McNeese State Cowboys vs. Nicholls State Colonels prediction, pick on Monday 3/2/26
Sean Barnard particulars his pick and prediction for Monday’s faculty basketball matchup between the McNeese State Cowboys and the Nicholls State Colonels.
It is a light slate of faculty basketball throughout the Monday schedule because the NCAA begins to step into the middle stage of the sports activities world. Tipping off at 7:30 pm ET, the McNeese State Cowboys shall be dealing with off with the Nicholls State Colonels.
This is the second matchup of the season for these Southland Conference opponents. McNeese produced a 94-68 win within the first matchup between these two groups, stretching the result in as many as 31 factors and holding a lead for 90 % of the matchup.
Looking on the odds for tonight, McNeese State enters as a ten.5-point favourite on DraftKings Sportsbook with -650 odds of successful outright. Nicholls State holds +470 odds on the Moneyline, with the sport complete set at O/U 145.5 factors.
McNeese State vs. Nicholls State prediction, preview
The McNeese State Cowboys enter this matchup with a 25-5 file and have gone 18-3 in Southland Conference play. They are coming off back-to-back seasons during which they’ve certified for the NCAA Tournament and shall be trying to do the identical this 12 months. McNeese enters this matchup on a seven-game successful streak and has gained 11 of its final 12. On the season, the Cowboys have gone 13-15 in opposition to the unfold, and the sport complete has remained beneath in 15 of their 28 matchups performed.
Larry Johnson headlines the scoring with 16.9 factors per sport, alongside together with his 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 steals per sport. Tyshawn Archie provides 14.1 factors, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals, taking pictures 37.1% on three-point makes an attempt. Javohn Garcia is the lone different layer to common in double-figures with 11.3 factors, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals. In addition, DJ Richards, Garwey Dual, Jerrell Colbert, Jacolb Cole, and Carl Cherenfant every additionally play key roles within the rotation.
As a group, McNeese State is scoring 80.2 factors per sport, which ranks 82nd among the many 365 D1 groups. The Cowboys additionally rank fortieth in offensive ranking, 68th in group discipline objective share, and three hundredth in group three-point share. Defensively, opponents are scoring the Twenty second-lowest factors per sport in opposition to the Cowboys at 66.3 per contest. McNeese State additionally ranks twenty fifth in defensive ranking, thirty fourth in opponents discipline objective share, 126th in opponent three-point share, and generates the third-most steals within the nation.
The Nicholls State Colonels arrive with a 13-17 file on the season and have gone 12-9 in convention play. They enter this matchup coming off back-to-back wins over Lamar and Southeast Louisiana, however have dropped 9 of their final 14 video games. On the season, Nicholls State has gone 14-15 in opposition to the unfold, and the sport complete has gone over in 16 of the 29 qualifying video games.
Jalik Dunkley is the group’s main scorer with 12.9 factors and seven.0 rebounds per sport. Jaylen Searles provides 12.3 factors, 3.9 rebounds, and a couple of.0 assists, whereas making an attempt a team-high 5.4 three-point makes an attempt per sport. Sincere Malone leads the convention in 2.1 steals per sport, whereas including 11.5 factors, 4.4 rebounds, and three.2 assists. Trae English is the one different participant to common in double-figures with 11.2 factors and a team-high 3.4 assists of his personal. Zee Hamoda, Christian Winborne, Zaiden Cross, and Jalin Rice every additionally play key roles within the rotation.
Nicholls State is scoring 73.1 factors per sport this season, which ranks 259th out of the 365 qualifying D1 groups. The Colonels additionally rank 261st in offensive ranking, 265th in group discipline objective share, and 192nd in group three-point share. Defensively, groups are scoring 75.4 factors per sport in opposition to the Colonels. This ranks 231st within the nation, and so they additionally rank 238th in defensive ranking, 335th in opponent discipline objective share, and 238th in opponent three-point share.
McNeese State vs. Nicholls State pick, greatest wager
McNeese State was in a position to pick up a 94-68 victory over Nicholls State within the first matchup between these two groups in a dominant victory. The Cowboys led for 90% of the matchup, extending the result in as many as 31, additionally taking pictures 52% from the sphere and 48% on three-point makes an attempt within the victory. Nicholls State has proven some encouraging flashes since this level, however this isn’t a matchup the group is constructed to take advantage of.
Expect the protection of McNeese State to play a significant position on this matchup. The Cowboys are holding groups to the Twenty second-fiwest factors within the nation and generate the third-most steals. Opponents are turning the ball over on the second highest-rate when dealing with the Cowboys. This shall be problematic in opposition to a Nicholls State group that ranks 194th in turnovers, with six gamers on the roster averaging over a turnover per sport.
There are some extra stakes on this matchup, with this being the common season finale and the convention match happening subsequent. Nicholls State is combating for its match life with solely the top-eight groups making the Southland discipline. Meanwhile, McNeese State is trying to lock up the highest seed and earn the convention common season title.
As a lot as the extent of need favors Nicholls State, this doesn’t make up for the hole in expertise and the matchup discrepancy. Nicholls State has misplaced 5 of its previous six house video games whereas enjoying groups of a lesser caliber of expertise as McNeese State. The Cowboys have additionally gained 33 of their final 35 evening video games in opposition to convention opponents. McNeese State additionally ranks thirty sixth within the nation with a +9.8 common margin of victory. Eight of the 13 video games they’ve coated the unfold this season have been as 13.5-point favorites or better.
Expect the Cowboys to have success creating turnovers, imposing themselves defensively, and being the clear higher group on this matchup. Nicholls State has performed some higher basketball of late, however the hole in expertise between these two opponents is greater than the ten.5-point quantity signifies. Count on McNeese State to be ready to complete the common season on a excessive notice and add one other convincing win to the resume by greater than the ten.5-point spread tonight.
