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Peacocks vs College Warriors Picks and Predictions – Saturday January 24, 2026
Saint Peter’s heads to North Andover for a MAAC road spot against Merrimack on Saturday, January 24, 2026, with the game played at Lawler Arena and streamed on ESPN+. This is a tight market matchup: Merrimack is a small home favorite, and the number basically tells you the books expect a one or two possession game late.
Saint Peter’s brings an 11-6 record but a shakier 2-5 road mark, and that matters here because Merrimack has been steady at home (7-1). The total is 135.5, which fits what this matchup usually turns into: half-court possessions, physical trips, and a lot of value decided by turnovers and free throws.
If you’re betting it, you’re picking a side in the “pressure vs execution” argument. Saint Peter’s wants to speed your decisions up. Merrimack wants to keep the game organized, win the possession battle, and let the home floor do some work.
Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs Merrimack College Warriors Odds
These are the current lines, and bettors should keep an eye on any late steam or juice changes on the updated college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Peter’s Peacocks | +122 | +2.5 (-109) | 135.5 |
| Merrimack College Warriors | -154 | -2.5 (-117) | 135.5 |
Saint Peter’s Peacocks Betting Form
Saint Peter’s comes in off a solid win over Iona, and it’s the kind of game that matches their best identity: balanced scoring, aggressive defense, and enough rebounding to keep possessions alive. When the Peacocks are right, they’re not relying on one shot type. They’re creating extra chances with activity, then living at the line late.
The betting case for Saint Peter’s is pretty clean at +2.5. Their defensive pressure is real, and the steals number points to disruption that can flip a short spread quickly. If they can force Merrimack into live-ball turnovers and get a few easy runouts, that’s how an underdog steals margin without needing to shoot the lights out.
The concern is location. A 2-5 road record is a yellow flag in a game priced close to pick’em. If Saint Peter’s has an empty four-minute stretch where the offense stalls and the fouls pile up, you can lose the cover without the game ever feeling out of reach.
Merrimack College Warriors Betting Form
Merrimack is at its best when the game is played on its terms: controlled possessions, physical defense, and making you finish through contact. Even coming off a close loss to Iona, the key takeaway is that the Warriors can generate enough offense to stay in every possession battle game, especially at home.
The 7-1 home record matters because this team has been comfortable creating separation through defense and effort plays. They don’t need to run you off the floor to cover -2.5. They just need to win the final six minutes: get stops, rebound, and keep the ball out of risky spots.
As a short favorite, Merrimack’s angle is late-game stability. Their free throw shooting gives them a real path to closing the door, and their rim protection can punish Saint Peter’s if the Peacocks get impatient and start forcing drives into traffic.
Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs Merrimack College Warriors Matchup Breakdown
This game usually starts with tempo tension. Saint Peter’s wants to turn it into a decision-making test: can Merrimack handle ball pressure, avoid casual passes, and still execute in the half-court? Merrimack wants the opposite: limit transition, make Saint Peter’s score over a set defense, and keep the possession count from drifting too high.
The possession battle is everything here. Saint Peter’s creates value with steals and offensive rebounds, but those edges can disappear if they commit fouls and give Merrimack free points at the stripe. On the other side, Merrimack’s shot-blocking can tilt the quality of Saint Peter’s looks. If the Peacocks can’t finish at the rim, they’ll need to manufacture points with free throws and second chances.
The total is where bettors have to be careful. 135.5 is not high if either team is getting clean transition looks, but it can still land under if this becomes a grind with long possessions and a lot of empty trips. The end-game matters too: in a one-possession game, fouling can add 10-14 points quickly, but only if both teams convert at the line and the clock keeps stopping. If you want a quick reset on how pace, late fouling, and close-game variance show up in totals, the expert betting guide is a good baseline.
Saint Peter’s Peacocks vs Merrimack College Warriors Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Saint Peter’s +2.5. In a game lined this tight, I’d rather take the points with the team that can create margin through defensive events. Saint Peter’s doesn’t need a clean offensive night to stay inside this number if the pressure forces a few extra possessions and they cash in at the line.
The moneyline is playable if you’re taking a stronger stance, but +2.5 is the cleaner bet because it covers you in the most likely home-favorite result: Merrimack wins late, but not by margin. A 68-66 type finish is exactly where the dog spread has value.
For the total, I lean under 135.5. The matchup points to slower possessions and tough shot quality, and the number isn’t giving you a big cushion. The only way I get nervous about the under is if Saint Peter’s pressure turns into repeated transition points, because that can break a low total fast.
Best Bet: Saint Peter’s +2.5
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a Saturday card, it helps to compare your numbers against the market and the consensus across the slate on the college basketball picks page. From there, the NCAAB previews hub is the quickest way to stay organized when you’re tracking multiple conferences.
For team-wide context and scheduling spots, the NCAAB teams hub pairs well with the broader reads and betting angles you’ll find on the ScoresAndStats blog, especially when you’re looking for repeatable signals instead of one-game narratives.
If you want to follow proven performance, start with the best handicappers and check who’s consistently beating the market on the handicapper leaderboard. When you’re ready for premium plays, you can access packages through buy picks, and if you’re comparing options, the handicappers sites reviews and sportsbook reviews pages help frame the decision.
