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Leopards vs Bison Picks and Predictions – Wednesday January 14, 2026
Lafayette heads to Lewisburg for a Patriot League game against Bucknell on Wednesday night at Sojka Pavilion, with tip set for 7:30 PM ET on ESPN+. Both teams are trying to stabilize seasons that have been choppy, with the Leopards sitting at 4-13 and the Bison at 5-12.
Bucknell is priced as the home favorite, laying 4.5 with a -200 moneyline. Lafayette is catching +4.5 and a +155 moneyline, with the total set at 139.5. The number makes sense for two teams that have lived in the half court, but there’s still a path to value if the market is overrating Bucknell’s ability to separate.
Lafayette Leopards vs Bucknell Bison Odds
These are the current betting lines, and you’ll want to keep an eye on the latest college basketball odds in case the spread or total moves closer to tip.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | +155 | +4.5 (-115) | 139.5 |
| Bucknell | -200 | -4.5 (-110) | 139.5 |
Lafayette Leopards Betting Form
Lafayette comes in off a rough night at Navy, getting held down in a 76-50 loss. That kind of performance is why the Leopards are priced as an underdog here, because when their perimeter looks aren’t falling, their margin for error disappears fast and they can’t consistently manufacture easy points.
But the ceiling is still there. The 79-point showing against Loyola Maryland is the version of Lafayette that can cover numbers and threaten outright. Shareef Jackson’s efficient scoring pop in that one mattered, and Caleb Williams gives them a real stabilizer as a creator when games tighten late. If Lafayette is playing with pace in the first eight seconds of the shot clock instead of walking it up every trip, the offense looks completely different.
For a quick snapshot of splits and game logs, start with Lafayette stats and results.
Bucknell Bison Betting Form
Bucknell is coming off a tight 70-67 win over Loyola Maryland, and that game fit their profile. They can play composed basketball, get to the line, and close possessions well enough to win late. The problem is separation. When Bucknell is not forcing turnovers or creating extra free throws, they can get stuck in a low-possession grind where every empty trip matters.
At home, the Bison have been more stable, and being favored has generally been a workable role for them. Their free-throw shooting is a real late-game asset in a spread range like 4 to 6, because it keeps them live to cover in a one-possession game that turns into foul-and-free-throw basketball.
If you want the full team page view, you can dig into Bucknell schedule and stats.
Lafayette Leopards vs Bucknell Bison Matchup Breakdown
This sets up as a tempo decision game. Lafayette would prefer to find early threes and avoid grinding through 25 seconds of half-court execution. Bucknell is comfortable keeping it structured, defending without fouling too often, and turning the game into a sequence of tough mid-range decisions. If Bucknell controls pace, the total immediately starts leaning under.
Shot profile matters more than raw points per game here. Lafayette’s ability to hit threes at a respectable clip gives them the cleanest route to hanging around, especially if Bucknell’s offense has one of those stretches where it goes cold and relies on free throws to survive. If Lafayette is generating catch-and-shoot looks rather than late-clock pull-ups, the +4.5 becomes very playable.
You’re also dealing with an indoor environment at Sojka Pavilion, so no weather variables, no wind, no shooting volatility from external factors. That usually makes me more comfortable backing the underdog if I think their shot quality can travel, because you’re not introducing randomness that favors the home team’s routines.
If you want a quick refresher on how to evaluate sides and totals when pace and shot quality are driving the handicap, the expert betting guide is a solid primer to keep your process consistent.
Lafayette Leopards vs Bucknell Bison Predictions and Best Bets
My main lean is Lafayette +4.5. Bucknell being favored makes sense, but the number is asking them to win with margin, and they have not been a reliable offense in that role. If this turns into a one-possession game in the final four minutes, the points matter a lot, and Lafayette’s three-point leverage gives them more ways to stay attached.
On the moneyline, Lafayette +155 is interesting but I’d rather take the points unless you have strong confidence in their shooting showing up. The matchup gives them a path, but they still have to avoid the scoring droughts that have been too common, and Bucknell’s ability to close with free throws is real.
The total at 139.5 leans under for me. Both teams profile as lower-efficiency offenses, and Bucknell’s preferred style reduces possessions. The under becomes even stronger if Lafayette isn’t forcing tempo early, because then you’re looking at a game that can feel like it’s crawling by the second media timeout.
Best Bet: Lafayette +4.5
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a card for Wednesday, the college basketball picks page is the fastest way to compare leans across the board without bouncing between sportsbooks and box scores. For daily preview-style writeups, the NCAAB previews hub keeps everything in one place.
For a bigger-picture workflow, the best handicappers page and the handicapper leaderboard help you track who’s actually beating the market, not just who’s loud. And if you’re looking to scale up volume during conference play, buy picks is built for bettors who want a tighter, higher-signal slate.
You can also browse matchups and team pages quickly through the NCAAB teams hub, keep up with broader betting angles on the ScoresAndStats blog, and compare books through the sportsbook reviews. If you’re evaluating services and track records beyond a single site, the handicappers sites reviews page is worth bookmarking.
