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Nicholls heads to Edinburg to face Texas Rio Grande Valley on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 5:30 PM ET at the UTRGV Fieldhouse, with the game streaming on ESPN+. It’s a short number, but it’s a meaningful spot: Nicholls enters at 4-8 trying to stack any kind of momentum, while UTRGV has played the cleaner brand of basketball at home and is laying 3.5.
From a betting angle, the market is basically asking one question. Can Nicholls’ three-point volume keep them in it for 40 minutes, or does UTRGV’s shot-making and defensive edge turn this into a “win by 6-10” type of game? With a total of 147.5, the pace and foul profile matter too, because this number can swing fast if either side lives at the line late.
Nicholls Colonels vs Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Odds
These are the current betting lines. Keep checking the latest college basketball odds for updates, especially if any rotation news hits close to tip.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholls Colonels | +149 | +3.5 (-111) | O 147.5 |
| Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros | -184 | -3.5 (-115) | U 147.5 |
Nicholls Colonels Betting Form
Nicholls can score, but they’ve had trouble getting enough stops to cash tickets consistently. They’re scoring 75.6 points per game, yet giving up 77.3, and the efficiency defense has been the bigger issue than the raw points. Opponents are shooting at a high clip overall, and that forces Nicholls into “outscore you” basketball more often than you want as an underdog on the road.
The path for Nicholls is pretty straightforward. They hit threes in volume and they avoid empty trips. They’re making 9.2 threes per game at 35.0%, which is enough to keep any mid-major game uncomfortable if the looks are clean. The flip side is that if the threes are just average and they’re not getting extra possessions, the margin can get away from them because they don’t have the same defensive floor.
If you want a quick snapshot of what Nicholls has been overall, the Nicholls State Colonels team page is the easiest place to check recent results and scoring splits.
Nicholls injury report
| Player | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| None reported | N/A | No confirmed injuries or suspensions listed as of game day; monitor late updates. |
Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Betting Form
UTRGV’s profile is what bettors usually want from a small favorite at home: solid shot quality, real shooting, and a defense that travels. They’re scoring 77.1 points per game while allowing 71.3, and the shooting splits pop. UTRGV is at 46.4% from the field and 40.3% from three, with 10.0 made threes per game, which is a lot of points that don’t require you to win the paint.
Defensively, this is where the gap shows up. UTRGV has held opponents to 41.2% shooting and 31.0% from three. That matters against a Nicholls team that leans on threes to stay afloat. If UTRGV can run shooters off the line without fouling too much, Nicholls’ offense can get choppy, and that’s when short spreads start feeling bigger.
One thing I keep circling back to is the foul and free-throw element. UTRGV’s numbers suggest opponents get to the line a fair amount. If they put Nicholls in the bonus early, that’s the one thing that can keep the dog alive even if the shooting isn’t perfect.
For recent form and matchup context, the Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros team page is useful.
Texas-Rio Grande Valley injury report
| Player | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| None reported | N/A | No confirmed injuries or suspensions listed as of game day; monitor late updates. |
Nicholls Colonels vs Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Matchup Breakdown
This matchup is going to be shaped by the three-point math. Nicholls takes and makes a lot of threes, and UTRGV not only makes even more, they defend the arc better. If you’re backing Nicholls, you’re basically betting that their perimeter looks are clean enough to keep pace, and that UTRGV’s defense doesn’t turn those attempts into rushed, late-clock shots.
The second swing point is how many “free” points show up. UTRGV has been strong at suppressing opponent efficiency, but if they foul into the bonus and give away points at the stripe, that’s how a better team ends up in a one-possession game with two minutes left. Nicholls is not an elite free-throw team, but volume still counts, especially in a road dog spot.
The total is interesting because you can argue it both ways. Two teams that shoot a lot of threes can clear 147.5 quickly if the percentage is normal. But if UTRGV dictates shot quality and forces longer possessions, the game can stall into a more grindy mid-major script where you need late fouling to get there. If you want a framework for reading pace, foul rate, and late-game variance on totals, the college basketball betting guide is a good reference.
Nicholls Colonels vs Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Predictions and Best Bets
My lean is UTRGV. The biggest reason is that the shooting edge is real, and it’s paired with a defensive profile that matches up well against what Nicholls wants to do. Nicholls can absolutely hit enough threes to hang around, but I’d rather side with the team that’s more likely to win the efficiency battle on both ends.
Spread-wise, -3.5 is a workable number for a home team that can create separation with threes without needing a perfect interior scoring night. If this gets tight late, UTRGV also has the cleaner path to closing because they can manufacture points without relying on tough twos.
On the total, I’m less confident. The three-point volume says “over is live,” but the matchup also sets up for UTRGV to control opponent efficiency, and that’s the one thing that can make a 147.5 feel a touch high if Nicholls has a cold stretch.
Best Bet: Texas Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros -3.5 (-115).
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