CHICAGO — A pair of ranked matchups highlight Wednesday’s college basketball slate. Number 4 Arizona heads to Storrs to face #3 UConn, and #11 Alabama and #8 Illinois both head to Chicago to face each other in a neutral-site showdown. I’ll pick those games and another contest as my CBB best bets for Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
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CBB Best Bets for Wednesday, November 19
CBB Best Bets Nov 19: Pick #1 — #4 Arizona at #3 UConn (7:00 PM ET)
Current Odds: Arizona +5.5 (-108) / UConn -5.5 (-112)
Why it makes the card: This is the best college basketball game of the day on Wednesday as a pair of 4-0 top-5 teams with Final Four aspirations face off in Storrs, CT. Because of their terrific track record over the past 3+ seasons, I’m leaning heavily toward UConn here. Since the start of the 2022 season, the Huskies are 72-44-2 ATS with a cover rate of 62.1%. That is the 7th-best record in all of college basketball during that stretch. What’s more, since 2022, UConn is 65-40-2 ATS as a favorite, 38-11-2 ATS in non-conference games, and 59-32-2 ATS after a win. It often pays to take Dan Hurley’s Huskies in big non-conference games against the number, and that’s why I’m backing UConn here.
Pick: UConn -5.5
CBB Best Bets Nov 19: Pick #2 — #11 Alabama vs. #8 Illinois (9:00 PM ET)
Current Odds: Alabama +3.5 (-110) / Illinois -3.5 (-110)
Why it makes the card: This is another great game between a pair of teams eyeing a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. I lean towards Alabama in this contest, largely because these two teams played each other last year. The Crimson Tide defeated the Fighting Illini in Birmingham last season by a score of 100-87. It also helps that Alabama has been solid in spots like these of late. The Tide are 6-3 ATS as an underdog and 12-8 ATS against ranked opponents since the start of last season. What’s more, Alabama lost its last game, an 87-80 home defeat against #2 Purdue last Thursday. Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats thrives in these spots, as Alabama is 14-9-1 ATS after a loss since the start of the 2022 season. For all of those reasons, Alabama is the pick.
Pick: Alabama +3.5
CBB Best Bets Nov 19: Pick #3 — Dayton at Marquette (7:30 PM ET)
Current Odds: Dayton +5.5 (-105) / Marquette -5.5 (-115)
Why it makes the card: Marquette lost 89-82 at home to Maryland on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Eagles were 8.5-point favorites in that contest and lost outright. Since 2021, when Shaka Smart became Marquette’s head coach, the Golden Eagles are 21-17 ATS after a loss and 38-31-1 ATS as the home team. In that same stretch, Marquette is 52-46-1 ATS as a favorite and 49-40-3 ATS when playing on 2 or 3 days of rest. Marquette hasn’t beaten Dayton in their last two matchups, but I think that changes on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles are the pick.
Pick: Marquette -5.5
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