The best college basketball handicapper of the 2026-27 season is Brad Francis, at 12-2 (85.71%) for +$954. Rodd Zawacky (+$827) and Jay Yang (+$770) round out the top three. Updated November 8, 2026.
November 8 update: The 2026-27 college basketball season is underway, and only three cappers have more than 20 graded plays so far. Brad Francis leads at 12-2 with just two losses, and Jay Yang (11-3) has the second-best win rate among cappers with 10 or more plays.
These rankings use each handicapper’s college basketball record tracked on PickDawgz this season, graded as a bet to win $100. Cappers are ranked by profit, not win percentage, so the list rewards handicappers who actually make money, not just those who win a high share of a few plays.
Brad Francis12-2 · 85.71%+$954 profit #2
Rodd Zawacky11-4 · 73.33%+$827 profit #3
Jay Yang11-3 · 78.57%+$770 profit Best College Basketball Handicappers 2026-27 Rankings
| Capper | Won | Lost | Win % | Profit (to win $100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Francis | 12 | 2 | 85.71% | +954 |
| Rodd Zawacky | 11 | 4 | 73.33% | +827 |
| Jay Yang | 11 | 3 | 78.57% | +770 |
| Jeremy Conn | 16 | 8 | 66.67% | +715 |
| Shane Mickle | 20 | 12 | 62.50% | +689 |
| Matt Conley | 13 | 8 | 61.90% | +423 |
| Big Al McMordie | 7 | 3 | 70.00% | +374 |
| David Racey | 7 | 3 | 70.00% | +370 |
| Brian Bitler | 4 | 1 | 80.00% | +290 |
| Shae Phillips | 4 | 1 | 80.00% | +280 |
| Joe Caggiano | 4 | 2 | 66.67% | +180 |
| Damian Sosh | 4 | 2 | 66.67% | +170 |
| Sean Murphy | 6 | 4 | 60.00% | +165 |
| Hunter Fogarty | 5 | 3 | 62.50% | +135 |
| Ron Romanelli | 8 | 6 | 57.14% | +130 |
| John Ryan | 1 | 0 | 100.00% | +100 |
| PickDawgz TopDawgz | 1 | 0 | 100.00% | +100 |
| Stephen Nover | 2 | 1 | 66.67% | +90 |
Top College Basketball Handicappers This Season
Brad Francis: How He Has Beaten the Books
Brad Francis leads the college basketball board at 12-2 for +$954, an 85.71% win rate across 14 plays. Francis also hosts the PickDawgz morning show and ranks among the top five in our college football handicapper rankings this season.
Laying points has been his biggest edge. He is 8-1 against the spread with favorites for +$680, more than two-thirds of his profit, and 5-0 when laying 10 points or more, including Virginia Tech -29.5 against Coppin State, Florida State -20.5 against Troy and Iowa -19.5 against Lipscomb. He is also 3-0 on totals for +$300 and 1-0 with underdogs after cashing Saint Louis +2.5 at Missouri.
His only two losses were Duquesne -8.5 against Purdue Fort Wayne on November 3 and McNeese on the moneyline at North Texas on November 5. He opened the season 3-0 on November 2, and his latest win was Abilene Christian -1 against Lamar on Saturday.
Rodd Zawacky
Rodd Zawacky is second at 11-4 for +$827, a 73.33% win rate across 15 plays. He is also second in our NFL handicapper rankings this season.
Jay Yang
Jay Yang is third at 11-3 for +$770, a 78.57% win rate across 14 plays. He led the 2025-26 NBA leaderboard at +$3,249 and is third in our NBA handicapper rankings this season.
Further down, Jeremy Conn is fourth at 16-8 for +$715. Shane Mickle has released the most college basketball picks on the board, 32 so far, and is up $689 at 20-12.
Past Seasons: Best College Basketball Handicappers
2025-26 College Basketball Season
| Capper | Won | Lost | Win % | Profit (to win $100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Conley | 35 | 26 | 57.38% | +889 |
| Sean Murphy | 141 | 121 | 53.82% | +816 |
| Brian Bitler | 109 | 95 | 53.43% | +470 |
Matt Conley, Sean Murphy and Brian Bitler all finished in the profit in 2025-26 and are in the profit again this season.
How to Pick a College Basketball Handicapper
Look at profit, not just win percentage. A handicapper can win a high percentage of plays and still lose money. Profit shows whether following them actually pays.
Check the sample size. Early in the season most records are under 20 plays. With games almost every night, records build quickly, so a few weeks of plays tells you far more than a hot opening week.
Look for a focus. No one can know all 360-plus Division I teams. The strongest handicappers tend to know certain conferences well and pick their spots.
Be wary of big promises. Claims of 80% or 90% winners over a full season are a red flag. Realistic, consistent profit is what matters.
What Makes College Basketball Betting Different
There are more than 360 Division I teams, and a busy night can have well over 100 games on the board. Books cannot price every game as sharply as a ranked matchup, which leaves more room for handicappers who know the smaller conferences.
Early-season tournaments, travel, rotations that are still taking shape and the start of conference play all move lines. Totals are a big market too, because pace varies so much from team to team.
College Basketball Handicapper FAQ
Who is the best college basketball handicapper right now?
As of November 8, 2026, Brad Francis leads the 2026-27 college basketball leaderboard at 12-2 for +$954, with Rodd Zawacky second at +$827. It is early in the season and sample sizes are small, so the order can change quickly.
Are college basketball handicappers worth paying for?
With dozens of games most nights, a good handicapper can save you hours of research and point you to the spots worth betting. No one wins every night, so judge a handicapper on a long run of plays and profit, not a hot week, and only bet what you can afford to lose.
What win rate does a college basketball handicapper need to make money?
At standard -110 odds you risk $110 to win $100, so you need to win about 52.4% of your bets to break even. A record of 55% or better over a large number of plays is an excellent result.
How is college basketball handicapper profit calculated?
We grade every college basketball pick as a bet to win $100 at the odds it was released at. A win adds $100, and a loss costs what was risked, so a losing -110 bet takes away $110. The profit number shows what you would be up or down betting to win $100 on every play.
How often are the college basketball rankings updated?
The rankings follow the PickDawgz college basketball leaderboard, which updates as games go final. With games almost every night from November through March, the order can shift daily.
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