SportsBook Review's Top Five College Basketball Teams

By SportsBook Review Staff Special for Outkick

The college basketball rankings are out for this week and the votes are split on whether the Michigan State Spartans or the Virginia Cavaliers should be college basketball royalty. Let’s check out the nation’s top five teams and get a jump on the week ahead.

1. Michigan State (25-3 SU, 14-13 ATS) –

The Spartans get my vote as the top team in the nation after defeating No. 3 Purdue 68-65 but ever so slightly failed to cover the number as 3 ½ point home favorites on Saturday. However, if you shopped around like the wiseguys do and checked out the best online sportsbooks I have no doubt you would have found MSU -3 and not lost a dime. The Spartans covered with ease against Minnesota on Tuesday night and head to Northwestern this weekend.

2. Virginia (24-2 SU, 17-6 ATS) –

I know Cavaliers’ fans are apoplectic over their team’s stunning success this season but I cannot fathom why the AP Top 25 chose Virginia as the No. 1 team in the nation after they lost to their crosstown rivals Virginia Tech on Saturday night as 12-point freakin’ favorites! I think the boys and girls voting in the AP poll thought it would just be cool to give copywriters this headline, “First Time Since 1982 Virginia Tops AP Poll”. Enjoy it while it lasts Virginia lovers because it ain’t lastin’.

3. Villanova (23-3 SU, 17-8 ATS) –

The Cats are back baby! Only two years removed from the national championship, Villanova has been wobbly of late, but how many teams in college basketball haven't been.

4. Auburn (23-3 SU, 18-6 ATS) –

WTF is this idiot doing, ranking Auburn No. 4?! Look, just because I know a little more about college hoops than you, don’t take it out on me. Move over Kentucky because the SEC has a new hardcourt king and thy name is Auburn. The Tigers beat the Wildcats and now improbably reign as the kings of the hard court in the SEC. Get on over to SBR’s Rating Guide and check out which top-notch book will be giving you their money after the Tigers demolish the Pussy Cats.

5. Xavier (24-3 SU, 19-8 ATS) – Can we stop with this nonsense of the Musketeers and just call them the X-Men? These are not sissy little 17th century pikemen with lacy gloves. These dudes are ripped straight from a Marvel comic book and kicking ass at a court near you. Sure they got blown out by Villanova earlier this year but who hasn’t? Plus, it's not like they're getting the benefit of ridiculous calls that would even make the Patriots blush. (Sorry, Creighton). Look, if you want to know how to bet on sports then get on over to Sportsbookreview. Once you do that, keep your eye on Xavier because this Big East beast is gonna make some noise when the band begins to play at the Big Dance.