NCAA Basketball: Picks for Day 17 of 2024-25 season

It is the eve of Feast Week and the schedule is loaded with mid major games and one top 25 matchup. The schedule picks up in a big way tomorrow just have to get through today.

By Bryan Mauro | Nov 20, 2024

Nov 13, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Kylan Boswell (4) drives the ball against Oakland Golden Grizzlies guard Jayson Goodrich (11) during the first half at State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images / Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Last night, there were many games, but nothing notable happened. It was a night of almosts. Kansas State got a scare from Mississippi Valley State, Kansas needed 35 minutes to put away UNC Wilmington, and Minnesota played yet another close game with a mid-major. The Gophers have a terrible time scoring. Michigan State got a game from Samford. DePaul, who is 4-0, struggled to put away Eastern Illinois, and Northwestern needed a late run to beat Montana State. See, almost upsets.

Yesterday, I went 41-4 in my picks. That brings my 16-day total to 535-135 overall. It is Feast Week Eve, and there are not a ton of games of note today because all the teams are traveling to their respective Multi-Team Events. There is one huge game today between two top-25 teams, but outside of that, the schedule looks a lot like yesterday, with a lot of games that could end in a blowout. Picks for day 17, November 20, 2024, are below.

Charleston over The Citadel

Xavier over Siena

Yale over Stony Brook

NC A&T over Morgan State

Austin Peay over Morehead State

Columbia over Long Island

Army over Fairleigh Dickinson

Western Michigan over South Dakota

Northern Illinois over Elon

Ball State over Detroit Mercy

Richmond over Maine

Rhode Island over Lafayette

Dayton over New Mexico State

George Mason over Coppin State

Penn State over Fort Wayne

Virginia Tech over Jacksonville

West Virginia over Iona

Kennesaw State over Abilene Christian

Nicholls over Towson

Texas A&M over Southern

Rutgers over Merrimack

South Dakota State over Southern Mississippi

Tulsa over Little Rock

Murray State over Maryland Eastern Shore

Western Kentucky over Jackson State

Georgetown over Mount St. Mary’s

Gonzaga over Long Beach State

Alabama over Illinois

Grand Canyon over UC Davis

Arizona State over Cal Poly

Santa Barbara over UTEP

UNLV over Pepperdine

Fresno State over Prairie View

USC over San Jose State

Stanford over Norfolk State

Cal Baptist over Northern Colorado

UCLA over Idaho State

Next. Latest SEC power rankings. Latest SEC power rankings. dark

One game today is going to grab the attention of the College Basketball world, and that is Alabama and Illinois. Two ranked teams are going at it on a Neutral site. Alabama has the preseason favorite for the National Player of the Year in Mark Sears. The best non-power five game today goes to South Dakota State and Southern Mississippi. Southern Mississippi does have a talented team capable of beating the Jackrabbits, but South Dakota State is so consistent that every year, they get the nod in this game. Enjoy the hoops.

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