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South Dakota State vs Omaha Picks and Predictions – Wednesday January 28, 2026
South Dakota State heads to Omaha for a Summit League matchup on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET. It’s at Baxter Arena, and this one is priced like a true toss-up with the Jackrabbits laying a short number on the road.
South Dakota State is 10-11 overall with a 3-7 road mark, while Omaha sits 10-12 and 6-6 at home. The spread is basically saying South Dakota State is slightly better on a neutral, but you’re paying for it at Baxter. That’s where the handicap lives: can the Jackrabbits control tempo and shot quality enough to justify road chalk, or does Omaha’s comfort at home push this into a late-possession game?
The total at 148.5 is also interesting because both teams can score, but neither profiles as a pure track meet. If this turns into a half-court execution game with long possessions, the under starts to make sense fast.
South Dakota State vs Omaha Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep tracking the latest college basketball odds leading up to tip in case the spread or total ticks off key numbers.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State | -135 | -2.0 (-110) | O/U 148.5 (-110) |
| Omaha | +110 | +2.0 (-110) | O/U 148.5 (-110) |
South Dakota State Betting Form
South Dakota State is coming off a 74-69 loss to St. Thomas where they got a big scoring night from Joe Sayler, but still came up short. That kind of result fits their season: capable offense, decent efficiency, but not always clean enough in the details to separate. At 46.6% from the field, they can generate quality looks, and they are not reliant on one style to score.
The road record is the concern. A 3-7 mark away from home usually shows up in two places: turnovers that turn into runouts, and stretches where the offense settles for quick, contested shots because the crowd and pace change the feel of the game. If South Dakota State plays patient, they can win this. If they get sped up and start trading rushed possessions, it becomes coin-flippy in a hurry.
From a betting angle, the Jackrabbits are the side you want when you trust their half-court shot creation and their ability to avoid giving away possessions. For recent trends and splits, start with South Dakota State stats and results.
Omaha Betting Form
Omaha comes in off a convincing 77-60 win over Kansas City, and that’s the kind of performance that keeps you from blindly laying road points against them. The Mavericks can score efficiently, and their shooting profile suggests they do not need a fluky night to land in the mid-to-high 70s. When they are getting clean looks and finishing possessions, they’re tough to separate from.
The home record is basically neutral at 6-6, but Baxter Arena is still a meaningful edge in a short-line game. Omaha doesn’t need to dominate to cash as a home dog. They just need to keep this within one possession late, and that’s very realistic if they protect the ball and don’t allow a second-chance avalanche.
The other angle is balance. Omaha can find points without forcing everything through one scorer, which matters late when defenses tighten and you have to manufacture a bucket. For game logs and performance splits, check Omaha schedule and stats.
South Dakota State vs Omaha Matchup Breakdown
This sets up as a tempo and possession-control game. The total suggests a decent scoring environment, but not a pure sprint. If both teams sit around the mid-60s in possessions, the margin becomes about who wins the efficiency battle: shot quality, turnovers, and free throws.
Shot profile matters here because both teams can score, but the cleanest looks are going to decide whether 148.5 is too high or too low. If Omaha is getting comfortable catch-and-shoot attempts and South Dakota State is forced into late-clock shots, the Mavericks are live to win outright. If South Dakota State can consistently get paint touches and then kick to good shooters, their offense will look steadier and the -2 is easier to justify.
The hidden swing is late-game variance. In a tight Summit game, you often get extended fouling and free throws, which can push a total over even if the pace is modest. On the flip side, a couple of empty trips, one-minute scoring droughts, and suddenly you’re sweating the over with plenty of time left. If you like thinking in terms of possession math, foul rate, and end-game outcomes, the Expert Betting Guide is a useful reference point.
South Dakota State vs Omaha Predictions and Best Bets
I lean South Dakota State -2, but it’s not a blind “better team” bet. The handicap is that the Jackrabbits should be the more stable offense when they play their game, and the market is giving you a cheap number that doesn’t require dominance. They just need to win, basically.
The risk is the road profile. If South Dakota State gets loose with the ball or loses the rebounding battle, Omaha can turn this into a one-score grinder where every possession is pressure. That’s where the home dog starts to look attractive, because +2 in that script is valuable.
On the total, I’m more interested in the under 148.5. The pace expectation is not extreme, and both teams can get pulled into long half-court possessions when the game is tight and physical. You can still land in the mid-140s even if both offenses are “fine,” especially if the three-point shooting is average and there aren’t a ton of transition runouts.
Best Bet: Under 148.5
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Before you lock anything in, it’s worth comparing your position with the broader board and timing your entry through the daily college basketball picks, especially for short spreads like this where late money can flip the value.
If you’re tracking who’s actually beating the market, use the best handicappers page for long-term performance, then check the leaderboard to see who’s producing right now. For bettors looking to build a card with premium plays, Buy Picks is the direct option.
For more matchup coverage, the NCAAB previews hub helps you scan the slate, and the college basketball teams hub is useful for comparing profiles and splits. Broader betting angles and situational reads show up on the ScoresAndStats blog, while the handicappers sites reviews and sportsbook reviews help you evaluate where you’re getting your information and where you’re placing your bets.
