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North Alabama travels to Charlotte to face Queens (NC) on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET at Curry Arena, with ESPN+ carrying the Atlantic Sun matchup. Queens has been one of the hotter teams in the league, sitting at 11-8 and protecting home court almost every night. North Alabama is 6-11 and still searching for consistency, especially away from home.
This is a classic spot where the favorite’s offense looks scary, but the spread is asking for a real four-quarter performance. Queens can score in waves, yet they also give points back. If North Alabama can rebound and avoid live-ball turnovers, they can hang around longer than the record suggests. If they start trading rushed shots for Queens threes, it can get out of hand quickly.
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North Alabama Lions vs Queens (NC) Royals Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should always monitor updated numbers on the latest college basketball odds.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Alabama Lions | +500 | +12.5 (-114) | O 158.5 (-110) |
| Queens (NC) Royals | -700 | -12.5 (-107) | U 158.5 (-110) |
Grand Canyon Antelopes
vs
San Diego St Aztecs
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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+1.00 -106
Spread
-1.00 -106
o+143.50-108
Total
u+143.50-108
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Moneyline
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USC Trojans
vs
Northwestern Wildcats
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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–
Spread
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o+154.00-108
Total
u+154.00-108
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Moneyline
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Saint Mary’s Gaels
vs
Oregon St Beavers
Open
vs
Jan 21, 2026 23:00 EST
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Score
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-17.50 -106
Spread
+17.50 -106
o+142.00-108
Total
u+142.00-108
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Moneyline
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North Alabama Lions Betting Form
North Alabama’s season has been defined by uneven defensive stretches. They’re allowing too many efficient looks, and it shows up most on the road where mistakes get punished fast. Offensively, they’re more functional when they can play through Corneilous Williams around the glass and let the guards work off that attention, but the scoring profile still leans inconsistent. When the threes aren’t falling, they can go quiet for long pockets.
The matchup context matters because Queens plays a style that can expose North Alabama’s weak points. Queens pushes tempo and bombs threes. North Alabama has to be deliberate about shot selection and turnovers, because empty trips turn into quick points the other way. The silver lining is that the +12.5 gives them room even if they’re outplayed for stretches. They just need to avoid the avalanche runs.
If you want a quick snapshot of North Alabama’s season arc and recent results, the North Alabama stats and results page is a good starting point for context. Availability matters too, especially for rotation stability, so monitor the North Alabama Lions injury report before tipoff.
Queens (NC) Royals Betting Form
Queens is built to score, and they play like it. They’re putting up 84.2 points per game, launching threes at a high rate, and they’ve been rolling through conference play with a long win streak. At Curry Arena, they’ve been even sharper, and the early energy tends to translate into quick leads. That’s the version that covers spreads like this, the one that forces you to chase.
The concern is defense, and it’s not a small one. Queens is allowing 84.7 points per game, which means they don’t always separate the way a big favorite should. You can be up 16, relax for three minutes, and suddenly it’s a single-digit game again. That’s why backdoor covers are always in play when you’re laying double digits with this profile.
Rotation and availability still matter because Queens relies on spacing and perimeter reps. If a shooter or a primary creator is limited, the offense can still score, but it becomes less explosive and easier to guard possession-to-possession. Monitor the Queens (NC) Royals injury report before you lock in a side.
North Alabama Lions vs Queens (NC) Royals Matchup Breakdown
This game starts with tempo. Queens wants pace, quick threes, and rebound-and-run sequences. North Alabama would prefer a slower game where they can set the floor, play through their frontcourt, and keep Queens from turning it into a track meet. If Queens dictates pace early, the total becomes much more interesting than the side.
The shot profile matchup leans Queens. They’re a volume three-point team, and North Alabama has struggled to consistently defend the arc and stay connected through multiple actions. If Queens is generating clean catch-and-shoot looks, the spread can look light. If those threes are contested and missing, the door opens for North Alabama to hang around because Queens can give up points in transition and at the line.
The possession battle is the sneaky swing point. North Alabama needs to rebound well enough to limit second chances, and they absolutely have to avoid sloppy passes that lead to live-ball turnovers. Queens thrives on those moments because it creates easy points without needing half-court execution.
If you’re weighing the spread versus the total, it helps to think about variance. A high-possession game creates more scoring and more run potential, which can favor the favorite covering, but it also increases backdoor volatility. The framework in the sports betting strategy guide is useful here because it pushes you to bet the price and game script, not just the “better team.”
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North Alabama Lions vs Queens (NC) Royals Predictions and Best Bets
My lean on the side is Queens -12.5, but it’s not a comfortable lay. Queens is the better team, they’re at home, and their offense can put this away if North Alabama has one of those bad defensive stretches. The part that makes me hesitate is that Queens doesn’t consistently get stops, so you can be right about the winner and still lose the cover.
The total is where I see clearer value. Queens games live in a high-scoring range because they score fast and allow fast. North Alabama does not have to be great offensively for this to get to the 160s if the pace is up and Queens is forcing them to trade possessions. Late-game free throws also matter because a big spread can still lead to fouling if it stays in that 10 to 14 point band late.
If you’re looking for a secondary angle, I’d rather play a Queens offensive script than a precise margin. That usually points back to the over, or potentially a Queens team total if you’re shopping derivatives.
Best Bet: Over 158.5 (-110).
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Conference slates are where most bettors leak money, not because the games are impossible, but because they over-bet and under-price the volatility. Teams like Queens can look dominant one night and give up 90 the next. The answer is not guessing better. It’s being selective and staying tied to the number.
If you want more volume plays across the board, today’s college basketball picks is the fastest way to compare sides and totals and see where the market is being challenged. Over time, tracking which styles travel, which teams actually defend, and which totals are consistently mispriced is what turns these midweek cards into profit instead of chaos.
