Oral Roberts vs New Mexico Basketball Prediction & Picks: Will the Lobos rebound from consecutive losses?

Tonight’s college basketball schedule is understandably light, but there is a notable matchup worth following and betting on as Oral Roberts (13-3) visits New Mexico (14-2) in non-conference action.

With the TCU vs Georgia game having the college sports spotlight tonight, there aren’t any college basketball games going on between power conference teams.

That makes this matchup between ORU, who has won ten straight games, and UNM, who won 14 straight games before losing to Fresno State and UNLV, the best game of the night, by far.

Will the Lobos get back into the win column after taking their first two losses of the season? Read on for our Oral Roberts vs New Mexico prediction, as well as our picks and analysis for the matchup between the Lobos and Golden Eagles.

Oral Roberts vs New Mexico Odds

Odds are via BetOnline as of Monday, January 9, 2023, at 5:20 am ET. This article may also include odds from our other recommended legal sports betting sites.

Spread

• Oral Roberts +4.5 (-104)
• New Mexico -4.5 (-118)

Over/Under

• Over 161.5 (-110)
• Under 161.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Oral Roberts +168
• New Mexico -205

Is the Over the Play as Oral Roberts Visits the Pit?

This matchup sticks out on tonight’s college basketball schedule because it is the only noteworthy matchup on a light night.

But it would be worth following on a lot of other nights as well, given what each team brings to the table offensively.

Oral Roberts is once again led by prolific guard Max Abmas, who led the Golden Eagles to the Sweet Sixteen two seasons ago.

His scoring average is down this season, as he is averaging “just” 20.7 points per game after averaging 24.5 PPG in the Sweet Sixteen season and 22.8 PPG last season.

But he has hit the 30-point mark twice in his last three games and scored a season-high 35 in Saturday’s 74-71 win over Missouri-Kansas City, capping off his big night with a game-winning half-court heave at the buzzer.

MAX FREAKING ABMAS! HE IS HIM #ORUMBB #MIDCOURTMAX @SportsCenter @sctop10 @MarchMadnessMBB pic.twitter.com/mBbUzkuRbK

— ORU Basketball (@ORUMBB) January 8, 2023

Abmas is the star of the show, but it isn’t a one-man team, as Oral Roberts is averaging 84.3 PPG, which ranks ninth in Division I.

Leading Scorers for Oral Roberts

• Max Abmas: 20.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.7 APG
• Connor Vanover: 12.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG
• Isaac McBride: 11.5 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.1 APG

The Golden Eagles rank seventh in the country in field-goal attempts per game and three-point attempts per game, but they shoot at a decent clip, making 37.9% from three and 46.9% of their shots overall.

Entering today’s college basketball action, ORU is fourth in the country in made threes, making an average of 11.3 threes per game.

At KenPom, they rank 19th in offensive efficiency and average offensive possession length, while they rank 32nd in tempo.

New Mexico ranks rather high as well, coming in 45th in offensive efficiency, 43rd in average offensive possession length, and 20th in tempo. And in the surface statistics, they are 16th in the country in scoring (82.6 PPG) and 27th in field-goal percentage (48.4%).

While Abmas is Oral Roberts’ only player averaging 15+ PPG, New Mexico has three.

Leading Scorers for New Mexico

• Jamal Mashburn Jr.: 17.6 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 38.5% 3PT
• Jaelen House: 16.7 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.8 APG, 3.0 SPG (t-3rd in Division I), 46.2% 3PT
• Morris Udeze: 16.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 60.2 FG%

Unlike Oral Roberts, New Mexico doesn’t shoot the three often, averaging just 16.6 three-point attempts per game. But they do shoot 35.7% from three, which is respectable.

Oral Roberts vs New Mexico Prediction and Picks

Oral Roberts vs New Mexico Prediction: New Mexico to win

Oral Roberts vs New Mexico Picks: New Mexico to cover (Best Value: -4.5 @ BetOnline) & Oral Roberts/New Mexico over 161.5

Having to face one of the top scorers in college basketball as you try to avoid a third straight loss shapes up to be a real challenge for the Lobos.

The Golden Eagles have played some quality opposition thus far this season, losing to Saint Mary’s, Houston, and Utah State.

So, they will be ready to play at The Pit. But this spread is more than reasonable and reachable for New Mexico, and I feel that they will be able to cover, even if Abmas has a huge game.