UTEP Miners vs Missouri State Bears Picks and Predictions January 24th 2026

Missouri State heads to El Paso to face UTEP on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET at the Don Haskins Center. It’s a Conference USA matchup on ESPN+. Missouri State is 11-8 overall but has struggled away from home at 2-6. UTEP is 7-12, yet it’s been more competitive in this building with a 6-4 home record, which is why the line is tight despite Missouri State being favored.

Missouri State is -1.5 with the total at 140.5. This number is basically saying “pick the team you trust late.” The spread is small, and with both teams playing at a slower tempo, each empty possession matters more than usual.

Missouri State Bears vs UTEP Miners 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
Missouri State Bears	-124	-1.5 (-109)	O 140.5
UTEP Miners	-101	+1.5 (-114)	U 140.5

Missouri State Bears Betting Form

Missouri State is coming off an 84-75 win over New Mexico State, and it was the type of game that shows why they’re favored here. Keith Palek III with 26 and Michael Osei-Bonsu with 21 gives them real shot-making and finishing, and Missouri State doesn’t need to play fast to score. They’re efficient inside, with a 54.8% two-point rate, which is usually the best trait to have in a short-spread road game because it travels better than three-point variance.

The free-throw angle matters too. Missouri State makes 16.9 free throws per game and attempts 24.8, which is a lot of line pressure. In a game lined -1.5, you want the team that can score when the offense stalls. Getting to the stripe is often the cleanest way to do it, especially late.

The obvious concern is the 2-6 road record. That’s not noise. It’s telling you Missouri State can look less comfortable away from home, and if the offense gets a little flat early, this can become a grind where every possession feels heavy. If you want to track how Missouri State has performed in recent games and how the road results line up, the Missouri State stats and results hub is a useful reference.

UTEP Miners Betting Form

UTEP is coming off an 83-77 home win over FIU, and the efficiency was the best sign. Jamal West Jr. scoring 28 on 78.6% shooting is a reminder that UTEP can have a “best player on the floor” type of night. Elijah Jones also finishing at an elite clip in that game matters because UTEP’s offense is usually more about finding a few good looks rather than generating constant pressure.

UTEP’s 6-4 home record is the reason they’re live here, especially against a road-struggling favorite. The Don Haskins Center has a way of turning these games into fights. UTEP tends to defend with more energy at home, and when they’re making shots early, they can control the vibe of the game. That’s important because Missouri State wants to play its clean, efficient style. UTEP wants to make it uncomfortable.

The question for UTEP backers is whether they can keep the offense steady for 40 minutes. They’ve had stretches this season where scoring dries up, and against a team that can get to the line, that’s where games swing.

Missouri State Bears vs UTEP Miners Matchup Breakdown

This looks like a half-court game. Both teams sit around the same slow tempo, so you’re not expecting a ton of possessions. That usually increases variance on the side, because a few made threes or a couple of bad turnovers can decide it, and it also makes totals more sensitive to foul rate and free throws.

Missouri State’s edge is inside efficiency and free-throw creation. If they’re getting to the line and finishing at the rim, they’ll score enough even if the pace is slow. UTEP’s edge is home energy plus the ability to get a big scoring night from Jamal West Jr. If he’s getting downhill and UTEP is converting at the rim, Missouri State’s road issues matter more.

For the total, 140.5 feels fair, but the Under has a clean path if the game stays physical and both teams are forced into longer possessions. The main Over risk is late-game fouling in a one-possession game. Slow games can still fly Over at the end if both teams are living at the stripe. The sports betting strategy guide is a good framework for thinking about how foul rate and game state can swing totals, especially in slower matchups.

Open

Jan 27, 2026 21:00 EST

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Score

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Spread

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o+157.50-115

Total

u+157.50-105

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2 Picks Available

Open

Jan 27, 2026 21:00 EST

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Score

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Spread

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o+151.50-110

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u+151.50-110

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2 Picks Available

Open

Jan 27, 2026 21:00 EST

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Score

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+3.50 -110

Spread

-3.50 -110

o+143.50-110

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u+143.50-110

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2 Picks Available

Missouri State Bears vs UTEP Miners Predictions and Best Bets

My lean is UTEP +1.5. I don’t love fading Missouri State’s efficiency profile, but the road record is a real problem, and UTEP has been a different team at home. In a near pick’em, I’d rather take the points with the home side, especially when there’s a plausible late-game script where UTEP is the one getting the bigger crowd boost in the final four minutes.

On the total, I lean Under 140.5. With both teams playing slow, you’re asking for a fairly efficient game to get into the mid-140s. That can happen, but the more common script here is long possessions and a couple of cold stretches from each side.

Best Bet: Under 140.5 (-113).

NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats

Conference games with short spreads are often decided by small edges: free throws, turnover stretches, and who handles the last four minutes better. That’s why it helps to compare multiple games across the slate rather than forcing action on one matchup.

ScoresAndStats makes that easier with today’s college basketball picks. And if you’re tracking a bunch of games and want a clean hub for schedules and team context while you shop numbers, the NCAAB teams page keeps everything organized.