It may seem at first like a huge benefit to have so many games available to bet on, but that also means that by stretching out so many per head options on the same day, players run the risk of paying too little attention to the games that they are playing, and that could result in some tough beats. With the game wagering week usually ending on Sundays, there has been more than enough occasions where players turn a solid week in to an awful one with a series of losses on Saturday, the day before cashing out. Rather than getting carried away with wagering on every game, some notable advice would be to stick with what you know, and focus in on a couple of specific games. Treat NCAA basketball Saturday like any other day and focus on specific matchups, and just like any other day you will make a profit and not run the risk of becoming overexposed.

The number of returning players is the most important factor to consider when betting on college basketball early on, as those players will be key to their team’s success as the freshman figure out where they fit at the college level and develop chemistry with their teammates. No position is more important than point guard, so for teams with returning point guards that are considered quality players, they are among the best to wager on early. Another key to learning more about these teams early is to focus in on one or two schools and try to make sure that you find where their strengths and weaknesses are in order to project how they will perform. With the Betonline bookies so stretched trying to figure out so many different lines, inside knowledge could be enough to outsmart them.

A 68-team, single-elimination tournament featuring the top teams from across the nation regardless of the conference that they played in during the regular season, the Madness has become a staple as one of the busiest times of the year for the pay head bookies. While many enjoy the excitement of filling out a tournament bracket and trying to figure out which team will win it all, every game is significant for the fact that they are as unpredictable as they come, and the perfect opportunity to capitalize on some underdog wins. Evaluating the talent heading in to this type of tournament is a long process that should begin with the start of every regular season, as factors such as chemistry, experience, and how individual talents respond to pressure are all integral parts of picking which teams will make it far, and which will fade away. There isn’t a single site listed on the sportsbook reviews that doesn’t list the tournament games, so make sure not to miss out on the action.

(2) Ohio State Buckeyes @ South Carolina Gamecocks

Saturday, 12:00 PM ET

Sullinger’s status is still unknown heading in to this weekend, but the Buckeyes should be okay without him for the next couple of weeks without another game against one of the top-ranked teams in the country. The tandem of William Buford and Deshaun Thomas becomes even more important for Ohio State with Sullinger out, particularly in their lone road date before three straight at home. The Gamecocks have gotten off to a slow start in the SEC, including a 25-point loss to the Tar Heels in late November, so they shouldn’t be much of a threat as the underdogs to Ohio State according to the pay head bookies.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Ohio State Buckeyes

(1) Syracuse Orange @ North Carolina State Wolfpack

Saturday, 6:30 PM ET

With a ton of teams losing at the top of the national rankings, the Orange become the last team standing at No. 1, with a visit to North Carolina State set for this Saturday. Syracuse squeezed past Florida by four in their only matchup against a top-25 opponent, and while a talented Wolfpack team should push them, the Orange will prevail as modest sports betting favorites.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Syracuse Orange

(5) North Carolina Tar Heels @ (1) Kentucky Wildcats

Saturday, 12:00 PM ET

The Tar Heels rebounded well from their first loss, taking down the No. 7 Wisconsin Badgers in a 60-57 win on Wednesday night to improve to 6-1. Harrison Barnes scored 10 of his 20 points during a second-half surge in which UNC finally began to come together as a team, which is a promising sign for head coach Roy Williams, who had completely lost it earlier in the game when he ripped off his jacket in a fury over the way that his team was performing. Even despite their status as the top team in the country, the Wildcats will be the underdog for this game according to the pay head bookies, and rightfully so given the talent that the Tar Heels have at their disposal. The difference in the two teams early on has been Kentucky’s ability to focus and play with determination under head coach John Calipari, but if Williams can get his squad to play with that same urgency, then North Carolina will be in a good spot and worth the wager on betonline.

College Basketball Betting Pick: Tar Heels

With Doron Lamb dropping 17, and Terrence Jones rallying with another 15, Kentucky pulled away in the second-half after holding the Jayhawks to a tie at the break. While the Wildcats didn’t look anything close to a national title contender at points with turnovers and a few notable breakdowns in communication, they still exhibited the talent and resilience to overcome some rough pay head patches, including blocking 13 shots and holding Kansas to just 33.9-percent shooting. Kentucky started their three most talked-about freshman, but their performance may have been overshadowed by the presence of Duke Blue Devils’ head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his achievements at Madison Square Garden earlier in the night as part of an incredibly entertaining doubleheader. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist finished with nine rebounds and four assists as the most impressive 5 dimes review performers, and with their next game against undefeated Penn State, it should make for another early test for the young Wildcats.

