College basketball tipped off the 2026-27 season last week, but the Champions Classic always feels like the rite of passage to truly get things started. This is when we begin to see most high-profile non-conference matchups, including several top-25 battles on Tuesday, November 10.
The Champions Classic doubleheader arrives tonight in Chicago’s United Center, televised by ESPN. First up, it’s #5 Michigan State vs. #3 Duke (7:00 p.m. ET), followed by #15 Kansas vs. #24 Kentucky (9:30 p.m. ET). Plus, #3 Illinois and #16 Texas Tech collide in Lubbock for an 8:00 p.m. ET tip on Peacock.
Below, we’ll dig into Tuesday’s schedule and circle our best college basketball predictions today, featuring point spreads, over/unders, and more via PrizePicks.
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Best College Basketball Predictions, Picks for PrizePicks Today – Tuesday, November 10
Top-25 matchups didn’t deliver for the most part last week, and that’s likely due to the impossible task of ranking college basketball teams in the preseason based off a flurry of moves in the transfer portal.
The first adjustment of the AP Top 25 Poll arrived this week, highlighted by #9 UCLA rising nine spots, #6 Virginia up three places, and #12 Arizona and #19 Arkansas careening seven spots each.
This was due to lopsided games last week, including Virginia’s absurd 91-72 win over a talented Arkansas team on Sunday, November 8. Hopefully, tonight’s top-25 matchups deliver — especially the Champions Classic featuring some of college basketball’s top powers.
We’ll focus on two games for our best college predictions today, beginning with #5 Michigan State vs. #2 Duke and followed by #3 Illinois vs. #16 Texas Tech.
Which spreads, over/unders, and more stand out for college basketball picks on PrizePicks? Let’s get into it.
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#5 Michigan State vs. #2 Duke Prediction on Spread – 11/10/26
Time, How to Watch: 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN
The gem of the Champions Classic should be #5 Michigan State vs. #2 Duke. According to PrizePicks, Duke has the shortest payout to win the national championship (5.26x), followed by Michigan State’s fifth-shortest payout (14.28x).
While both are expected contenders, Duke is viewed as on another level; the Blue Devils are 7.5-point favorites for the spread tonight.
Both teams feature a nice blend of returning experience and elite talent. According to Jeremy Woo of ESPN’s 2027 NBA Draft Big Board, Duke C Patrick Ngongba, Duke G Dame Sarr, Duke PF Cameron Williams, and Michigan State PG Jeremy Fears Jr. are all among the top 45 prospects.
Furthermore, Williams (#4), Duke PG Deron Rippey Jr. (#13), Duke G Bryson Howard (#23), and Michigan State G Jasiah Jervis (#33) were top 35 recruits for the 2026 class, per 247 Sports. Then add in the Spartans' returning experience, like G Coen Carr (11.0 PPG) and F Jordan Scott (11.5 PPG), and we’re cooking with gas.
We always learn a ton at the Champions Classic. Which true freshmen are really that good? Which of these perennial powers will truly contend for a national championship?
Duke’s roster screams title potential. Sure, it has the usual talent, but the Blue Devils also have a ton of depth and returning experience at key positions. For example, Ngongba is one of the best centers in America, backed by his 10.46 Bayesian Performance Rating (BPR), currently second across college basketball, per EvanMiya.
PG Cayden Boozer is another key returning player, and he’s off to a fast start with 10.0 PPG, 7.5 assists per game (APG), and an 8.35 BPR (13th).
Duke could have two clear advantages in this matchup. First off, Fears is an elite point guard averaging 12.5 PPG, 10.0 APG, and 1.5 steals per game. His 10.99 BPR leads college basketball, meaning this metric claims we’re getting two of college hoops’ best with Ngongba and Fears.
However, the Devils are equipped to frustrate Fears thanks to G Dame Sarr. He stands at about 6’8” with a 7-foot wingspan. His 3.52 Defensive Bayesian Performance Rating (DBPR) is currently in the top 25 nationally, boosting his NBA Draft stock for fitting the typical 3-and-D archetype.
Then, you have Ngongba’s 6-foot-11 frame and 7-foot-4 wingspan roaming the painted area. This Duke team has a ton of length and currently ranks as Bart Torvik’s top adjusted defensive efficiency. Head coach Jon Scheyer has been under fire for postseason failures, but he deserves credit for how hard his teams defend — further supported by last season’s fourth-best adjusted defensive efficiency.
Michigan State has two 7’2” centers in Anton Bonke and Ethan Taylor, helping stand up to Ngongba — who is projected for 15 points and 7 rebounds vs. MSU on PrizePicks. However, the Spartans lack size at power forward, and that’s an issue vs. the Devils’ absurd frontcourt talent.
Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje is 7’2” playing power forward, and at only 17, he has to play two years at Duke. He does not move like a 7-footer, giving the Devils perhaps the most dangerous mismatch in college hoops. Oh, then you have to deal with PF Cameron Williams, a 6’11”, top-five recruit, coming off the bench.
In summary, this Duke team carries elite players, length, depth, and an absurd frontcourt. That could be on show to tip off the Champions Classic.
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#3 Illinois vs. #16 Texas Tech Prediction on Spread – 11/10/26
Time, How to Watch: 8:00 p.m. ET on Peacock
Texas Tech should be a really good team as the season progresses, as superstar PF JT Toppin is targeting a December return after suffering a torn ACL in February.
But without Toppin, the Red Raiders could be at a severe talent disadvantage vs. Illinois. Texas Tech enters this matchup as 2.5-point underdogs for the spread, while the over/under sits at a sky high 166.5.
Remember Illinois G Andrej Stojakovic, who averaged 13.5 PPG in 2025-26? Yeah, he’s back and has gone nuclear with 22.5 PPG and a 64.3% field goal percentage to begin the year.
Somehow, the Fighting Illini seamlessly replaced G Keaton Wagler, who averaged 17.9 PPG last season and was the #5 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. That’s thanks to another Diaper Dandy (shoutout to the legend Dick Vitale), as Illinois G Quintin Coleman was the #14 recruit in the 2026 class and has posted 16.0 PPG, 6.5 rebounds per game (RPG), and 4.0 APG through two games.
According to PrizePicks, Coleman is projected for 14.5 points, while Stojakovic is at 17.5 points vs. Texas Tech.
Similar to last season, Illinois has a rotation full of lengthy, versatile guards and wings that can defend, rebound, attack the rim, and most importantly, shoot the 3-ball. According to Bart Torvik, the Illini are first in adjusted offensive efficiency and sport a 50.0% 3-point shot distribution in the 85th percentile.
Texas Tech has given up a 54.4% 3-point shot distribution (fifth percentile) in the early going, with opponents totaling 25.0 attempts per game (48th percentile).
The Red Raiders are 11th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 21st on defense. That’s close to Illinois, which is first and 14th in the departments.
The Fighting Illini appear to be simply the more talented team, and if they are getting up plenty of 3-point attempts, that could lead to success for the point spread.
Make your Illinois vs. Texas Tech prediction on the spread on PrizePicks!
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Make College Basketball Predictions and Picks on PrizePicks
Duke and Illinois are viewed as early-season national championship contenders, and each team has a chance to prove just that with battles vs. Michigan State and Texas Tech tonight.
Don’t wait until tip off — make your college basketball picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right.Pick players, predict More or Less on their stats, and cash in if you’re right. With Team Picks, you can make predictions on game winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 36 states.
Plus, you can make your CBB predictions for the 2026-27 season, including the national championship winner, conference winners, win totals, and more all on PrizePicks.
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