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Howard heads to Durham to face North Carolina Central on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at 4:30 PM ET at McDougald-McLendon Arena. This MEAC matchup will be available on ESPN+. Howard enters 10-8 on the season and has been up and down away from home (4-6), while North Carolina Central is 7-11 overall but has played its best basketball in this building (5-2).
Howard is a small road favorite at -2.5 with the total at 139.5. That’s a pretty interesting setup because NCCU’s home results suggest they’re not an easy out, and Howard’s profile leans on pressure defense and free throws, two things that travel better than pure shooting. If this turns into a half-court game with long empty possessions, +2.5 for the home dog starts to look live.
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Howard Bison vs North Carolina Central Eagles Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated college basketball odds. Check the latest college basketball odds before tipoff in case this number moves.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Bison | -140 | -2.5 (-110) | O 139.5 (-110) |
| North Carolina Central Eagles | +118 | +2.5 (-110) | U 139.5 (-110) |
Howard Bison Betting Form
Howard just steamrolled Delaware State 84-58, and it looked like a team that can bury opponents when the pressure defense is turning into easy points. Travelle Bryson and Ose Okojie were efficient, and the bigger takeaway is that Howard didn’t need a perfect shooting night to separate. They created disruption, won possessions, and piled up points at the line.
That’s basically the handicap here. Howard averages 9.3 steals per game and gets to free throws consistently, and that combination matters in a road conference spot where half-court execution can get shaky. They score 73.1 points per game, but the more important part is how they score. If they can turn NCCU over a few extra times and keep the foul count tilted, laying -2.5 is reasonable even if the shot-making is just average.
If you want a broader look at how they’ve performed across the season, Howard stats and results can help frame the splits.
North Carolina Central Eagles Betting Form
North Carolina Central has been playing better lately, highlighted by an 89-78 win over Morgan State and a three-game win streak that includes a tight one against Norfolk State. Khouri Carvey and Gage Lattimore are driving the offense right now, and for NCCU that matters because they’re at their best when the scoring is coming from multiple spots, not just one creator trying to survive late-clock possessions.
The home record (5-2) is the biggest argument for taking the points. McDougald-McLendon Arena has been a real edge for them, and they’ve shown they can score enough to punish teams that get sloppy. They average 73.9 points per game and shoot free throws well enough to hang around late if it’s close. The problem is that Howard’s pressure can take you out of your comfort zones, and NCCU has to be clean with the ball to keep this from turning into a run-out game.
Howard Bison vs North Carolina Central Eagles Matchup Breakdown
This game is going to come down to possession quality. Howard wants to speed you up with pressure, force rushed decisions, and then make you pay at the line when you’re defending in scramble mode. If Howard is getting steals and live-ball turnovers, the spread becomes less important because the game can swing quickly. That’s also the scenario where the total can creep upward even if the tempo looks slow on paper.
For NCCU, the counter is simple but not easy. Protect the ball, make Howard defend in the half court, and turn this into a shot-making game where home comfort shows up. If NCCU is getting good looks early and keeping Howard out of transition, +2.5 becomes attractive because you’re basically betting on a close finish and a couple home-court plays.
The total at 139.5 is a real decision point. Both teams show slower possession rates in the notes you provided, but pressure defense can create short possessions in both directions. That can look like “slow pace” and still land near the number because the possessions are efficient. The free-throw component matters too. If the whistle is active late, unders get uncomfortable fast.
Howard Bison vs North Carolina Central Eagles Predictions and Best Bets
I lean North Carolina Central +2.5. Howard deserves to be favored, but it’s a short price on the road against a team that has actually been steady at home. If NCCU takes care of the ball even moderately well, this projects as a one or two possession game deep into the second half, and the points matter more than the moneyline in that script.
On the total, I lean Under 139.5, but it’s not a confident under. The slow-possession indicators point that way, and NCCU’s best chance is to keep this controlled and half-court heavy. The hesitation is obvious: Howard’s steals and free throws can inflate scoring without needing a fast-paced game. Still, if you’re backing the home dog, an under often matches that kind of “grind it out and stay connected” game flow.
Best Bet: North Carolina Central +2.5 (-110).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
MEAC games can be profitable when you focus on how teams win possessions, not just raw points per game. Pressure defense, rebounding, and free-throw creation show up in conference play, especially when legs get heavy and half-court execution gets sloppy.
If you’re building a card for the day, today’s college basketball picks is the quickest way to compare multiple plays across the slate. For a wider approach to evaluating matchups, pricing, and what actually matters in these lower-possession games, the sports betting strategy guide is a useful reference when you’re trying to stay consistent week to week.