Anthony Davis F Kentucky Wildcats – According to Rivals.com Anthony Davis is considered to be the best big man to come out of the 2011 recruiting class for Kentucky Wildcats Head Coach John Calipari. Blessed with a six foot 10 frame, Davis will replace power forward Josh Harrelson who graduated after the Wildcats lost in the Final Four back in March.

Since Davis is a freshman, and only 210 pounds, the concern is that he may not be able to compete with other big men in the SEC conference in a starters role. However, if Davis can make an impact right away, he and fellow Kentucky big man Terrence Jones should be one of the scariest tandems in the entire NCAA this season.

Josiah Turner G Arizona Wildcats – With the loss of Derrick Williams to the NBA Draft this past June, six foot three guard Josiah Turner enters the Arizona Wildcats lineup at an ideal time. Essentially, as the prize of the Wildcats 2011 draft class, Turner can be considered one of the centerpieces of the new look offense. Turner’s court IQ and defense should make him one of the deadliest guards in the entire Pac-12. This in turn should allow the Wildcats to build on one of the most successful seasons in school history.

Last week, the Georgetown Hoyas college basketball team travelled to China, to take on a senior Chinese team in an exhibition game. Rather than continue to promote the relationship the NCAA has with Asia in sports, the game turned into a fight you would see in a gang movie. For a reason that we still are uncertain of, the two sides got into a fight, with the Chinese team heavily outnumbering the college kids from Georgetown. While coaches attempted to separate the players, the only thing that was really separated, was the working relationship between the NCAA and China.

On the other hand, the Duke Blue Devils of the ACC are quietly silencing their critics heading into the 2011 – 12 seasons opener in November. Duke is led by top recruit in the country, shooting guard Austin Rivers. Rivers provides the type of game changing awareness and speed that future NBA coaches and scouts literally chomp at the bit to see in young players.

Aside from Rivers, the Blue Devils also have six foot 11 forward Ryan Kelly who at the most recent exhibition game, turned a lot of heads. Kelly, entering his junior season, scored 20 points, going an impressive nine for 11 from the field. With Kyle Singler in the NBA, Kelly will see plenty of playing time this season. The duo of Kelly and Rivers could be one of the scariest in the entire NCAA.

Kentucky Wildcats – Ever since John Calipari was named the Head Coach of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team, the team has gone from being one of the poorest recruiting programs to the best. Heading into the 2011-12 seasons, Kentucky was ranked first on Rivals.com for top recruiting. In the top 25 players in the country, Kentucky has the most recruits at four. Those players include forwards Anthony Davis, Mike Gilchrist, and Kyle Wiltjer along with guard Marquis Teague. By all accounts, Davis and Teague are considered the two can’t miss prospects in this year’s draft class. What’s more, Kentucky already has Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones returning this coming season, making Kentucky one of the scariest teams in the nation.

ACC Division – The 2011 – 12 seasons in the ACC should be one of the best from a recruiting standpoint, as both the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina Tar Heels have some of the best players in the country. Duke in particular is standing tall, as despite criticism from other programs, Blue Devils boss Mike Krzyzewski has recruited the top shooting guard in the country, in Austin Rivers. Rivers is seen by many as a game changer, who should be able to make the transition to the NBA.

On the other hand, the Tar Heels have two exceptional recruits in James McAdoo and PJ Hairston. We placed Rivers ahead of McAdoo and Hairston on the top recruits list, because both Tar Heels are blocked in playing time, by 2010 – 11 returnees Harrison Barnes and Tyler Zeller.

Kent Bazemore Old Dominion Monarchs – Last season, the Old Dominion Monarchs were considered by many to be one of the best defensive minded teams in the entire NCAA. One of the main reasons for the team’s success was relative unknown Kent Bazemore, a junior who elevated his game to help Old Dominion reach the March Madness tournament. At six feet five inches tall, Bazemore is one of the smaller players in the NCAA. Nevertheless, if Bazemore can duplicate his two and half steals per game and 30 blocks on the season from a year ago, Old Dominion will once again play in the March Madness tournament.

John Henson North Carolina Tar Heels – As part of the big three in North Carolina, the six foot 10 inch tall John Henson is the defensive catalyst of the team’s success. Last season, Henson was the ACC defensive player of the year, as he helped guide the Tar Heels to an extended run in the March Madness tournament. This year, along with Tyler Zeller and Harrison Barnes, Henson will have an opportunity to repeat as the ACC’s defensive player of the year, while working on his offensive game.

Aaron Craft Ohio State Buckeyes – When you play on a team that includes arguably the best freshmen in the game in Jarred Sullinger, it was easy for fans and experts alike to not even notice Aaron Craft last season. While many will argue that Sullinger was the reason for the team’s success, it was actually Craft’s vision and defensive prowess that allowed OSU to maintain their strong play.