Saturday’s contest at The Legacy Center has the McNeese Cowboys (10-5, 4-0 Southland) squaring off against the Nicholls State Colonels (9-6, 3-1 Southland) at 5:00 PM ET. Our computer prediction is a lopsided 78-63 win, as our model heavily favors McNeese.

Based on our computer prediction, Nicholls State projects to cover the 16.5-point spread in its matchup against McNeese. The total is listed at 139.5, and the two sides are projected to exceed it.

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McNeese vs. Nicholls State Game Info & Odds

• Date: Saturday, January 11, 2025
• Time: 5:00 PM ET
• TV: ESPN+
• Live stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Where: Lake Charles, Louisiana
• Venue: The Legacy Center
• Line: McNeese -16.5
• Point total: 139.5
• Moneyline (to win): McNeese -1786, Nicholls State +880

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McNeese vs. Nicholls State Score Prediction

• Prediction:
  McNeese 78, Nicholls State 63

Spread & Total Prediction for McNeese vs. Nicholls State

• Pick ATS: Nicholls State (+16.5)
• Pick OU: Over (139.5)

McNeese’s record against the spread this season is 8-5-0, while Nicholls State’s is 7-5-0. The Cowboys have a 6-7-0 record going over the point total, while games involving the Colonels have a record of 4-8-0 when it comes to hitting the over. The teams average 151.6 points per game, 12.1 more points than this matchup’s total. McNeese is 6-4 against the spread and 7-3 overall in its past 10 contests, while Nicholls State has gone 6-4 against the spread and 6-4 overall.

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McNeese Performance Insights

• The Cowboys have a +192 scoring differential, topping opponents by 12.8 points per game. They’re putting up 77.5 points per game to rank 122nd in college basketball and are allowing 64.7 per outing to rank 36th in college basketball.
• The 31.9 rebounds per game McNeese averages rank 236th in the nation, and are 2.9 more than the 29 its opponents record per contest.
• McNeese hits 7.3 three-pointers per game (230th in college basketball) at a 33.4% rate (202nd in college basketball), compared to the 8.3 per contest its opponents make while shooting 32% from beyond the arc.
• The Cowboys rank 48th in college basketball with 103.3 points scored per 100 possessions, and 76th in college basketball defensively with 86.2 points conceded per 100 possessions.
• McNeese wins the turnover battle by 3.3 per game, committing 10.4 (71st in college basketball) while its opponents average 13.7.

Nicholls State Performance Insights

• The Colonels are outscoring opponents by 5.4 points per game, with a +82 scoring differential overall. They put up 74.1 points per game (218th in college basketball) and give up 68.7 per contest (107th in college basketball).
• The 33.9 rebounds per game Nicholls State accumulates rank 122nd in the country. Their opponents pull down 32.9.
• Nicholls State makes 7.3 three-pointers per game (230th in college basketball) at a 31.9% rate (273rd in college basketball), compared to the 6.5 its opponents make, shooting 28.4% from deep.
• Nicholls State has won the turnover battle by 2.1 per game, committing 10.4 (71st in college basketball) while forcing 12.5 (142nd in college basketball).

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