College Basketball Today: Arizona vs UCLA Preview
College basketball games today open the 2026-27 season with No. 5 Arizona meeting No. 22 UCLA in Las Vegas on Monday night. The Wildcats return two frontcourt starters from a 36-win Final Four team, while the Bruins bring back experienced scorers and welcome several transfers. Arizona is favored by 4.5 points for the 10 p.m. Eastern game on TNT.
Other marquee basketball games today include No. 1 Florida against No. 14 Miami, Purdue against No. 15 Gonzaga, and Ohio State against No. 25 BYU. With no regular-season results yet, college basketball today calls for a close look at returning players, new arrivals, preseason expectations, and the college basketball odds attached to each matchup.
College Basketball Games Today Overview
Monday's opening schedule gives several nationally ranked teams immediate challenges, along with home openers for other championship hopefuls. The college basketball games today feature two matchups between ranked opponents and several neutral-site contests.
Today's College Basketball Matchups
No. 14 Miami meets No. 1 Florida in Tampa, while No. 22 UCLA faces No. 5 Arizona in Las Vegas. Memphis plays No. 18 Iowa State in Sioux Falls, Purdue meets No. 15 Gonzaga in Las Vegas, and Ohio State takes on No. 25 BYU in Salt Lake City. Each game offers a different opening test.
Key Games and Storylines to Watch
Arizona must replace major backcourt contributors, and UCLA is working new players into an experienced core. Florida begins college basketball today at No. 1, while Gonzaga and Iowa State face familiar-name opponents. The basketball games today offer an early measure of how these teams have adjusted since March.
College Basketball Games Today Schedule
Monday's college basketball schedule stretches from early afternoon contests to late-night tipoffs on the West Coast. Five matchups stand out on the college basketball games today schedule because each has national television coverage and a full set of betting markets.
Today's NCAAB Game Schedule
All times Eastern.
| Matchup | Time | TV |
| No. 14 Miami vs. No. 1 Florida | 6 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Memphis vs. No. 18 Iowa State | 7 p.m. | FS1 |
| Purdue vs. No. 15 Gonzaga | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| Ohio State vs. No. 25 BYU | 9 p.m. | FS1 |
| No. 22 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arizona | 10 p.m. | TNT |
Game Times and TV Coverage
Miami-Florida is in Tampa. Memphis-Iowa State plays at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, and Ohio State-BYU is at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City. Both Purdue-Gonzaga and UCLA-Arizona are at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Other basketball games today include Army at No. 2 Duke at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPNU and Fairleigh Dickinson at No. 3 Illinois at 8 p.m. on BTN. For college basketball today, TNT's Las Vegas doubleheader offers a convenient way to follow two significant matchups.
College Basketball Lines Today
Arizona is favored against UCLA, while Florida, Iowa State, Gonzaga, and BYU also give points in their opening games. The college basketball lines below include the spread, moneyline, and total for five prominent college basketball games today.
Today's College Basketball Odds Table
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
| Miami vs. Florida | Miami +6.5 (-112) / Florida -6.5 (-108) | Miami +225 / Florida -280 | 159.5, Over -110 / Under -110 |
| Memphis vs. Iowa State | Memphis +13.5 (-114) / Iowa State -13.5 (-106) | Memphis +720 / Iowa State -1200 | 156.5, Over -105 / Under -115 |
| Purdue vs. Gonzaga | Purdue +4.5 (-115) / Gonzaga -4.5 (-105) | Purdue +162 / Gonzaga -196 | 155.5, Over -110 / Under -110 |
| Ohio State vs. BYU | Ohio State +2.5 (-110) / BYU -2.5 (-110) | Ohio State +122 / BYU -146 | 160.5, Over -110 / Under -110 |
| UCLA vs. Arizona | UCLA +4.5 (-110) / Arizona -4.5 (-110) | UCLA +162 / Arizona -196 | 150.5, Over -110 / Under -110 |
Moneyline, Spread, and Over/Under
A $196 bet on Arizona at -196 would return $100 in profit if the Wildcats win, while $100 on UCLA at +162 would return $162. The spread asks whether Arizona can win by at least five points. The total of 150.5 sets 151 combined points as the over threshold for college basketball today.
Biggest Line Movement
Opening-night prices deserve attention through tipoff. Arizona -4.5, Iowa State -13.5, and BYU -2.5 are key numbers to watch. A half-point change can alter the result of a spread wager, even when the favorite remains the same. Compare the current college basketball lines before betting rather than assuming any change makes a side attractive.
NCAAB Picks for Today
The NCAAB picks for today start with a simple distinction: choosing the winner of a game is not the same as finding value at the sportsbook. With unfamiliar combinations on both rosters, caution matters more than the number of college basketball games today.
Best Moneyline Picks
Arizona is our outright selection against UCLA. Returning center Motiejus Krivas and forward Ivan Kharchenkov give the Wildcats continuity near the basket. Florida, Iowa State, Gonzaga, and BYU are also straight-up selections, reflecting their favored positions rather than a proven moneyline advantage.
Best Spread Picks
Arizona -4.5 (-110) is the spread selection. Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov return from a Final Four team, giving the Wildcats an experienced frontcourt against a UCLA roster blending veterans and newcomers. Our nine-point projected margin provides a 4.5-point cushion against the spread, although opening-night uncertainty remains.
Best Over/Under Picks
Arizona-UCLA is set at 150.5, compared with 159.5 for Miami-Florida and 160.5 for Ohio State-BYU. Our Arizona-UCLA projection totals 147 points, but that 3.5-point difference is not enough to justify an under recommendation with both teams adjusting to new rotations.
