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Holy Cross heads to Alumni Hall in Annapolis to face Navy on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET, with ESPN+ streaming this Patriot League matchup. Navy is laying a big number at home, and it makes sense on paper: the Midshipmen are 9-2 in this building, while Holy Cross has struggled away from Worcester at 2-8.
The handicap is whether Navy can create enough separation in what profiles as a slower, lower-possession game. Holy Cross does not have to be great to hang inside +9.5. They just need to defend without fouling and avoid long scoring droughts. Navy, on the other hand, is priced like the more stable team. Now they have to prove it over 40 minutes.
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Holy Cross Crusaders vs Navy Midshipmen Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Cross Crusaders | +331 | +9.5 (-110) | O 127.5 |
| Navy Midshipmen | -437 | -9.5 (-110) | U 127.5 |
Grand Canyon Antelopes
vs
San Diego St Aztecs
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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+1.00 -106
Spread
-1.00 -106
o+143.50-108
Total
u+143.50-108
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USC Trojans
vs
Northwestern Wildcats
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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Spread
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o+154.00-108
Total
u+154.00-108
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Saint Mary’s Gaels
vs
Oregon St Beavers
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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-17.50 -106
Spread
+17.50 -106
o+142.00-108
Total
u+142.00-108
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Holy Cross Crusaders Betting Form
Holy Cross is not coming in hot off that 74-55 loss to Lafayette, but the scoring pieces are at least defined. Tyler Boston and Joe Nugent can carry stretches, and when they’re making shots, Holy Cross looks more functional than the overall record suggests. I think that’s the key with them. Their offense can be fine for pockets, then disappear for five minutes, and that is where spreads get blown open.
Road form is the obvious red flag, but it’s also baked into the number. Holy Cross does not need to win to cash this ticket. If they can keep the game in the half court and avoid gifting Navy transition points, +9.5 is live. Their upset win at American shows the ceiling is not zero. It’s just not consistent enough that you want to rely on it for a moneyline play very often.
Availability still matters in a matchup like this, especially for a team that needs scoring from specific names to keep up. Monitor the Holy Cross Crusaders injury report before tipoff because if one of the primary scorers is limited, the cover path gets thinner quickly.
Navy Midshipmen Betting Form
Navy has been a very different team at home. A 9-2 record in Alumni Hall usually means the floor is solid, even if the offense is not always pretty. The recent 82-79 win over Lehigh is a good snapshot of how Navy wins games. They rebound, they play through their top guys, and they can score late if it turns into a possession-by-possession finish.
Austin Benigni’s scoring pop matters because it changes how you view Navy as a favorite. If Navy can score without having to grind every possession to dust, they can actually cover numbers like this. Aidan Kehoe’s rebounding is also a separator, because it limits second chances and gives Navy extra possessions, which is often how favorites gradually pull away.
I also like Navy’s free throw profile in spread games. If they’re up 7 to 11 late, they’re capable of closing at the line, which is exactly how -9.5 gets there. Still, any rotation limitation can change the way they defend and rebound, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the Navy Midshipmen injury report as tip approaches.
Holy Cross Crusaders vs Navy Midshipmen Matchup Breakdown
The total at 127.5 tells you what kind of game the market expects. This is not a track meet. That matters because big spreads are harder to cover when possessions are limited. Navy can be the better team, control most of the game, and still win by eight.
The matchup pressure points are pretty clear. Navy wants to win the rebounding battle and keep Holy Cross out of transition. Holy Cross wants to hit enough shots early to make Navy feel the game, because if Navy is comfortable, they can shrink the clock, defend, and turn this into a slow bleed.
Late-game mechanics matter for both the side and the total. If Navy is up double digits late, the under can cash cleanly because Holy Cross may not extend the game. If it’s a two-possession game late, the foul cycle becomes the risk to the under and the path to Navy covering.
If you’re trying to keep a consistent approach to games like this, the framework in the sports betting strategy guide is still useful: understand possessions, identify where volatility comes from, and decide whether the price is paying you enough to take that volatility.
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Holy Cross Crusaders vs Navy Midshipmen Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Holy Cross +9.5. I don’t feel great about backing a 2-8 road team, but I also don’t love laying 9.5 in a game with a 127.5 total. That combination usually favors the underdog unless the favorite has a major mismatch or the dog is totally nonfunctional offensively. Holy Cross is inconsistent, but they’re not empty.
The argument for Navy is straightforward and real: they’re strong at home, they rebound, and they can close at the line. If Holy Cross has one of those extended droughts, Navy can create separation without doing anything fancy. That’s the biggest risk on the dog, and it’s why I’d rather take the points than chase the Holy Cross moneyline.
On the total, I lean under 127.5. The pace and the conference style point that way, and the number is low for a reason. The main thing that beats an under here is a tight game with a lot of late free throws, but I still think the cleaner angle is betting on a slower, more physical 40 minutes.
Best Bet: Holy Cross Crusaders +9.5 (-110).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
College basketball is a daily grind, and the edge usually comes from being selective. You don’t need action on every game. You need the right prices on the games where the matchup actually matters to the market number.
If you’re building a slate for Wednesday, start with today’s college basketball picks and compare how different games are being attacked across sides and totals. For a broader snapshot of how teams are trending across the country, the NCAAB teams hub helps when you’re trying to sanity-check form and avoid overreacting to one result.
