Nicholls State vs McNeese State Prediction & Best Bets (Southland Conference Tournament Championship): Will the Cowboys Go Dancing for the First Time Since 2002?

In year one of the (potentially very short) Will Wade era, McNeese State has dominated the Southland Conference. Will that dominance culminate in the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2002? Nicholls State, their opponent in today’s conference tournament championship game, will have to pull off one of the upsets of the college basketball season to deny them.

Two years to the day after being fired by LSU and one year to the day after McNeese State brought him back from the wilderness, Wade and the Cowboys booked a spot in today’s title tilt with a 76-57 win over Lamar yesterday.

Prior to Wade’s hiring, McNeese State had suffered 11 consecutive losing seasons under three different head coaches.

But with Wade and several new faces, the Cowboys, who were picked second in the conference’s preseason poll, have had quite an impressive turnaround. With 29 wins, they have already bested their previous single-season school record for wins as a Division I member by seven.

McNeese State won non-conference games at VCU, UAB, and Michigan by double digits, and 12 of their 18 wins against Southland teams have been by 19 or more points.

Two of those wins are against Nicholls State, which underscores just what kind of challenge is ahead for the third-seeded Colonels, who are looking to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.

Nicholls State vs McNeese State Odds

Odds are via BetOnline, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our BetOnline sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on today’s NCAA basketball action.

Spread

• Nicholls State +16.5 (-105)
• McNeese State -16.5 (-115)

Over/Under

• Over 136 (-110)
• Under 136 (-110)

Moneyline

• Nicholls State +950
• McNeese State -1900

Looking for more men’s college hoops picks for tonight’s schedule? Our NCAA basketball picks page features moneyline, spread, and total (over/under) picks for all of today’s top games.

Nicholls State vs McNeese State Betting Analysis and Prediction

There are several things that further highlight the gulf between McNeese State and the rest of the Southland Conference (and why the Cowboys may be a very dangerous #13 seed).

Nicholls State won at LSU, lost at Maryland by only six, and covered at Mississippi State in a 13-point loss. And the Colonels have won 20 games for just the sixth time in 40+ seasons as a Division I school. So, they are a pretty decent team.

Yet the Cowboys crushed them twice, a 74-47 win at Nicholls State on February 17 and an 83-62 win at McNeese State on March 2.

Also, the Cowboys have been favored by double digits 17 times this season. In those 17 games, they are 17-0 SU and 10-6-1 ATS.

Lastly, the metrics are strong. At KenPom, they rank 73^rd in Division I in adjusted offensive efficiency and 59^th in adjusted defensive efficiency.

There are only three other mid-majors (not counting Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s) who rank in the top 80 in both of those categories. One is Sun Belt champ James Madison (57^th and 76^th), who leads Division I in wins. Another is Grand Canyon (65^th and 57^th), a heavy favorite to win the WAC’s automatic bid. The third is Bradley (75^th and 60^th), a 22-win team that finished third in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Nicholls State, who is shooting 36.5% from three this season, could compete if they can hit their outside shots. They didn’t in either regular season loss to McNeese State (a combined 15 of 54, 27.8%) or in last night’s overtime win over Texas A&M Corpus Christi (5 of 18, 27.8%).

But all signs point to a resounding win for McNeese State to cap a near-perfect run through Southland play.

Nicholls State vs McNeese State Best Bets

McNeese State -16.5 & Nicholls State/McNeese State first half over 62.5

Other NCAA Basketball Betting Information

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If you are unfamiliar with any of these sites, check out our sportsbook reviews to learn more about them. Our reviews analyze available betting options, deposit and payout options, mobile and live betting, and the sportsbook sign-up bonuses and other promos offered.

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Interested in Learning More About Betting on NCAA Basketball?

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• College Basketball Betting Guide: How to Bet on NCAA Basketball in 2024

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