NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Colonels vs Royals Picks and Predictions – Thursday January 1, 2026
Eastern Kentucky heads to Charlotte for an Atlantic Sun conference matchup against Queens on Thursday, January 1, with tip set for 7:00 PM ET at Curry Arena. ESPN+ has the stream, and the market is treating this like a competitive, offense-forward game with Queens laying a modest number at home.
Queens is 5-1 at Curry Arena, while Eastern Kentucky has been less comfortable away from home at 2-5. Both teams are coming off ugly losses, which matters for pace and shot selection early. If one side settles in quicker, this spread can flip from tight to uncomfortable in a hurry.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs Queens (NC) Royals Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should monitor the latest college basketball odds as tip approaches.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kentucky Colonels | +167 | +4.5 (-108) | 167.5 (-110) |
| Queens (NC) Royals | -205 | -4.5 (-113) | 167.5 (-110) |
Eastern Kentucky Colonels Betting Form
Eastern Kentucky is coming off an 88-57 loss to Wichita State, and that box score matters because it highlights the Colonels’ biggest swing factor. When the threes are not falling, they do not have the same plan B to manufacture points at the rim or at the line. The good news is the volume and confidence are real. They rank 37th nationally in three-pointers made per game at 10.7, which keeps them live in almost any spread spot if the looks are clean.
From a betting perspective, EKU is easiest to back when the offense stays spaced and the shot diet stays disciplined. If they get dragged into empty possessions and quick misses, it feeds Queens’ preferred tempo and turns this into a tougher cover. That makes early shot quality a key in-game read for both spread and total.
For recent results and team-level trends, check the Eastern Kentucky stats and results.
Queens (NC) Royals Betting Form
Queens also has a recent blowout loss on the resume, falling 106-65 at Auburn, but the home profile is what matters most here. The Royals are 5-1 in their building and they tend to play with a scoring-first identity. They are averaging 82.5 points per game with a 55.3 effective field goal percentage, and they have real perimeter output with 10.2 threes per game.
Nasir Mann is the stabilizer in the half court, and his efficiency is a big reason Queens can hold leads at home. If Queens is creating clean looks early, they can force Eastern Kentucky to chase points, and that is where the game can speed up and get sloppy. That kind of game state favors the favorite, not the underdog.
To dig into splits and recent performance, use the Queens schedule and stats.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs Queens (NC) Royals Matchup Breakdown
This matchup sets up like a shot volume game. Both teams can get hot from three, and both are comfortable playing in the high 60s for possessions. With Eastern Kentucky around 68.0 possessions per game and Queens around 67.3, the tempo is not extreme, but it is steady enough that a few quick threes can push the total into the danger zone.
For Eastern Kentucky, the edge is clear: keep firing quality threes without bleeding turnovers. If the Colonels are getting clean catch-and-shoot looks and limiting live-ball mistakes, they can stay inside the number even if Queens wins. The downside is that heavy three-point reliance can create dead stretches, and those are exactly when a home favorite can build separation.
For Queens, the cover path is about winning the “extra points” categories: offensive rebounds, free throw rate, and late-game execution if it stays tight. If Queens is getting second chances and forcing Eastern Kentucky into foul situations late, the spread becomes less fragile. If you want a simple framework for pricing tempo, shot profile, and end-game foul variance into totals, the general expert betting guide is a helpful reference.
Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs Queens (NC) Royals Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Eastern Kentucky +4.5. Queens deserves to be favored at home, but the number is short enough that Eastern Kentucky can cover without needing to dominate the game. They just need to keep the three-point volume efficient and avoid the kind of turnover-heavy stretch that turns a close game into a 10-point gap.
The total is where I’m more cautious. 167.5 is a big number for a conference game unless both teams are living at the line or shooting lights out. The pace is respectable but not wild, and both teams are coming off losses where the offense did not travel well. My expectation is cleaner offense than those last games, but not enough to comfortably clear this total.
If you are betting pregame, I would rather be holding points with the side that can erase mistakes in two possessions. That is Eastern Kentucky, because the three-point math keeps the backdoor open all night if the game gets loose late.
Best Bet: Eastern Kentucky Colonels +4.5 (-108)
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
For more college hoops angles across the board, start with the college basketball picks page and then compare matchup context on the NCAAB previews hub as lines move through the day.
If you’re shopping for a consistent process, it helps to track who is actually beating the market. The best handicappers page gives you the pool, and the leaderboard makes it easy to filter by performance and recent profit. If you want packaged plays, you can also browse options on buy picks.
When you want to move fast between teams and conference slates, the NCAAB teams hub is the quickest jump-off. And if you’re evaluating where to place these bets, the sportsbook reviews plus the handicappers sites reviews section can help you compare options and tools. If you want more betting angles and season-wide notes, the main ScoresAndStats blog is also worth checking as conference play ramps up.
