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Stephen F. Austin heads to Beaumont to face Lamar on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET at the Montagne Center. It’s a Southland Conference game on ESPN+. SFA comes in 16-3 and has traveled well at 7-3 on the road, while Lamar is 10-9 and has been decent at home at 5-4.
SFA is a short road favorite at -3.5 with the total sitting at 134.5. That’s a low total for two teams that can score into the 70s, which tells you the market expects a more controlled game and probably a grindy second half. The side is the bigger decision here: you’re basically betting whether SFA’s edge in talent and depth holds up in a road conference spot where Lamar can make things uncomfortable.
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Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs Lamar Cardinals Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers and shop for the best number on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks | -175 | -3.5 (-113) | O 134.5 |
| Lamar Cardinals | +145 | +3.5 (-108) | U 134.5 |
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Betting Form
SFA is in good form and just beat Nicholls by 17, and it wasn’t a “one guy went nuts” type of win. Keon Thompson scoring 20 in only 19 minutes tells you the scoring punch is real, and Chrishawn Christmas pulling down 14 boards shows the physical side is there too. That combination is why SFA is favored in a tricky road spot. They can create separation without needing a perfect shooting night.
On the season, they average 78.1 points per game, they rebound at a high level with 40.2 boards per game, and they make 9.2 threes per game. Rebounding plus three-point volume is a nice travel profile, especially laying a short number. It gives SFA multiple ways to win possessions: second chances, kick-out threes, and enough athleticism to create points off chaos. If you want to track SFA’s recent results and how they’ve been performing away from home, the Stephen F. Austin stats and results hub is a helpful reference.
The one thing I’m watching is shot selection. When SFA is good, the threes are in rhythm. When they’re not, the offense can get a little quick, and that’s when a short road favorite can start sweating late.
Lamar Cardinals Betting Form
Lamar just lost to New Orleans, but Braden East’s 26 points and 11 boards shows the Cardinals have a go-to option that can keep them competitive. Lamar isn’t explosive, but they can score enough, and at home they usually look more comfortable. Their 5-4 home record isn’t dominant, but it’s enough to respect the spot.
Offensively, Lamar averages 71.7 points per game, and their best path here is to make this a physical game, get to the line, and force SFA to win in the half court. Defensively, the 7.8 steals per game is important because it’s Lamar’s way to create easy points. If Lamar can turn this into a game with extra possessions and live-ball turnovers, it can flip the script and make +3.5 feel valuable.
The concern is that if Lamar isn’t generating turnovers, it can get stuck trading tough twos while SFA is getting threes and second-chance points. That’s how an underdog loses a winnable home game without it ever feeling dramatic.
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs Lamar Cardinals Matchup Breakdown
This is the kind of game where the possession battle decides everything. SFA has the rebounding edge, and that’s usually the most stable advantage you can have in a road spot. If SFA is getting second chances, Lamar’s defense has to guard longer and the foul risk increases. On the other side, Lamar’s way to counter is turnovers. If Lamar is taking the ball away, it can get out in transition and avoid grinding through half-court possessions.
The total at 134.5 is interesting. It’s low enough that even a fairly normal 70-64 type game gets you close. The Under path is obvious if Lamar slows the game and SFA is forced into longer possessions. The Over path is also real if Lamar’s steals lead to runouts or if SFA’s threes are falling early. In these low totals, late-game fouling can swing everything quickly if the game stays within a possession. The sports betting strategy guide is useful for thinking through that game-state impact, especially when the number is this tight.
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs Lamar Cardinals Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Stephen F. Austin -3.5. I trust the rebounding edge and the depth, and I think SFA has more ways to win possessions than Lamar does. It’s not a layup because it’s a road conference game, but the price is still reasonable. If SFA plays a clean game and limits live-ball turnovers, it should cover.
On the total, I lean Under 134.5. This number is low, but the matchup points toward a slower, more physical game where Lamar tries to shorten it and SFA is fine winning with defense and rebounding. If Lamar’s offense stalls for even one stretch, the Under becomes the safer side.
Best Bet: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks -3.5 (-113).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Southland games are often where bettors can find value because the market has to balance travel, pace, and variance-heavy stuff like turnover rates. The edge usually comes from comparing matchups and prices across the slate rather than treating one game in isolation.
ScoresAndStats makes that easier with today’s college basketball picks. And if you’re tracking multiple teams and want a clean hub for schedules, records, and game results while you shop numbers, the NCAAB teams page keeps everything organized.