College Basketball Today: Matchup Previews
College basketball today puts No. 1 Florida against No. 14 Miami, with No. 2 Duke hosting Army and No. 3 Illinois facing Fairleigh Dickinson.
Featured Matchup of the Day
Arizona reached the Final Four last season. Motiejus Krivas averaged 10.4 points and 8.2 rebounds, while Ivan Kharchenkov added 10.4 points and 4.3 rebounds. Five-star freshman Caleb Holt joins transfer Derek Dixon, who played at North Carolina. UCLA counters with Trent Perry (12.6 points per game), Eric Dailey Jr. (11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds), and Texas Tech transfer Jaylen Petty, who shot 37% from three. Arizona beat UCLA 69-65 in November 2025. UCLA leads the all-time series 64-51.
Top-Ranked Teams in Action
No. 1 Florida faces No. 14 Miami, No. 2 Duke hosts Army, and No. 3 Illinois welcomes Fairleigh Dickinson. No. 4 UConn opens against Gardner-Webb, while Arizona meets a ranked UCLA team on neutral ground.
Potential Upsets to Watch
UCLA is +162 to beat Arizona. Purdue also carries a +162 moneyline against Gonzaga, and Ohio State is +122 against BYU. Those prices reward an outright upset, although the NCAAB picks for today favor Arizona.
College Basketball Predictions Today
The college basketball games today offer attractive matchups, but new lineups bring uncertainty. Our NCAAB picks for today weigh returning production, roster continuity, and the college basketball lines.
Game Winner Predictions
Arizona over UCLA is the featured selection. Krivas and Kharchenkov are known contributors in the frontcourt, and Tommy Lloyd has another highly rated newcomer in Caleb Holt. Florida over Miami, Iowa State over Memphis, Gonzaga over Purdue, and BYU over Ohio State round out the straight-up forecasts.
Projected Scores and Betting Angles
Projected score: Arizona 78, UCLA 69. That nine-point margin and 147-point total reflect Arizona's returning interior production and uncertainty surrounding both teams' reworked guard rotations. UCLA's experienced scorers should keep the matchup competitive. The numbers are a forecast, not a guarantee of the final margin or pace.
Key Factors Behind Today's Predictions
UCLA has Perry, Dailey, and Xavier Booker returning, plus Petty's perimeter shooting. Arizona has lost Jaden Bradley, Brayden Burries, and Koa Peat, making its newcomers especially important. Early backcourt execution could make the difference.
NCAAB Betting Trends and Team Performance
College basketball today begins without regular-season form for either team. The most relevant recent comparisons are last season's results, returning player production, and UCLA's exhibition games. Those details frame expectations for the basketball games today.
Recent Team Form and Results
Arizona won 36 games and reached the Final Four last season. UCLA won 24 games before losing in the NCAA Tournament's second round. Arizona beat UCLA 69-65 in November 2025. UCLA also finished its preseason exhibitions with an 82-50 victory over San Diego.
Against the Spread Trends
Neither team has a 2026-27 ATS record. Monday's college basketball lines reflect preseason expectations rather than a recent covering streak.
Offensive and Defensive Matchup Stats
Krivas averaged 8.2 rebounds last season. UCLA returns Eric Dailey Jr., who averaged 5.8 rebounds, and Xavier Booker, who averaged 3.5. Rebounding will be a worthwhile matchup to watch.
Best College Basketball Betting Opportunities Today
The college basketball games today offer several betting decisions. Futures prices add context about expectations but tell a different story from single-game college basketball lines.
Best Value Bets
Arizona is +207 to win the Big 12 regular-season title and +1715 to win the national championship. UCLA is +1165 for the Big Ten and +6398 nationally. Those odds show the difference in preseason expectations.
Underdogs Worth Watching
UCLA's +4.5 spread puts pressure on Arizona to build separation, and Ohio State receives 2.5 points against BYU. Purdue gets 4.5 points against Gonzaga. Those spreads leave room for competitive finishes.
Betting Markets to Monitor
Keep an eye on starting-lineup confirmations, especially Arizona's new guards and UCLA's transfers. Even the best NCAAB picks for today depend on who actually takes the floor.
Final Thoughts on College Basketball Games Today
The college basketball games today provide a strong opening-night test for No. 5 Arizona and No. 22 UCLA. Arizona's returning interior players and No. 5 ranking give the Wildcats the edge in our forecast, but UCLA's returning experience makes the game worth watching. College basketball today also includes Florida-Miami, Purdue-Gonzaga, and Ohio State-BYU. Arizona over UCLA headlines our NCAAB picks for today, and the opener offers a first look at how both reworked rosters fit together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What college basketball games are on today?
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The featured college basketball games today are UCLA vs. Arizona, Miami vs. Florida, Memphis vs. Iowa State, Purdue vs. Gonzaga, and Ohio State vs. BYU. Those basketball games today are Monday, November 2.
Where can I find college basketball lines today?
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The college basketball lines above cover moneylines, spreads, and totals for five matchups. For college basketball today, check Betcris Arizona for the latest prices before placing a wager.
What are the best NCAAB picks for today?
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Arizona is our featured pick against UCLA. Florida, Iowa State, Gonzaga, and BYU are also outright selections. These NCAAB picks for today identify outright winners in college basketball games today.
Where can I watch college basketball games today?
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TNT carries Purdue-Gonzaga at 7:30 p.m. and UCLA-Arizona at 10 p.m. Eastern. ESPN2 shows Miami-Florida at 6 p.m., while FS1 carries Memphis-Iowa State and Ohio State-BYU. Fans following college basketball today have several nationally televised matchups to choose from.
How often do college basketball lines change?
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College basketball lines may move before tipoff because of wagers and new information. For college basketball games today, check prices near tipoff before deciding on a wager.
