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Bears vs Bison Picks and Predictions – Saturday January 24, 2026
Morgan State heads to Washington, D.C. for a MEAC matchup with Howard on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET. The game is at Burr Gymnasium and airs on ESPNU. The market is making a clear statement with the number: Howard is laying 13.5 at home, and books are basically daring bettors to back a Morgan State team that’s been shaky away from home.
Morgan State is 6-13 with a brutal 1-8 road record. Howard is 12-8 and has taken care of business at home (7-2). The total is 144.5, which puts this in a middle range where the game can go under if the favorite controls tempo, but it can also creep over if Howard gets easy points off turnovers.
From a betting perspective, this is about margin more than winner. Howard should win. The question is whether they can win by 14-plus in a conference game, or if the dog has enough offense and free throws to stay inside the number.
Morgan State Bears vs Howard Bison Odds
These are the current lines, and bettors should keep tracking movement and juice changes on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan State Bears | +700 | +13.5 (-115) | 144.5 |
| Howard Bison | -1100 | -13.5 (-105) | 144.5 |
Morgan State Bears Betting Form
Morgan State’s recent 128-point outburst is eye-catching, but for handicapping, the more relevant takeaway is that they can score when they’re comfortable and when the matchup allows it. The issue is translating that to a road game against a conference opponent that can pressure the ball.
The Bears’ road profile is the biggest obstacle to trusting them. A 1-8 away record is not noise, it’s a trend that suggests they’re vulnerable to runs. That’s dangerous against a team like Howard that can turn steals into quick points, which is exactly how favorites cover big spreads.
The argument for Morgan State +13.5 is that they can still score enough to avoid getting buried if they’re not giving away possessions. Free throws matter here too. If Morgan State is getting to the line, the clock stops, points accumulate, and it becomes harder for Howard to build a clean margin without playing a full 40 minutes.
Howard Bison Betting Form
Howard has been steady at home, and that’s why this number is inflated. Burr Gymnasium has been a legit edge for them this season, and it shows in their ability to control stretches, especially defensively. The Bison also do a good job of turning pressure into points, and that’s the easiest way to separate from a weaker opponent.
Offensively, Howard doesn’t need to be explosive to cover. They just need to be efficient and win the possession battle. Their ability to draw fouls is important in a game like this, because it stabilizes scoring if shots aren’t falling. If Howard gets into the bonus early in either half, a 13.5-point margin becomes much more realistic.
The spread risk for Howard backers is simple: big favorites can coast. If Howard gets up 15 to 18 and starts playing clock instead of scoring, that’s where the backdoor opens, especially if Morgan State keeps attacking and earning free throws late.
Morgan State Bears vs Howard Bison Matchup Breakdown
This matchup revolves around turnovers and transition. Howard’s defensive activity and steals are a direct threat to a road underdog, because live-ball turnovers don’t just cost you a possession, they often create easy points on the other end. If Morgan State is careless with the ball, they can lose this by 20 without Howard doing anything special.
If Morgan State is going to cover, they need to slow the game down by taking care of the ball and forcing Howard into half-court possessions. That keeps the scoring more “earned” and reduces the number of high-leverage swings that blow spreads open.
The total at 144.5 ties directly into the spread. A Howard runaway usually pushes the game toward the over because it comes with transition points and free throws. A closer, more controlled game tends to favor the under because the possessions are longer and the scoring is more two-point dependent. If you want a clean framework for thinking through these spread and total relationships, the expert betting guide is a good refresher.
Morgan State Bears vs Howard Bison Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Morgan State +13.5. This is a big number for a conference game, and Howard isn’t priced like a team that’s consistently extending leads to 20. They can win comfortably and still fail to cover if they take their foot off the gas late.
The key for the dog is ball security. If Morgan State keeps turnovers manageable, their ability to score enough and get to the line gives them a real chance to stay inside the number. If they don’t, Howard’s pressure can turn this into a blowout quickly, and the spread won’t be big enough.
On the total, I lean under 144.5. The number is reasonable, but it’s not low. If Howard is controlling the game and not getting a ton of transition runouts, this can land in the high 60s to low 70s for both sides and still stay under.
Best Bet: Morgan State +13.5
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a Saturday card, the college basketball picks page is the fastest way to compare this line to the rest of the slate, and the NCAAB previews hub helps you identify which big spreads are being priced off public perception versus actual matchup edges.
For team-by-team context and conference navigation, the NCAAB teams hub keeps you organized, and the broader betting content in the ScoresAndStats blog is useful when you’re trying to tighten your process for spreads where backdoors are a real risk.
If you prefer following proven performance, check the best handicappers and the handicapper leaderboard to see who’s consistently beating the market. When you want premium packages, you can access them through buy picks, and for extra diligence on services and sportsbooks, the handicappers sites reviews and sportsbook reviews pages are useful checkpoints.
