NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
South Dakota State Jackrabbits vs North Dakota Fighting Hawks Picks and Predictions January 3rd 2026
Summit League play continues Saturday, January 3rd, 2026, as the South Dakota State Jackrabbits head to Grand Forks to take on the North Dakota Fighting Hawks at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET. South Dakota State enters as a 7.5-point road favorite with the total set at 149.5.
The Jackrabbits have been one of the stronger offensive teams in the conference again this year, while North Dakota is still searching for consistency on both ends. With SDSU laying a decent number on the road, this matchup comes down to whether North Dakota can slow things down and limit second-chance scoring.
Access Daily Game Breakdowns and Trends
Every Line, Every Metric, Every Insight
South Dakota State vs North Dakota Odds
These are the current lines. Monitor the latest college basketball odds for changes before tip.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota State Jackrabbits | -335 | -7.5 (-107) | O 149.5 (-114) |
| North Dakota Fighting Hawks | +263 | +7.5 (-113) | U 149.5 (-108) |
South Dakota State Betting Form
The South Dakota State Jackrabbits continue to lean into their identity: high-tempo offense, sharp ball movement, and three-point shooting. They can put up points in a hurry when their spacing and transition game are clicking.
They’ve won and covered several road games this season when their perimeter game gets going early. However, they can be prone to defensive lapses — especially guarding the three-point line and defending without fouling in scramble situations.
Still, SDSU’s offensive upside outweighs most of their flaws in Summit League play. They push pace, crash the offensive glass well for their size, and have guards capable of creating in isolation late in the shot clock.
Check the South Dakota State injury report before betting — they need all their main scorers healthy to cover this number.
North Dakota Betting Form
The North Dakota Fighting Hawks have struggled to maintain consistency on offense. They go through long scoring droughts, especially when forced into halfcourt sets against more athletic defenses.
They’re better at home, where their role players shoot with more confidence and energy is higher defensively. But even then, they rely heavily on forcing turnovers and getting to the line to keep pace with more explosive teams.
Against South Dakota State, they’ll need to control tempo and avoid foul trouble. If they let the Jackrabbits run and get into rhythm early, it could be a long afternoon. Defensively, they can compete in spurts, but it’s unlikely they’ll win this game without shooting above their season averages from deep.
The North Dakota injury report is also worth checking — depth is thin, especially on the wing.
South Dakota State vs North Dakota Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is largely about tempo and shot-making. South Dakota State wants to play fast, while North Dakota needs to slow things down and make it physical.
- Tempo Edge: SDSU plays faster. If they push pace early, the game could get away from UND quickly.
- Three-Point Shooting: Advantage Jackrabbits — they shoot a higher volume and percentage.
- Rebounding: Even, but SDSU has an edge in offensive rebounding metrics.
- Foul Rate: North Dakota tends to foul more often — a concern vs SDSU’s FT shooting.
If SDSU avoids early turnovers and gets into their halfcourt sets comfortably, they’ll generate enough quality looks to stretch the lead. UND needs to muck this up — otherwise, they can’t keep pace offensively.
Win More, Guess Less
Your Shortcut to Smarter Betting Decisions
South Dakota State vs North Dakota Predictions and Best Bets
This spread is about right for a road favorite with more firepower. But there’s still value on the Jackrabbits. Their offense travels, and they’ve shown they can put away weaker teams in the second half. If this game gets into the 70s or 80s in tempo, SDSU covers comfortably.
The total is high but justified — both teams push pace when things open up, and the Summit League tends to trend Over in conference play. If North Dakota contributes even 65 points, this clears 149.5.
Still, the stronger angle is with the side.
Best Bet: South Dakota State -7.5 (-107)
NCAAB Picks and Handicappers on ScoresAndStats
Want more Summit League and mid-major insights? Visit today’s college basketball picks for expert betting previews.
Check the full handicapper leaderboard, find top sports handicappers, or grab sharp premium NCAAB picks before the line moves.
Bet smart, bet early — only at ScoresAndStats.
