College Basketball Player Props Picks: november 2nd, 2026

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!! If you're thinking Christmas right now, you're half right! It's the beginning of the College Basketball season!!!

It truly is an amazing time of any sports season. Day One is special. Everyone still has hope and optimism about their teams and players. We've watched the players play in exhibition/preseason games and are HYPED!!!!

You know I wasn't going to let Day One of the College Basketball season pass without giving some player picks I like for the day! Also, as always, bettor's beware on the first day of the season. We've had a small sample size of these guys and in some case no sample size for how they will perform when the games actually matter.

Here's some of the players props I'm looking at targeting today:

Patrick Ngongba II 1+ Blocks (-140 Bet365)

Duke is going to fun to watch this year. Dame Sarr and Patrick Ngongba II leading the conversation for the NBA Draft all season, then add Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje who should be a top name in next year's draft class.

Ngongba was a defensive force for the Blue Devils in their three preseason games. He recorded a total of seven blocks and had at least two blocks in every single preseason game. Four of his seven blocks came against Tennessee and Kansas who are on a whole different level than Army.

Ngongba should be able to block one shot tonight for Duke in what will most likely be a lopsided victory. I'd play this all the way down to -150.

Bruce Branch III Over 11.5 Points (-120 Bet365)

I'm surprised to see Bruce Branch III's line this low as I was expecting something closer to 15+ points for his game against Ohio State. The reason I expected more of a 14.5 line is because he scored 14 and 15 in both of BYU's two preseason games.

The only reason I could guess to why the line is where it's at is because of his shooting percentages in the two preseason games. In his first game, he went 6 of 9 from the field and hit 3 of 5 threes. However, in his second game, he went 6 of 18 from the field as a whole and went 0 of 5 from beyond the arc. Maybe the inconsistency added with the uptick in strength of opponent is the reason was the books are valuing his points so low.

For us, yes, I know the two games tell a different story, but I see that as one of Branch's positives. His first game was what we could see if he's nailing his shots early and often, where his second game shows us what we could see from him if the shots aren't falling. He could be a guy who will "get his point" one way or another.

I'm tempted to play this props and then sprinkle a little on 15+ points as well.

Jeremy Fears Jr. 2+ Steals (+105 Bet365)

Tonight we find out if this is the true "overreaction play" to the preseason games. Jeremy Fears Jr. was a defensive FIEND in Michigan State's three preseason games. He recorded 11 total steals during the preseason which featured a six steal game against Incarnate Word.

Now, is Fears going to average three steals per games this season? No. However, it looks like his defensive is a strength coming into this season as he had three steals against UConn and two steals against Marquette. Both of those opponents are way tougher of opponents then Quinnipiac who MSU will see tonight. It also wasn't like he was facing the nobodies from UConn either. Yes, Braylon Mullins didn't play (out all preseason), but both Colben Landrew and Nikolas Khamenia played in the game.

This line at plus money is just too good to pass on after what I saw from Fears in the preseason!

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