The biggest MTE of Feast Week (and the non-conference schedule in general) tips off today at 2:30 p.m. ET from Hawaii.
We have four games on the docket from the islands today, including a top-five matchup between the Auburn Tigers and Iowa State Cyclones.
Here's our staff's 2024 Maui Invitational predictions, odds and picks, including how to bet all four Monday games on Nov. 25.
College Basketball Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college basketball betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 2:30 p.m. | |
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 11:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAB Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Memphis vs. UConn
By Sean Paul
My choice to back Memphis boils down to a few factors, but the biggest is the Tigers' guard play is flat-out better.
I trust PJ Haggerty and Tyrese Hunter more than I trust any of the Huskies' guard.
UConn went from having a pair of NBA draft picks in Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer — two older, experienced starters — to a career backup in Hassan Diarra, a streaky Aidan Mahaney and Solo Ball.
Diarra is solid, but he plays the exact role he did last year. However, he doesn't have Newton ahead of him.
I guess UConn now wants to rely on Mahaney, who averages 5.8 points per game on 30% shooting.
So, how will UConn initiate offense? Maybe it will let Alex Karaban get a chance. He leads the Huskies in points, assists and blocks and should help ease things for the rest of UConn's roster. He's UConn's best player by far, but he's fifth on the roster in usage rate.
Second, I'm chalking UConn's vastly improved defensive turnover rate up to the teams it's played. We are not looking at St John's or Marquette, who play a bunch of long, rangy athletes and press all game.
UConn wants a more methodical game and most turnovers will likely be self-imposed ones.
Give me Memphis.
Pick: Memphis +10
Colorado vs. Michigan State
In the second game of the Maui Invitational, Colorado puts its undefeated record on the line against Tom Izzo and Michigan State.
The problem for the Buffaloes is they haven't played a top-100 KenPom team this season, and the highest-rated squad they faced (Northern Colorado, 134th in KenPom) took them to double overtime.
On top of that, the Buffaloes rank 332nd in returning production, according to our expert Collin Wilson.
That doesn't look particularly good for the purposes of this game against Michigan State.
While the Spartans do have a loss already, that defeat came at the hands of No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic. Most importantly, the game was competitive, as the Spartans had it all squared at 52 with less than nine minutes remaining.
Also, Izzo has plenty of returning production and experience. Jaden Atkins is now a senior and Jaxson Kohler looks ready for a big leap. Sparty also added Omaha senior transfer Frankie Fidler.
If they can get more production out of freshman Xavier Booker, Michigan State could be the forgotten team in the Big Ten.
Finally, Michigan State isn't new to the Maui Invitational with Izzo as the head man. This is the fourth event it has played in on the islands, so the travel and familiarity is there for the program and staff.
Also, Sparty is a stellar 11-5 overall in this event. Meanwhile, Colorado is competing for the first time in program history.
The combination of all those factors has me backing the more experienced roster in Michigan State.
Pick: Michigan State -5.5 (Play to -8)
Auburn vs. Iowa State
By Sean Paul
Are the Cyclones good enough offensively to win a game like this?
I don't think we have an answer yet. The team didn't add any real offensive weapons; it just replaced the graduating bigs with more defensive bigs, though Dishon Jackson is a better post player than Robert Jones or Hason Ward.
But adding more non-shooting bigs limits the offensive upside a bit.
I'm not buying Iowa State jumping from No. 52 to No. 29 in KenPom's offensive efficiency. Much of the increase feels like a byproduct of crushing bad teams in an efficient manner.
I also don't think Iowa State will succeed in forcing Auburn into turnovers, which is the biggest factor in the Cyclones' success.
Plus, for as tough and athletic Iowa State is, Auburn is the most athletic team in the country. Between Dylan Cardwell, Chaney Johnson and Chad Baker-Mazara, Auburn has a lot of length and athleticism to try wrecking Iowa State's already shaky offense.
I think Auburn is the best team in the country, so I'll take the Tigers here.
Pick: Auburn -3 (Play to -5)
Dayton vs. North Carolina
By John Feltman
Let’s start by breaking down these two offensive styles.
First, the Flyers will try to attack the Heels inside, and I’d expect a lot of kick outs and shots from the outside after penetrating in the paint. The problem is that the Flyers are shooting 30% from 3 thus far and take a ton of 3s per game.
With a lack of 3-point success, that is an area that the Heels can expose the Flyers in. The backcourt trio of RJ Davis, Seth Trimble and Elliot Cadeau is a lethal group that can make you pay from deep.
Cade Tyson has been cold this season, but he is a legitimate threat to get hot from deep at any moment. His early-season woes are bound to turn around.
The Flyers will deny you down low but let you take shots from the mid-range and beyond the arc. That is a daring proposition going up against North Carolina.
The Heels do not rely on the triple, but due to the Flyers’ defensive style, I expect them to get more open looks from there. They also do not turn the ball over and shoot a lot of free throws.
Defensively, the Heels do not force turnovers, and there are still concerns down low without Armando Bacot. The Flyers should be able to find plenty of open-shot opportunities utilizing their excellent ball movement.
Neither team looks to run a track-meet, but the matchup between both offenses suggests that there is going to be plenty of open looks to go around. Both teams are top-50 in adjusted offensive efficiency, too.
It’s a high number, but I really want to target the over here for all of the reasons I mentioned above. The Flyers' ball movement should allow many open looks, and the Heels will take advantage of the Flyers’ lack of urgency to defend the perimeter.
A lot of clean basketball is expected on both sides, and it will reflect on the scoreboard.
Take this late-night over to the bank.
Pick: Over 154.5 (Play to 157)
