College basketball is officially back and after a successful first night we are rocking and rolling into the 23-24 CBB season. Every day from now to the end of the regular season, I will give you what I call my “Daily POD” which we will hit at a high clip this season. The first every Daily POD article has a fantastic matchup as a part of it. We have the Auburn Tigers and the Baylor Bears meeting in a neutral site game in South Dakota. Here is my CBB Daily POD for November 7th.

Auburn vs Baylor (-2) (O/U 143) 9 PM EST

This matchup between these two teams have an interesting storyline. Both teams made the NCAA tournament last season and got bounced in the second round. Auburn and Baylor are both losing key pieces from a season ago. However, Baylor is ranked and Auburn is not to start off the season. Baylor lost all their backcourt starters from a season ago. Keyonte George and Adam Flagler went to the NBA, and LJ Cryer transferred to Houston.

The Bears did add to their backcourt, however, getting guys like RayJ Dennis (Toledo) and Jayden Nunn (VCU) from the portal. Five star freshman Ja’Kobe Walter will start for the Bears this season. The experience for this team comes in the front court with players like Jalen Bridges and Jonathan Tchamwa-Tchatchoua returning. However, Tchamwa-Tchatchoua has only played in only 37 games since they won the National Title in 2021. Baylor will hope that RayJ Dennis can carry the load in the backcourt. He averaged over 19 points per game a season ago and shot over 36% from beyond the arc.

Auburn didn’t lose as much talent as Baylor has. They bring back Johni Broome, K.D. Johnson, and Jaylin Williams from a season ago. One name to watch out for from the Tigers is none other than five star freshman point guard Aden Holloway. The 6’1 point guard is ready to take on a huge role for Bruce Pearl’s squad. Super quick guard that is crafty with the basketball in his hands. If he can not over-dribble the basketball, the freshman should be a stud in his first season with Auburn. Adding him with a guy like Broome who averaged 14.2 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game a season ago will help this Tigers team out in 23-24.

Pick of the Day

I have two plays in this matchup in South Dakota. The first play is Auburn +105 for one unit. I love the Tigers in this spot here. Baylor is going to struggle early to get in a rhythm this season and I think that the Tigers are going to pounce on it in this one. The Bears rank 293rd in defensive rebounding last season according to KenPom and that’ll be an issue in game number one this season. I think this game will have a bunch of second-chance opportunities for both offenses. That is why my second play is over 143 at -110 odds for one unit. Both teams struggle at defensive rebounding and I think this will have a ton of points because of that. Take the Tigers and the over for this season’s first every CBB Daily POD.