The McNeese Cowboys are already in the headlines this week, with their head coach Will Wade reportedly accepting the job at NC State and openly saying he has discussed the matter with his players. If the Cowboys cannot upset the Clemson Tigers to open the NCAA Tournament, Wade is already looking at his last game before his return to the major conference level.
My McNeese vs. Clemson predictions considered the bold thought of the Cowboys pulling off the upset to highlight some March Madness picks, but a more conservative bet is the smarter approach. Tip comes at 3:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20.
Who will win McNeese vs Clemson?
McNeese just might be the first major upset of this tournament. At least, if you consider a 7.5-point underdog winning to be a major upset. The general public will certainly think so, as not too many people are familiar with the program out of Lake Charles, LA.
Could McNeese shock Clemson? Yes.
The Cowboys were within six points of Alabama with six minutes to go in mid-November, eventually losing by eight on the road. Mississippi State needed to hold on for dear life in the last minute to get by McNeese in mid-December, and the Cowboys have hung with teams as good as Clemson.
So let’s go ahead and take the risk of saying, “McNeese will win.”
McNeese vs Clemson prediction
My best bet: McNeese +7.5 (-110 at bet365)
Those two close calls against SEC stalwarts should stand out. McNeese has only improved in advanced metrics since then. In fact, since that tight loss to the Bulldogs, the Cowboys have gone 22-1, the only loss coming on the road against the third-best team in the Southland, Nicholls.
After losing to Mississippi State, Ken Pomeroy considered McNeese to be the No. 87 team in the country. Now, it is No. 59. Splitting the Cowboys’ season into before/after that loss, their opponent-adjusted net rating has improved by 2.5 points since then, per barttorvik.com.
If McNeese could nearly upset Alabama and Mississippi State back then, as a hefty 17.5-point and 9.5-point underdog, respectively, it should hold up quite well against Clemson. Those two losses emphasize the Cowboys’ defensive approach.
McNeese forced opponents to take 46.6% of their shots from beyond the arc this season, the 14th-highest rate in the country. It also held opponents to making just 32.2% of those 3-pointers.
Combined, Alabama and Mississippi State took 51% of their field goal attempts from beyond the arc against McNeese, making a problematic 30.8% of them.
That was the Cowboys’ recipe for hanging in against two teams that shoot the ball more often but worse than the Tigers do. Clemson shoots well from deep, 37.2%, but if McNeese can limit senior marksman Chase Hunter (41.2% from deep this season, making 2.3 per game), then the Tigers offense may stall. Aside from Hunter, their rotation shoots 35.6% from long range.
McNeese knows its assignment, and it has succeeded with it twice. It never quite pulled off the upset, so a conservative bet against the spread is our "best bet", but that +270 moneyline at bet365 also warrants some consideration.
McNeese vs Clemson same-game parlay (SGP)
McNeese +7.5
Under 133.5
Chase Hunter Under 15.5 points
Both McNeese (No. 283) and Clemson (No. 327) lag in tempo. The Cowboys, in particular, will have an incentive to slow down this game, with fewer possessions lessening their talent disadvantage.
Cutting into Hunter’s shooting will further diminish the scoring. Hunter played well in the ACC Tournament, but before that, he had scored in the single digits in four of his last six games. He can be turned off.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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McNeese vs Clemson odds
McNeese vs Clemson live odds
McNeese vs Clemson opening odds
- Spread: McNeese +7.5 | Clemson -7.5
- Moneyline: McNeese +265 | Clemson -330
- Over/Under: Over 134 | Under 134
Odds courtesy of bet365
McNeese vs Clemson betting trend to know
McNeese State has been an underdog just twice this season, with those two games coming against SEC teams in this same NCAA Tournament. The Cowboys went 2-0 against the spread as underdogs this year. Last season, they finished 4-2 ATS as underdogs. Find more college basketball betting trends for McNeese vs. Clemson.
How to watch McNeese vs Clemson
| Region | Midwest |
| Location | Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI |
| Date | Thursday, 3-20-2025 |
| Tip-off | 3:15 p.m. ET |
| TV | truTV |
McNeese vs Clemson key injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
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