Thursday features a moderate college basketball slate with several mid-major teams and a handful of high-major schools taking the floor on the 5th day of March 2026. Will Iona beat Sacred Heart by 3 points or more at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City? Can Rutgers and Michigan State score enough to go over the total in East Lansing? Read on for our Thursday CBB Best Bets March 5 article.
CBB Best Bet: Iona -2.5 over Sacred Heart
I like the Gaels here. Iona enters this neutral-site clash in peak form, having gone 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games. The Gaels have been reliable in these spots all season, posting a 10-9 ATS record as favorites and a sharp 12-8 mark in conference play in 2025-26.
Despite playing with a rest disadvantage (where they are 5-3 ATS this season), Iona’s elite perimeter defense—ranked 22nd nationally—is perfectly built to stifle Sacred Heart’s three-point-heavy offense. Expect the Gaels to control the tempo and use their superior efficiency to pull away late and comfortably cover the short 2.5-point spread.
Final score projection: IONA GAELS 79, SACRED HEART PIONEERS 70.
CBB Best Bet: Rutgers vs. Michigan State Under 141.5
I’m taking the under in this one. The matchup between Rutgers and Michigan State is set to be a defensive struggle that stays well under the 141.5-point total. The Spartans have consistently trended toward lower-scoring affairs, with the under hitting in 17 of their 29 games this season.
The Spartans’ defensive intensity is even more pronounced in East Lansing, where the under is 10-6 in their home contests. That tenacity has carried over into Big Ten play, where the under is 10-8 in Michigan State’s conference games this season. Between Rutgers’ methodical pace and Michigan State’s disciplined half-court defense, points will be at a premium in this gritty Senior Day battle.
Final score projection: MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS 72, RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTS 63.
Thursday CBB Best Bets March 5
- Iona Gaels -2.5
- Rutgers vs. Michigan State Under 141.5
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