We’re now into conference tournament week of the 2025-26 college basketball regular season. Selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament are right around the corner, but we have plenty of games this week to focus on first. Let’s dive into the top college basketball best bets today for Tuesday, March 10th. Check out the best college basketball picks below as you cash your own bets. Note that all odds and betting lines are accurate as of this writing, but are always subject to change. Good luck! 

College Basketball Picks, Predictions & Best Bets Today, 3/10

Our college basketball best bets today begin with an ACC Tournament matchup between SMU and Syracuse. Plus, we break down the West Coast Conference championship game as Gonzaga takes on Santa Clara. Check out more college basketball predictions below for other games today, including Kansas State vs. BYU and Wake Forest vs. Virginia Tech. Let’s jump in.  

 

 

 

Syracuse vs. SMU Prediction: Tuesday, 3/10

Just a couple of weeks ago, SMU seemed locked into an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time since 2017. However, the Mustangs are now firmly on the bubble after losing 4 straight to end the regular season. They likely need multiple wins in the ACC Tournament to feel safe, especially with bid-stealers lurking and other bubble teams potentially rising. 

SMU also needs to win its conference tournament opener to avoid a fifth consecutive loss. The Mustangs can probably kiss a March Madness bid goodbye if they lose to Syracuse on Tuesday. Thankfully, they face a struggling team that’s also limped into the postseason. 

Syracuse has lost 5 in a row and is just 3-11 over its past 14 games. Plus, 6 of the Orange’s last 8 losses have been by double digits. They’ve now dropped to 83rd in the latest NET Rankings in another down year for head coach Adrian Autry, who could be replaced this offseason. 

SMU’s potent offense should set the tone and help it build a lead. The Mustangs are top-20 nationally in offensive efficiency at KenPom while averaging 85.0 PPG. The scoring has dropped off lately, but the upside for 90+ points is very much in the cards against Syracuse’s shaky defense. The Orange rank 14th in the ACC in defensive efficiency while allowing 80.4 PPG during conference play. 

In this matchup, SMU’s threat from three-point range will be key. The Mustangs are shooting a lights-out 40.3% from deep in conference play (1st in ACC), and 37.8% on threes overall this season (23rd in Division I). Guard BJ Edwards might be sidelined again on Tuesday, but the offense still has multiple shooters to lean on. Boopie Miller (42% on threes in ACC play), Jaron Pierre (41%), and Corey Washington (43%) can all get hot. Syracuse, meanwhile, ranks 181st in the country in three-point defense. 

Admittedly, SMU has struggled defensively this season. However, Syracuse doesn’t have the offense to consistently exploit those issues. The Orange rely heavily on scoring inside with power forward Donnie Freeman as the focal point. The Mustangs, though, have the size to slow him down with 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu and 6-foot-10 backup big Jaden Toombs manning the middle. 

SMU does an excellent job of shutting down the paint and forcing teams to the perimeter. The Mustangs allow three-point scoring at the 10th-highest rate in the country, but are 344th in terms of two-point scoring allowed. Dangerous perimeter shooting teams can punish SMU’s style of defense, but Syracuse is making just 33.2% on threes this season (225th nationally). 

Let’s take SMU to cover the spread en route to the victory. When these teams faced off last month, Syracuse hit a buzzer-beater to steal the 79-78 win at home. The Mustangs blew a double-digit second-half lead while the Orange uncharacteristically made 11 three-pointers. Both things are unlikely to happen again in this rematch as SMU takes care of business.  

Santa Clara vs. Gonzaga Prediction: Tuesday, 3/10

Let’s now head to the mid-major ranks. Gonzaga and Santa Clara will face off in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship game on Tuesday night. As expected, the Zags handled Oregon State in their semifinal. The Broncos, meanwhile, upset Saint Mary’s in a back-and-forth battle. It sets up an intriguing WCC title game matchup for many different reasons. 

We know Gonzaga is already safely in the NCAA Tournament field, win or lose on Tuesday. However, the Zags should be extra motivated to come out strong and get a statement victory. Mark Few’s squad will be leaving the conference this offseason to join the rebuilt Pac-12. What better way for Gonzaga to exit than to win the league it’s dominated for decades? 

That’s nothing new for the Zags, who will make their 29th straight appearance in the West Coast Conference title game. They’ve won 11 of the last 13 championships, going 10-3 ATS in this stretch as well. Plus, those 11 league titles have been by an average of 14.8 PPG, and all but one victory by double digits. Meanwhile, this will be Santa Clara’s first WCC title game appearance since 2007, when it lost to…guess who? Gonzaga. 

As for Santa Clara, the win over Saint Mary’s likely punched its ticket to the Big Dance. The Broncos were on the bubble beforehand, but a Quad 1 victory on a neutral court should improve their resume enough now. They’ll surely still be hungry for the WCC auto bid, but we may also get a letdown performance. Notably, Monday’s win over the Gaels presumably put Santa Clara into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. 

In this matchup, specifically, Gonzaga’s lockdown defense can be the deciding factor. The Zags rank 8th nationally in defensive efficiency (per KenPom) while allowing just 66.3 PPG this season. They’re also giving up only 64.9 PPG to league opponents this year. This defense is among the best in the country at shutting down the paint while also holding teams to 31.0% three-point shooting. Gonzaga’s defense has also regularly shown up in these WCC championships. The Zags have allowed just 61.6 PPG over the past 9 league title games. 

On the other end, Gonzaga’s elite ability to score inside is a mismatch for Santa Clara. The Broncos rank 233rd nationally in two-point defense, while the Zags are 18th in the country in two-point shooting percentage. Graham Ike can dominate the interior, and Gonzaga’s slew of wing scorers should have their way cutting to the rim. 

Gonzaga won both regular-season meetings with Santa Clara. It was a 12-point win at home and an 8-point victory on the road. Let’s back the Zags to do it again as they cover en route to a West Coast championship. The Broncos are a formidable opponent, but this is just what Few’s team does. 

 

 

 

Best College Basketball Prop Bets & Other Picks Today, 3/10

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