harris has become one of the nation’s top point guards.

This Week’s Best Play and Best Underdog Play: #6 to #15

Top Play: TCU

In their last 3 games, the TCU Horned Frogs show 2 losses and a win. Don’t let the losses fool you. Ranked Iowa State beat Texas Christian via a 69-67 score. TCU hung with Texas in a 79-75 loss.

In their last game, the Horned Frogs blasted Kansas State 82-68. So TCU deserves to get a mention in this week’s blog. Also, don’t forget that TCU almost beat the Arizona Wildcats in last year’s NCAA Tournament as an 8-seed and this season’s TCU team is pretty much the same.

Top Second Play: Virginia

Tony Bennett’s squad sung their way back into the top 10 this week. Okay, yes, that was bad, but to be fair, how often do we get to write about the Cavaliers?

We must come up with “get it” statements when we can. In any case, UVA has beaten Syracuse, North Carolina, and Florida State during an impressive 3-game winning streak.

Not only that, but Virginia averages 70 points per game. So if the squad continues to improve playing Bennett Ball on the defensive end, for sure the college Cavaliers will challenge for the ACC title.

This Week’s Best play and Best Underdog Play From #16 to #26

Top Underdog Play: Baylor

The Baylor Bears are flying under the radar, which means now is the time to consider backing Scott Drew’s crew to win the National Championship.

Freshman Keyonte George is now the Bears’ leading scorer, which is great. George has yet to hit his stride. Under Drew’s leadership, and because Baylor is loaded with quality upper classmen, the Bears should improve right around the time it counts most.

Second Underdog Play: Auburn

Auburn has bounced back from a loss to Georgia by winning 3 straight. Bruce Pearl’s team is a quality squad.

All three losses, including the one to 14-3 UGA, came against good teams. Memphis and USC, the other two teams that beat Auburn this season, are NCAA Tournament quality teams.

Pearl plays his own style of former Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson’s 4-minutes of hell. Like Baylor in the Big 12, Auburn is flying under the radar in the loaded SEC. Auburn presents a great betting opportunity this week while most aren’t paying attention to how much this team has improved from the start of the season.