Saturday’s contest at Lakefront Arena has the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (9-4, 1-1 Southland) going head to head against the New Orleans Privateers (2-11, 0-2 Southland) at 6:00 PM ET on January 4. Our computer prediction projects a 81-73 win for UT Rio Grande Valley, who are favored by our model.

According to our computer prediction, UT Rio Grande Valley projects to cover the 7.5-point spread in its matchup versus New Orleans. The over/under has been set at 155.5, and the two sides are projected to fall short of that total.

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UT Rio Grande Valley vs. New Orleans Game Info & Odds

• Date: Saturday, January 4, 2025
• Time: 6:00 PM ET
• TV: ESPN+
• Live stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
• Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
• Venue: Lakefront Arena
• Line: UT Rio Grande Valley -7.5
• Point total: 155.5
• Moneyline (to win): UT Rio Grande Valley -310, New Orleans +240

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UT Rio Grande Valley vs. New Orleans Score Prediction

• Prediction:
  UT Rio Grande Valley 81, New Orleans 73

Spread & Total Prediction for UT Rio Grande Valley vs. New Orleans

• Pick ATS: UT Rio Grande Valley (-7.5)
• Pick OU: Under (155.5)

UT Rio Grande Valley is 7-2-0 against the spread, while New Orleans’ ATS record this season is 6-7-0. The Vaqueros are 5-4-0 and the Privateers are 7-6-0 in terms of hitting the over. The teams put up 148.4 points per game combined, 7.1 fewer than this matchup’s total. In the past 10 games, UT Rio Grande Valley has a 7-2 record against the spread while going 5-4 overall. New Orleans has gone 4-6 against the spread and 1-9 overall in its last 10 matches.

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UT Rio Grande Valley Performance Insights

• The Vaqueros outscore opponents by 11.6 points per game (scoring 82.8 points per game to rank 47th in college basketball while giving up 71.2 per outing to rank 182nd in college basketball) and have a +151 scoring differential overall.
• The 35.5 rebounds per game UT Rio Grande Valley averages rank 63rd in the country, and are 3.2 more than the 32.3 its opponents pull down per outing.
• UT Rio Grande Valley makes 11.8 three-pointers per game (fourth-most in college basketball), 5.3 more than its opponents (6.5).
• The Vaqueros rank 122nd in college basketball with 99.2 points scored per 100 possessions, and 70th in college basketball defensively with 85.3 points conceded per 100 possessions.
• UT Rio Grande Valley wins the turnover battle by 1.5 per game, committing 12.6 (278th in college basketball) while its opponents average 14.1.

New Orleans Performance Insights

• The Privateers have a -266 scoring differential, falling short by 20.5 points per game. They’re putting up 65.6 points per game, 341st in college basketball, and are giving up 86.1 per contest to rank 361st in college basketball.
• The 32.1 rebounds per game New Orleans accumulates rank 236th in the nation, 6.8 fewer than the 38.9 its opponents grab.
• New Orleans hits 6.2 three-pointers per game (319th in college basketball), 3.9 fewer than its opponents. It is shooting 29.3% from deep (337th in college basketball) and its opponents are shooting 35.5%.
• New Orleans has lost the turnover battle on average this season, committing 13.1 per game (309th in college basketball) while forcing 10.9 (264th in college basketball).

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