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South Dakota vs Omaha Picks and Predictions – Wednesday January 21, 2026
South Dakota heads to Omaha on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for an 8:00 PM ET Summit League matchup at Baxter Arena. The market is giving the Mavericks a modest home edge, but the bigger story is how different these teams look depending on the building.
South Dakota is 10-10 with a brutal 1-8 road record, yet the Coyotes can really score. Omaha is 9-11 and steadier at home (6-5), and the line says oddsmakers trust the Mavericks to control enough of the game to cover. The total is a big one at 160.5, which means you’re betting either a track meet or a game where one team’s offense stalls and drags the number down.
South Dakota vs Omaha Odds
These are the current betting lines, and bettors should keep an eye on the latest college basketball odds as tip approaches.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | +180 | +5.5 (-110) | 160.5 (O -113 / U -108) |
| Omaha | -219 | -5.5 (-110) | 160.5 (O -113 / U -108) |
South Dakota Betting Form
South Dakota is coming off a 96-80 loss to North Dakota, and the defense was the problem. The offense did enough to keep scoring respectable, but they couldn’t get stops or stabilize possessions. Jordan Crawford and Isaac Bruns combined for 45 points, and Cameron Fens added a double-double type impact with 14 boards. That mix is exactly why South Dakota is dangerous when you’re getting points.
From a profile standpoint, the Coyotes play like a team that can steal a cover even when they don’t play perfect. They average 83 points per game, they can shoot it from deep, and they get to the line at a high rate. The free-throw volume is a big deal for spread betting because it keeps you scoring even when the jumpers go cold.
The problem is location. A 1-8 road record means the floor is low. If South Dakota’s shot selection gets rushed or the defensive breakdowns show up early, it can snowball. For game logs and team trends, check South Dakota stats and results.
Omaha Betting Form
Omaha is coming off a 73-62 win over Oral Roberts, and that’s a solid indicator of what they look like when they’re locked in. Paul Djobet’s 25 points set the tone, and the Mavericks played a cleaner game overall, which is what you want from a midrange home favorite.
Offensively, Omaha is efficient enough to separate when opponents give them extra chances. They shoot a respectable percentage from the field and can hit threes at a strong clip, which matters against a South Dakota defense that has been leaky. The Mavericks also tend to look more comfortable at Baxter Arena, where their pace and spacing are more consistent.
The handicap for Omaha is whether they can keep South Dakota off the line. South Dakota’s best “easy points” are free throws, and if Omaha is sloppy with fouls, this becomes a one-possession game late. For recent form and home splits, see Omaha schedule and stats.
South Dakota vs Omaha Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is basically offense versus game script. South Dakota wants pace, early offense, and a steady stream of free throws. Omaha wants controlled possessions and to force South Dakota to make shots over a set defense instead of living at the stripe.
The total at 160.5 is the decision point. South Dakota can absolutely help push games into the 80s, but that requires clean road offense and enough stops to create transition. If Omaha controls tempo and limits live-ball turnovers, the game can look “fast” on paper but still land under because the possessions aren’t actually piling up.
The spread is more about stability than ceilings. South Dakota has the higher scoring profile, but Omaha has the home floor and the better chance to dictate how the game is played. If Omaha’s threes are falling, they can cover. If South Dakota is getting to the line and hitting threes at a normal rate, that +5.5 becomes very live.
If you want a quick betting framework for totals, pace, and end-game variance, the Expert Betting Guide is a useful reference.
South Dakota vs Omaha Predictions and Best Bets
I lean South Dakota +5.5. Omaha should win plenty of these at home, but South Dakota’s scoring profile is built to hang around. The Coyotes can score quickly, and they’re one of those teams that can lose the game and still cover because they keep producing points, especially if the whistle is friendly.
I’m more cautious on the moneyline because the road record is hard to ignore. But as a spread dog, you’re buying a cushion in a matchup where South Dakota’s offense can keep them within range even if the defense is shaky.
On the total, I lean under 160.5. That number is asking for sustained efficiency from both teams. South Dakota can get there, but Omaha tends to play better when the game is controlled, and if they succeed in slowing the Coyotes’ free-throw rhythm and limiting transition, the scoring can fall into the low 150s.
Best Bet: South Dakota +5.5 (-110)
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
If you’re building a card for the slate, start with the college basketball picks page to compare sides and totals, then cross-check game context in the NCAAB previews hub to see how the market is lining up across similar matchups.
For quick team-level scanning, the NCAAB teams hub is useful, and the ScoresAndStats blog can help when you want broader betting angles instead of just one-game notes.
If you’re tracking proven performance, use the best handicappers page and the leaderboard to see who’s delivering. And if you want premium plays for your nightly card, you can find them through buy picks. For book selection and service comparisons, the sportsbook reviews and handicappers sites reviews pages are good tools to keep in rotation.
