NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
Colonels vs Louisiana Lions Picks and Predictions – Saturday January 24, 2026
Nicholls heads to Hammond for a Southland Conference game against Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 2:30 PM ET. It’s at the University Center and streamed on ESPN+, and the market is calling it what it is: a tight, slightly messy matchup where one good stretch can decide the whole thing.
Southeastern Louisiana is laying 1.5 at home despite a 5-14 record, while Nicholls comes in at 8-11 but has struggled on the road (3-9). The total is 141.5, which is a reasonable number for two teams that can trade scoring runs, but it’s also high enough to punish empty possessions and long scoring droughts.
This handicap comes down to the usual “bad teams, tight line” question. Do you trust the home favorite to execute late, or do you take the points with the team that has the clearer scoring paths?
Nicholls Colonels vs Southeastern Louisiana Lions Odds
These are the current lines, and bettors should keep tracking the board for movement and juice changes on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholls Colonels | -102 | +1.5 (-118) | 141.5 |
| Southeastern Louisiana Lions | -118 | -1.5 (-102) | 141.5 |
Nicholls Colonels Betting Form
Nicholls is coming off a loss to Stephen F. Austin, but the offense still showed it has individual shot creation, which matters when you’re catching points. In these conference games, you don’t need to be the more consistent team for 40 minutes. You need to have enough scoring options to survive a bad stretch without getting buried.
The Nicholls angle is straightforward: they have more scoring punch than Southeastern Louisiana. If you’re betting +1.5, you’re basically saying Nicholls can get to the mid 70s again or at least stay close enough that one late run flips the outcome. Their three-point volume is important, too. If Nicholls is hitting early, that forces the Lions to extend their defense, and it opens up easier looks inside.
The issue is road reliability. A 3-9 road record is not a small detail in a one-possession spread. If Nicholls has careless turnovers or gets rattled by early whistles, it can hand the home team margin without Southeastern Louisiana even playing well.
Southeastern Louisiana Lions Betting Form
Southeastern Louisiana is 5-14, so you’re not backing “quality.” You’re backing spot and environment. The Lions have been more competitive at home than their overall record suggests, and the line reflects that. Laying 1.5 is basically the book saying this is a coin flip, but the home floor gets the tiebreaker.
The Lions’ path to winning is keeping the game physical and controlling the glass. If they win the rebound battle and avoid giving Nicholls extra possessions, they can survive with a lower scoring output. That’s the key dynamic here because Southeastern Louisiana’s offense hasn’t been reliable all season. They don’t want to get into a three-point contest.
If the Lions can force Nicholls into late-clock possessions and limit clean catch-and-shoot threes, they can win this game without scoring efficiently for long stretches. They just need a steady defensive effort and enough free throws to close.
Nicholls Colonels vs Southeastern Louisiana Lions Matchup Breakdown
The most important part of this matchup is shot quality versus shot volume. Nicholls wants a game where it can generate enough attempts, especially from deep, to let variance work in its favor. Southeastern Louisiana wants the opposite: fewer possessions, more contact, and a game where every trip is a grind.
Because the spread is only 1.5, turnovers are amplified. One bad three-minute stretch with a couple of live-ball giveaways can be the difference between cashing and losing, and it’s also how a lower-efficiency team like Southeastern Louisiana can create separation without suddenly becoming a good offense.
The total is where I think the market might be a touch high. Nicholls can score, sure, but Southeastern Louisiana has been living in lower totals because the offense doesn’t consistently generate clean looks. If Nicholls isn’t getting transition points and the threes are merely average, 141.5 can be a tough number to clear.
If you want a simple framework for betting these small spreads and totals where variance is doing most of the work, the expert betting guide is a good baseline.
Nicholls Colonels vs Southeastern Louisiana Lions Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is Nicholls +1.5. In a near pick’em, I’ll take the points with the team that has the clearer scoring edge. Nicholls can score in multiple ways and has enough three-point upside to win outright if Southeastern Louisiana has its usual offensive limitations.
I also don’t mind Nicholls on the moneyline at -102 because it’s essentially the same price as the spread. If you’re betting Nicholls to cover +1.5, you’re already betting a close game. Taking the ML tightens the ticket, but it aligns with the idea that Nicholls’ offense can be the separator late.
For the total, I lean under 141.5. The cleanest path to the under is simply Southeastern Louisiana not doing its share. If the Lions land in the mid 60s again, Nicholls has to push into the upper 70s for this to beat you, and that’s not automatic on the road.
Best Bet: Under 141.5
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a Saturday slate, the fastest way to compare your numbers to the market is the college basketball picks page, and the NCAAB previews hub helps you stack matchup reads across conferences without getting lost.
For broader team context and conference navigation, the NCAAB teams hub is useful for quick form checks, while the ScoresAndStats blog is where you can reinforce process and spot betting concepts that carry across leagues.
If you prefer tracking proven performance, the best handicappers and the handicapper leaderboard show who’s consistently beating the market. When you want premium plays, buy picks is the gateway, and for extra diligence on services and books, the handicappers sites reviews and sportsbook reviews pages help you line up the right setup.
