Best NCAAB Bets Today: Predictions, Picks & Props for Nov. 8 Slate
Written By Blaise Bourgeois | Published at November 8, 2025
After a phenomenal day of college basketball, highlighted by UNC beating Kansas, nine of the top-25 teams in the country are in action tonight. Three games rightfully stand out as #5 St. John's hosts #15 Alabama, #14 Arkansas heads to #22 Michigan State, and #21 Gonzaga plays host to Oklahoma.
With an additional full NFL and college football slate, our favorite sports betting apps offer a ton of action this weekend. With so many juicy sportsbook promotions available, it's prime time to take advantage of this incredible value. Without further ado, here are the best NCAAB bets today.
Game Lines
#15 Alabama @ #5 St. John's -6.5
🏀 (-110 via Caesars Sportsbook) 📈
The weekend's only top-15 matchup heads to Madison Square Garden as #5 St. John's hosts high-flying Alabama in an early-season non-conference matchup.
Alabama scored more points per game (90.7) than anyone in the country last season, though they did allow 81.3 points per game, which ranked 356th out of 364 DI schools.
The Crimson Tide will largely rely on a new crew of freshmen after Mark Sears, Grant Nelson, and Chris Youngblood all left for the NBA. The opening game of the season showed that they'll also lean on Houston Mallette this season. Mallette only played 47 minutes last season after starting at Pepperdine for three years.
They should also get Aden Holloway and Latrell Wrightsell back for this one after they both missed their 29-point win over North Dakota. Sophomore forward Keitenn Bristow is doubtful with an ankle injury.
Despite losing RJ Luis and Simeon Wilcher in the offseason, the Red Storm have retained a large majority of their key pieces and look like true national championship contenders. St. John's ran over Quinnipiac 108-74 in their opener, crushing both the over/under and the spread. They'll look to keep the momentum going. However, they may be without their lone true point guard, Dylan Darling. The crucial bench player had a team-high six assists in their win.
Arizona State transfer Joson Sanon looked great in the opener, scoring 14 points off the bench. Dillon Mitchell paced the team with 18 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.
The Red Storm have too much experience and too much star power for the Crimson Tide to handle. Expect a super-high scoring game where the Johnnies come out on top.
Bet $1, Double your Winnings on your Next 20 Wagers. Up to $25 Max Bet Per Boost #14 Arkansas ML @ #22 Michigan State
🏀 (+112 via FanDuel) 📈
This is going to be a fantastic battle between Spartans sophomore guard Jeremy Fears Jr. and Arkansas true freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr.
Both Fears and Acuff look like they could be taken in the 2026 NBA Draft. Fears saw his younger brother, Jeremiah, chosen as the seventh-overall pick by the New Orleans Pelicans last year. Fears started the season with 14 points and 10 assists to go along with five rebounds and five steals in MSU's 80-69 win over Colgate.
Acuff (22 points) and Arkansas handled Southern University 109-77 in their opener, with senior big man Trevon Brazile chipping in 25 points and 11 rebounds. Meleek Thomas put in a big day's work off the bench, contributing 21 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in 29 minutes.
Arkansas look like the more polished team at the moment, and bring back most of their stars that helped reach the Sweet Sixteen after knocking off Kansas and St. John's. The Razorbacks could be a sneaky pick to win it all, and we see today as their first big measuring stick.
Oklahoma @ #21 Gonzaga -11.5
🏀 (-112 via DraftKings) 📈
Gonzaga and Oklahoma both won comfortably in their season-opening cupcake games against Texas Southern and Saint Francis (PA), respectively, and now embark on their first true test of the season.
Gonzaga have been a March Madness mainstay since the 1998-99 season, making the tournament each and every season aside from when it was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bulldogs were ranked #2 in the nation at the time.
Mark Few and Gonzaga had made the Sweet 16 and beyond every year for nine straight seasons until last year, when they were knocked off by eventual finalists Houston. They bring back 6'9", 250-pound forward Graham Ike to the program after he averaged 17.3 points and 7.3 rebounds last season.
Oklahoma, who lost in the opening round of March Madness, lost Jeremiah Fears to the NBA Draft, while Kobe Elvis, Jalon Moore, and Sam Godwin all graduated. They're a very different team and will need time to adjust. That was evident in their opener, as they went into halftime against lowly Saint Francis (PA) with a one-point lead before outscoring them 57-22 in the second half.
We believe Gonzaga will be ranked in the top 10 at the end of the season and do not think these two teams are close in quality and experience. Even though they've been given plenty of respect as 11.5-point favorites, we think this could be a blowout.
Today's Best Parlay
🏀 (+1461 via DraftKings) 📈
- Leg 1: Alabama-St. John's Over 171.5
- Leg 2: Gonzaga Alternate Spread -18.5
- Leg 3: Arkansas Alternate Spread -5.5
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Featured Image Mandatory Credit: (AP photo / Jeff Dean)
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