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Mississippi Valley State heads to Baton Rouge to face Southern on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET at the F. G. Clark Activity Center. It’s a SWAC matchup with a very clear context: the Delta Devils are 1-19 and still looking for any kind of traction away from home, while Southern is 7-12 and has been far more reliable in its own gym with a 4-2 home record.
The market is pricing this like a mismatch, and it usually is when Mississippi Valley State is involved this season. The question for bettors isn’t “who wins,” it’s whether Southern can win cleanly enough to justify a huge number, and whether Mississippi Valley State can score enough to matter for the total.
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Mississippi Valley State vs Southern Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils | +2000 | +21.5 (-113) | O 141.5 (-117) |
| Southern Jaguars | -7000 | -21.5 (-111) | U 141.5 (-117) |
Santa Clara Broncos
vs
San Francisco Dons
Open
vs
Jan 28, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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-9.50 -110
Spread
+9.50 -110
o+150.50-115
Total
u+150.50-105
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Moneyline
–
Oregon Ducks
vs
UCLA Bruins
Open
vs
Jan 28, 2026 23:00 EST
–
Score
–
–
Spread
–
o+139.00-105
Total
u+139.00-115
–
Moneyline
–
San Diego St Aztecs
vs
Colorado St Rams
Open
vs
Jan 28, 2026 22:30 EST
–
Score
–
-9.00 -110
Spread
+9.00 -110
o+139.50-110
Total
u+139.50-110
–
Moneyline
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Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils Betting Form
Mississippi Valley State’s 1-19 record speaks for itself, and the road angle makes it even tougher because they’ve been a non-factor away from home. The offense has struggled to produce consistent stretches of scoring, and when they fall behind early, they often don’t have the perimeter shooting or interior scoring to climb back into the game. The 62-48 loss to Florida A&M is a good snapshot. Even when the pace exists, the finishing and shot quality just don’t hold.
The one thing that can help them in a spread like this is that they do play with enough possessions (67.6 per game) to create variance. More possessions can mean more chances for a favorite to pull away, but it also means a backdoor is always live if the favorite relaxes. Michael James is the obvious driver here. If he’s scoring, Mississippi Valley State can at least avoid the total offensive collapse that turns these games into 30-point margins.
The problem is you’re still asking a team with extreme efficiency issues to keep up with a big number. They can’t just “try hard.” They need a real shooting night, and they need it while also getting stops, which has been rare.
Southern Jaguars Betting Form
Southern is coming off a 75-74 loss to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and the box score tells you they still have the pieces to control games. Michael Jacobs orchestrates the offense and fills the stat sheet, while Malek Abdelgowad gives them a real interior presence that most SWAC teams struggle to match for 40 minutes. At home, Southern tends to play more connected defensively, and they’re more comfortable dictating physicality.
That matters a lot against Mississippi Valley State because the Delta Devils don’t handle pressure well when the game gets sped up in the wrong way. Southern can score (80.5 points per game), but more importantly, they can string together stops and turn that into easy offense, which is exactly how a big spread gets covered. If Southern is locked in early, this can look like a 12-point game at halftime and then it’s just about whether they keep their foot down.
The only real concern with laying -21.5 is motivation and rotation. If Southern gets up big, you need them to keep playing to the final horn. That’s always the risk with these numbers.
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs Southern Jaguars Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is mostly about physicality and shot quality. Southern has the size and structure to punish Mississippi Valley State in the paint, and if they’re also creating turnovers, the margin grows fast. Mississippi Valley State’s best chance to stay inside the number is hitting enough perimeter shots to avoid long empty stretches, because when their offense stagnates, they can’t set their defense, and that’s when the game turns into a runaway.
For the total, the tug-of-war is clear. Southern can score enough by itself to push this toward the number, but Mississippi Valley State has to contribute something. If the Delta Devils land in the low 50s again, you’re asking Southern to get into the 90s to clear 141.5, which isn’t automatic even in a mismatch. If Mississippi Valley State gets into the mid 60s, then suddenly the over becomes realistic.
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs Southern Jaguars Predictions and Best Bets
I lean Southern -21.5, but it’s not the kind of line I love. The Delta Devils’ season profile is exactly what you fade in these spots, and Southern has enough offense and interior control to build a margin quickly. The handicap is basically whether Southern stays engaged for 40 minutes. If they do, the cover is on the table.
On the total, I lean under 141.5. Mississippi Valley State’s offensive floor is simply too low to trust, and if Southern gets a big lead, the second half can slow down, especially if Southern is content to trade possessions and bleed clock. The over needs Mississippi Valley State to score more efficiently than it usually does, and I’m not betting on that.
Best Bet: Southern Jaguars -21.5 (-111).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
SWAC slates are where having consistent handicapping process matters, because the market can be thin and the volatility is real. If you’re betting college hoops daily, it helps to compare multiple styles and track who is actually producing results across the full board.
Start with today’s college basketball picks to see the full NCAAB menu, then evaluate performance using the top sports handicappers page. If you want a quick way to compare records and profitability, the handicapper leaderboard is the fastest filter. For bettors who want more volume and tighter plays, buy expert picks and treat it the same way you’d treat any edge: track, verify, and stay disciplined with price.
