Southern vs Grambling State Odds, Picks and Predictions: Tigers Stalking Conference Supremacy

Southern was tripped up at home by Texas Southern last time out, losing outright as 6.5-point favorites as the Over cashed. The Jaguars have dropped three of the past four games overall.

Grambling State enters on a hot streak, winning four in a row while covering three of those outings. It has cashed the Under in four of the past five games overall.

The Jaguars knocked off the Tigers 81-73 in New Orleans on January 14, as Southern covered as 3.5-point favorites while hitting the Over.

Will Southern be able to finish off the regular-season sweep in this battle of SWAC titans, or will Grambling square the season series? 

We’ll discuss in our college basketball picks and predictions for Southern vs. Grambling State on Saturday, February 18.

Southern vs Grambling State best odds

Southern vs Grambling State picks and predictions

Alcorn State tops the SWAC with an 11-2 conference record, but Grambling State is breathing down its neck at 10-3 while posting a 17-8 overall record, easily the best in the conference.

Southern finds itself 13-13 overall this season, but it has a healthy 9-4 conference mark, which puts it just two games off the pace and one game behind Grambling State.

The Jaguars won 81-73 in the first meeting as 3.5-point favorites, as Brion Whitley carried the team singlehandedly. He dropped 32 points on 11-for-21 shooting, including five triples, while going a perfect 5-for-5 at the free-throw line.

Southern didn’t shoot all that well, hitting just 38% (23 of 60) overall in that first win over Grambling, but it also turned the ball over just nine times, while the Tigers committed 17 miscues. That was the big difference.

Grambling’s Cameron Christon went for a team-high 25 points in the first meeting, and the Tigers had four players hit double digits, including Shawndarius Cowart’s 12 points, 14 rebounds, and 10 assists for the triple-double.

Grambling was abysmal from downtown in the first game, hitting just 18% (4-for-22). But it enters on a roll and has Christon and Cowart packing quite the one-two punch. Look for the Tigers to level the season series with a convincing victory, staying hot in the process.

My best bet: Grambling -2.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

Southern vs Grambling State spread analysis

The Jaguars enter on a 9-4 ATS run across the past 13 games overall, but they’re just 3-7 ATS in the previous 10 games following a non-cover.

In addition, Southern hasn’t traditionally fared well on a neutral court, going just 3-7 ATS in the past 10 instances.

Grambling has fired off a season-high four consecutive wins, and it has covered in three of those outings. It enters with revenge on its mind after an eight-point loss in the Crescent City in the first meeting.

The Tigers have covered five of the past seven games overall, and they have won and covered each of the past three games off campus while going 5-2 ATS in the past seven road or neutral-floor tilts.

Grambling was terrible from downtown in the first meeting, while turning the ball over a ton. I expect the Tigers to be much better in both facets. It only lost by single digits despite sloppy play in the first meeting. 

Southern vs Grambling State Over/Under analysis

The Jaguars are just so-so on offense, hitting for 74.2 PPG. Defensively, the Jags aren’t terribly strong, conceding 72.9 PPG while allowing the opposition to hit 44.5% from the field.

Over bettors have loved Southern for its free-throw shooting, as the Jaguars are a respectable 73.2% from the line.

The Tigers have struggled offensively, going for just 68.8 PPG, which is rather surprising since this team strokes the three at a 35.4% clip, which is among the top-thirds in the nation.

Defensively, Grambling locks it down, allowing just 63.3 PPG to rank No. 30, while it has the sixth-best mark in the country with a 38.9% defensive field-goal percentage. It is hard on the three, too, allowing just 31.0%.

Southern will want to run early and often, as it scores plenty, and allows plenty. The Over is 7-2 in its past nine neutral-site games. It’s no surprise, the Under dominates for Grambling, going 4-1 in the past five games overall, although the Over comfortably cashed in the first meeting.

Let’s go high again on Saturday, although Grambling laying the points is still the better bet, with just a half-unit on the total.

Southern vs Grambling State betting trend to know

Southern is 2-10 ATS in the past 12 neutral-site games, while Grambling State is a respectable 4-4 ATS in the past eight such games. Find more college basketball betting trends for Southern vs. Grambling State.

Southern vs Grambling State game info

Southern vs Grambling State key injuries

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