Expert prediction
Southland Tournament: UTRGV vs McNeese Preview, Odds, Predictions (March 10)
Pick rationale
Analysis & key factors
- The Vaqueros haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 1968.
- The Cowboys seek their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
- This marks the 12th all-time matchup between the two Southland squads.
Another intriguing matchup at the mid-major level will commence in the Southland, seeing the McNeese Cowboys face the UTRGV Vaqueros in the semifinals. The latter comes out as the solid favorite, competing for a spot in the conference championship game.
How to Watch
- When: Tuesday, March 10, 9:30 pm ET
- Where: Townsley Law Arena, Lake Charles, Louisiana
- How to Watch: ESPN+
NCAA Matchup Odds & Lines
| Team | Odds | Spread | Totals |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTRGV | -102 | +7.5 | O139.5 |
| McNeese | -118 | -7.5 | U139.5 |
Game Preview
The Vaqueros (19-13, 14-8 Southland) have taken down Nicholls in the quarterfinals of the Southern Conference to get to the semifinals. UTRGV has posted a 37.2% 3-point shooting percentage which ranks 27th in the NCAA and second in the SLC. Koree Cotton earned First Team All-Conference honors while also being named to the All-Defensive Team. Cotton averaged 13.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game ranking 12th and 15th in the SLC. Meanwhile, Filip Brankovic was named to the All-Conference Second Team after averaging 12.8 points per game while ranking second in the SLC in shooting percentage (52.4%).
The Cowboys (26-5, 19-3 Southland) boast one of the best records in the nation, taking the second seed in the conference tournament as they got a bye to the semifinals. Larry Johnson leads the team with 17.2 points per game and is coming off a 25-point outing at Nicholls last Monday in the regular season finale to help lift the Cowboys to a 75-65 win. Tyshawn Archie, who is averaging 14.3 points, joined Johnson on the All-Southland Conference first team. Johnson was named the league’s Freshman of the Year and finished second in the voting for Player of the Year. Garwey Dual was named to the SLC All-Defensive team.
UTRGV vs McNeese Head-to-Head
The two programs have had 11 meetings in their history, and the result is 9-2 for the Cowboys. The last matchup was in February this year when McNeese won 75-68 at home.
UTRGV vs McNeese Predictions
Even though McNeese won the previous encounter, it’s probable that UTRGV can pull off the upset in this round. The Cowboys aspire to get back to the NCAA Tournament and make noise once again as one of the Southland contenders. The Vaqueros boast decent form after winning in the quarterfinals, hoping to get to the conference championship game. Our betting pick here is the Cowboys to cover a 7.5-point spread.
- Free NCAAB pick: McNeese Cowboys -7.5
NCAAB
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