Heading into the new year, many teams are vying for either momentum in conference play or establishing themselves as favorites for an at-large NCAA tournament bid. In an interesting game Monday evening, the leaders of the Summit League Conference, Oral Roberts (13-3, 4-0) will hit the road in a showdown against New Mexico (14-2, 2-2 MWC) at The Pit. Earlier in the day, two Patriot League foes will square off as Army (9-7, 3-0) locks horns with Colgate (9-7, 3-0) at home. With both teams a half-game behind in the conference standings, this should be an exciting matchup in early conference play.
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each team, along with game predictions and some more thoughts about NCAA basketball betting.
| NCAA Basketball Week Ten Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico vs. Oral Roberts | Lobos -5 | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Colgate vs. Army | Army ML | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Team Spotlight: Oral Roberts Golden Eagles
Winners of 10 in a row, the Golden Eagles certainly have been soaring high and are at the top of their conference. Guard Max Abmas has been dynamic for Oral Roberts, pacing the squad with 20.7 points per game, a mark that is near the top in the country. In addition to his scoring prowess, Abmas also leads the squads in assists (3.7 APG) and field goal percentage (42.6%). As a squad, the Golden Eagles average 84.3 ppg, which is the 10th-highest mark in the country and have been able to burn past foes. That said, two of their last three games have been decided by three points or less, which is something to keep an eye on.
Team Spotlight: New Mexico Lobos
With this contest being scheduled two weeks ago as a replacement for the Lobos’ canceled games against New Mexico State, the Lobos will have a tough battle on their hands. Nonetheless, New Mexico is still one of the marquee basketball programs in the Mountain West and a force to be reckoned with when they are rolling. This has been evidenced by the squad’s 14-0 start to the season, which featured strong wins over Colorado State, at Saint Mary’s, and also Iona at home. One of the leaders for New Mexico is guard Jamal Mashburn Jr. (17.6 ppg) and a ferocious presence, like his dad, on the court. Forward Morris Udeze is another one to look for as he paces the squad in field goal percentage (60.2%) and averages 16.3 per contest.
Prediction: In what should be an entertaining affair, the Lobos are just too talented and dangerous at home for Oral Roberts. Take New Mexico to win here.
Team Spotlight: Colgate Raiders
A squad that is one of the unbeaten groups in Summit League play, Colgate has seen some stellar performances this season. The Raiders, in their last five games, have gone 3-2 and are currently riding a three-game winning streak, including a solid 14-point win over Navy at home. Raiders guard Tucker Richardson is one to watch as he paces the Colgate offense with 15.3 ppg and 4.9 APG. Forward Keegan Records is the man in the middle for Colgate and is their best rebounder at 5.6 boards per contest.
Team Spotlight: Army Black Knights
The other squad in the Summit to look out for is Army, who also has an unblemished conference record at 3-0. A squad that features its own sensational guard in Jalen Rucker (15.7 ppg and 3.3 APG), the Black Knights are riding their own winning streak, checking in at four games in a row. Coming off a 23-point triumph over the Loyola-Maryland Greyhounds, Army is set for perhaps its strongest conference foe yet in Colgate. That said, the Black Knights have been solid at home this season, with an unblemished home conference record. Finally, forward Charlie Peterson is another standout for Army on the court with a 5.7 RPG.
Prediction: Though Army is strong at home, Colgate just has a better resume than the Black Knights at this point and is more battle-tested overall.
After making your latest round of NCAA basketball bets, make sure to tap into the variety of resources that SBS has put together for you to keep things rolling. For instance, with conference play just getting started in college basketball, our NCAA betting sites page is a must-read resource for those that are looking to stay on top of the action. In addition to the latest on NCAA basketball betting, we have also you covered with maximizing your bets with the SBS best bonus betting sites guide which covers a catalog of the best welcome bonuses. Finally, for those on the go, and there is a lot of that this college basketball season, the SBS best betting apps rundown is a great resource for getting the most out of mobile wagering.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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