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Gardner-Webb heads to Farmville for a Big South conference matchup with Longwood on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET at the Joan Perry Brock Center. The game is on ESPN+. This one sets up as a classic mismatch spot: Gardner-Webb has been buried in conference play and is coming off a 92-55 loss to Presbyterian, while Longwood is back home trying to clean up the details after an 85-83 loss to Radford.
Longwood is laying a big number at -14.5, with a total of 154.5. That tells you the market expects Longwood to score and expects Gardner-Webb to contribute at least a little. I’m not sure the second part is a safe assumption.
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Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs vs Longwood Lancers Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor movement and shop for the best number on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs | +687 | +14.5 (-109) | O 154.5 (-110) |
| Longwood Lancers | -1100 | -14.5 (-111) | U 154.5 (-110) |
Grand Canyon Antelopes
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San Diego St Aztecs
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Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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+1.00 -106
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-1.00 -106
o+143.50-108
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u+143.50-108
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USC Trojans
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Northwestern Wildcats
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Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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o+154.00-108
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u+154.00-108
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Saint Mary’s Gaels
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Oregon St Beavers
Open
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Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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-17.50 -106
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+17.50 -106
o+142.00-108
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u+142.00-108
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Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs Betting Form
Gardner-Webb is playing fast enough to get into trouble, and that’s the problem. The Bulldogs sit around the middle of the country in tempo, but the offensive efficiency has been rough, especially against Big South competition. When you’re not shooting well and you’re also turning it over, pace stops being your friend. It just gives the opponent more possessions to separate.
The Presbyterian game is the clearest example. Gardner-Webb never looked comfortable creating clean looks, and once the score got away, the shot quality got worse. There are individual pieces I can squint and see, like Jacob Hogarth’s efficiency and the idea that DJ Jefferson or Colin Hawkins can pop for a decent night, but asking that to happen on the road while also staying connected defensively is a lot. If Gardner-Webb is going to cover +14.5, it probably needs to slow the game down more than it usually does and turn this into a half-court grind. I’m not convinced they can dictate that.
Longwood Lancers Betting Form
Longwood’s profile makes sense for a favorite at home. The Lancers score enough to create margin, they get to the line a ton, and they hit free throws at a solid clip. That last part matters in these bigger spreads because it turns late-game fouling into points instead of empty trips. Longwood is also comfortable playing with physicality, which can bother a short-handed or fragile underdog early.
The Radford loss was frustrating, but it also showed what Longwood can be when it’s playing with energy. Elijah Tucker’s 17 points and 16 rebounds is the kind of interior dominance that usually wins this matchup, and if Longwood is getting second-chance points and living at the stripe, Gardner-Webb is going to have a hard time keeping pace. The one thing I keep circling is the total. Longwood can score, yes, but they’re not a pure three-point bombing team. A lot of their points come from paint touches and free throws, and that can create long stretches where the game feels slower than the possession count suggests.
Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs vs Longwood Lancers Matchup Breakdown
The matchup edge is pretty direct: Longwood’s physicality and rebounding versus Gardner-Webb’s ability to simply survive possessions. If Longwood wins the glass and avoids live-ball turnovers, it should generate more shots, more free throws, and eventually a runaway.
Tempo is interesting here because Gardner-Webb’s pace number looks like it could pull the game toward an Over, but game state matters more. If Longwood gets up 18 to 22 points, the second half often turns into longer possessions, deeper bench minutes, and fewer “clean” transition chances. That’s how big favorites cover while the total still lands short. It’s not always intuitive.
If you want a practical way to think about blowout scripts and how they affect totals and spreads, the sports betting strategy guide helps frame it around possession quality and end-game incentives rather than just raw pace.
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Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs vs Longwood Lancers Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Longwood -14.5, but I’m not treating it like a slam dunk. Big spreads in low-major conference play can get weird because the favorite can lose focus, or the underdog hits a few late threes against backups and steals the cover. That’s always in play.
Still, the matchup points to Longwood creating separation through second chances and free throws. Gardner-Webb’s offense has not shown it can consistently generate good shots against competent defenses, and when they fall behind, they tend to speed up in the worst way. Quick shots, bad spacing, and suddenly the favorite is running. That’s how you end up with another 15-point gap before you can blink.
For the total, I lean Under 154.5. Gardner-Webb’s offense is the risk point. If they don’t contribute, the Over needs Longwood to do a lot of heavy lifting. And if Longwood is comfortably ahead, the late-game pace tends to cool off. The only real Over path I see is Gardner-Webb scoring into the 70s, and I just don’t like betting on that right now.
Best Bet: Under 154.5 (-110).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Small-conference college hoops is where process matters. These are the games where the market can be slower to adjust, rotations shift quietly, and one matchup edge can matter more than a team’s season-long averages. If you’re betting Big South games, you want volume and context, not just one-off opinions.
You can track today’s college basketball picks to compare sides and totals across the slate, then narrow your card to the spots where the number actually feels off. If you’re bouncing between matchups and want a quick way to keep teams organized, the NCAAB teams page is a solid hub for staying on top of schedules and results while you’re building bets.
