College Basketball Picks: Two Saturday Sleeper Bets on Nov. 7th

It’s the first Saturday in November, and we’re taking a look at a lengthy slate of college basketball games. We’ve got a pair of winners for you to play either straight up, in conjunction with each other, or perhaps as part of a multi-leg parlay with NBA, NHL or college football action.

At 4:00 p.m. ET, the Monmouth Hawks (0-1) and Rhode Island Rams (1-0) meet at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Monmouth vs. Rhode Island

Monmouth opened the season on the short end of a 78-63 score at St. John’s, although the Hawks were able to cover as 27.5-point underdogs as the Under (154.5) comfortably cashed. G Jakai Sanders was a bright spot for the Hawks, hitting 5 of 7 from the field, while finishing with 17 points, including four 3-pointers.

Looking to URI, it absolutely obliterated Holy Cross 103-59 as a 20.5-point favorite as the Over (146.5) cashed. The Rams were 55% (37 of 67) from the field, while dropping in 12 3-pointers. G Jonah Hinton led the perimeter parade with six triples, finishing with 24 points on 8 of 11 shooting.

The Rams also showed off quick hands, posting eight steals, while posting 39 rebounds and three blocks with just five turnovers. Sanders, alone, had seven turnovers for the Hawks in their opener.

We’re going to take RHODE ISLAND -6.5 (-105), while also going OVER 146.5 (-105), as we look for the Rams to get to at least 85 points.

Denver vs. UC Riverside

In the second game of the day, we’re going to cast an eye toward the left coast.

The Denver Pioneers (0-1) meet the UC Riverside Highlanders (1-0) in Southern California at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Denver opened the season with a 75-68 loss at Wisconsin, easily covering as a 25.5-point underdog as the Under (159.5) connected. The Pioneers are making the jump from the Summit League to the West Coast Conference, and it’s going to be a painful transition. At least Gonzaga isn’t here anymore to kick it around.

UC Riverside roughed up La Verne College, a lower-level school, by a 110-47 score. The jury is still out on the Highlanders, as we will know a lot more about UCR after Saturday’s contest against a team more evenly matched.

Riverside isn’t expected to fare terribly well this season, but it gets this game at home.

Let’s lay the little bit of points, taking UC RIVERSIDE -1.5 (-115), while going OVER 154.5 (-110).