The 2022-23 NCAA basketball season is here and fans are ready to see the best the world of collegiate hoops has to offer. In the first two games of the season, two west coast squads do battle as the Pacific Tigers travel to Stanford to take on the Cardinal. On the opposite side of the country, La Salle takes aim at No. 16 Villanova in a showdown at the Finneran Pavilion. In both games, the home team is a big favorite, but the visiting squads do potentially feature some upset potential.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each squad, who will be in each matchup, and also some more thoughts about NCAA basketball wagering.
| NCAA Basketball Week One Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacific vs. Stanford | Stanford -19.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| La Salle vs. Villanova | Villanova -15.5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Team Spotlight: Pacific
The Tigers are coming off an 8-22 season in the West Coast Conference and are led by second-year head coach, Leonard Perry. Pacific ended last season on a four-game losing streak after knocking off Loyola Marymount 69-68 at home. The Tigers will also be without the services this season of redshirt senior Alphonso Anderson who was an integral stretch forward for the squad. Moreover, Pacific did not win any games last season on the road last year but are looking to right the ship this season.
Team Spotlight: Stanford
After starting last season on a promising note by winning 12 of their first 18 games, the Cardinal fell back to Earth after a poor performance in conference play. However, during that initial timespan, Stanford was able to upset then-No. 15 USC during the first part of conference play. In the Pac-12 tournament, Stanford was able to get past Arizona State in the first round but fell short against No. 1 seed Arizona in the quarterfinals. This year, the Cardinal will be led by seniors Spencer Jones and James Keefe. Led by seventh-year head coach Jerod Haase, Stanford has the potential to do some damage in the Pac-12 this season.
Prediction: For this matchup, the Cardinal should be able to cruise against the Tigers at home.
Team Spotlight: La Salle
Last season, the Explorers had a forgettable campaign in the A-10 after finishing the season 11-19, with a record of 5-13 in conference play. However, as the No. 12 seed in the conference tournament, they were able to knock off Saint Joseph’s in the first round of play before falling to Saint Louis in the following round. After the season, the school parted ways with coach Ashley Howard and brought in Fran Dunphy who was the former head coach at Temple and also Penn. With a ton of players transferring out that were brought in by the prior regime, the Explorers will have their hands full this season with a rebuild.
Team Spotlight: Villanova
Coming off another Final Four appearance, the reigning Big East champions will be without their stalwart head coach Jay Wright this season. Back in April of this year, Wright announced he was retiring, in his place will be former assistant coach and Fordham head coach, Kyle Neptune. Finishing last year with a record of 30-8, along with a mark of 16-4 in Big East play, the Wildcats certainly have a lot of firepower and are no strangers to college basketball fans. This year’s roster will be led by graduate senior Caleb Daniels from Tulane, forward Brandon Slater, and potentially five-star recruit Cam Whitmore. Certainly an almost always-impressive squad, it remains to be seen how the Wildcats will react without Wright.
Prediction: Villanova only lost once last season at home (to Marquette), so this should be an easy win for the Wildcats.
After you are all set getting your first round of NCAA basketball wagers set, SBS has a ton of other great information for you to sink your claws into. For instance, our NCAAB betting sites guide is a must-read rundown that goes over the latest betting markets related to the sport along with the most recent news in the college basketball world. Moreover, if you are someone that is always on the go, the SBS best mobile betting sites breakdown is exactly what you need to never miss out on the action this college basketball season. Finally, if you are someone that is maybe a bit uncertain about how you would like to place your deposits, do not worry as our payment methods rundown has a ton of different ways to place your bets.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football in the Mountain West Conference, and basketball. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones.
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