College Basketball Top 25 Best Bets To Tip Off 2025-26 Season

The 2025-26 college basketball season tips off Nov. 3 and a most watched and wagered game takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas when preseason AP Top 25 teams No. 3 Florida battles No. 13 Arizona. For the third consecutive year, the Hall of Fame Series returns to Las Vegas. Along with the Top 25 matchup of Florida and Arizona, the nightcap will feature Villanova and BYU, who has the consensus No. 1 incoming recruit, A.J. Dybantsa and former Las Vegas prep standout Xaviou Staton. 

Nov. 3 – No. 3 Florida vs. No. 13 Arizona at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV

The Gators will be about a 4-point favorite based on Kenpom.com Adjusted Efficiency Margin (Net Rating) to start the season. While Florida must replace one of the best-ever backcourts in college basketball, at least by analytics, coach Todd Golden landed a pair of high-profile transfer guards. Xavier Lee is a former Princeton standout whose ability to create and facilitate with high-level players will shine even more now playing alongside Arkansas talented transfer Boogie Fland.

A top-rated backcourt added to a big, powerful front court with rebounding and rim protection strength is graded A+ by Blue Ribbon. Preseason All-American Aussie PF Alex Condon is a growing, gritty Gator and first round NBA stock. Reuben Chinyelu affects the game without scoring with blocks, rebounding and screens providing a position change to small forward Tommy Haugh and more flexibility and tantalizing possibilities on a top-10 defense.

Arizona has a high ceiling with a pair of talented 5-star freshman and a 4-star with Brayden Burries starting at shooting guard alongside senior leader and PG Jaden Bradley. Perimeter shooting is questionable after finishing 181st in 3-point shooting last season. The transition attack will be a strength as they develop, and potential top-tier offensive rebounding. While the Wildcats have future pro-talent players, Arizona gives up size at forward against Florida.

The Gators are more prepared and experienced to have a stronger start to the season and win over the Wildcats. For bettors tracking early-season matchups, the college basketball odds board already reflects movement in these power-conference showdowns.

Nov. 8 – No. 5 St. John’s vs. No. 15 Alabama at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY

What is St. John’s home court worth in this matchup knowing the Red Storm went 12-0 at Madison Square Garden last season? St. John’s figures to be near a 5-6 point favorite with National Coach of the Year (2024-25) Rick Pitino drawing even higher expectations after guiding St. John’s to a Big East regular season (18-2) and tournament title on their way to 31-5 season but disappointing Round of 32 exit in the NCAA Tournament. While the Red Storm now face more high profile pressure and only have one returning starter, Pitino does have talented transfers and recruits with Blue Ribbon grades of ‘A’ at forwards and guards. All-Big East center Zuby Ejiofor will try to elevate the other players now starting and joining the program.

Alabama returns a veteran backcourt with combo-guard Aden Holloway their best perimeter shooter, and 7th year coach Nate Oats believes this is the best shooting team he’s ever coached with 3-point shooters at all five positions and a couple more coming off the bench. High praise for a ‘Tide team that led the country in scoring last season at 90 points per game and has a point guard who can distribute the ball and get to the rim, athletic shooting and defending wings and trigger-happy guards. The Crimson Tide rank No. 1 in adjusted tempo, and despite the fast pace and strong offensive shooting and skills, this team can defend and will be stronger this season. Alabama as underdog should be a solid take.   

Nov. 11 – No. 9 Kentucky at No. 11 Louisville 

One of the top-2 men’s college basketball rivalries is back to being a game between two teams with Final Four expectations. Quite the growth for Louisville, who returned to the NCAA Tournament last year for the first time since 2019 under first year coach Pat Kelsey. The Cardinals went 18-2 in ACC play (T2) and posted its highest win total (27) in a decade while rattling off 10 and 11-game win streaks. Louisville won 25 games combined in the three seasons before Kelsey became Louisville’s coach. But Kentucky is on a bigger trajectory and is stronger with another great college basketball atmosphere in the opening weeks of the season to test the temperature of these two top programs.

Kentucky rates even stronger than the rankings of these two teams. The game was projected near pick ‘em for watch and wager action based on Kenpom preseason ratings, but could slightly favor Kentucky after Louisville lost to Kansas 90-82 in a Oct. 24 exhibition on their home court at KFC Yum! Center. Kentucky is the early preferred side as the Wildcats join Florida as the only two teams to start the season ranked in the top-10 for both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. Second-year Kentucky coach Mark Pope has a more talented and deeper roster, and he learned from the best as a player on the 1996 national championship Kentucky team that went 34-2 under head coach Rick Pitino. The Wildcats will shoot lots of 3’s, and create more cuts, drives and ways to spread the floor to score.