Saturday’s contest that pits the UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros (9-4, 1-1 Southland) against the New Orleans Privateers (2-11, 0-2 Southland) at Lakefront Arena has a projected final score of 81-73 (based on our computer prediction) in favor of UT Rio Grande Valley, who is favored in this matchup by our model. Tipoff is at 6:00 PM ET on January 4.

According to our computer prediction, UT Rio Grande Valley is projected to cover the spread (7.5) against New Orleans. The two sides are projected to go under the 155.5 over/under.

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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’s record against the spread this season is 7-2-0, while New Orleans’ is 6-7-0. The Vaqueros have gone over the point total in five games, while Privateers games have gone over seven times. The teams score 148.4 points per game combined, 7.1 fewer than this matchup’s total. UT Rio Grande Valley has a 7-2 record against the spread while going 5-4 overall over the last 10 contests. New Orleans has gone 4-6 against the spread and 1-9 overall in its last 10 games.

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UT Rio Grande Valley Performance Insights

• The Vaqueros are outscoring opponents by 11.6 points per game with a +151 scoring differential overall. They put up 82.8 points per game (47th in college basketball) and give up 71.2 per contest (182nd in college basketball).
• UT Rio Grande Valley grabs 35.5 rebounds per game (63rd in college basketball) while allowing 32.3 per contest to its opponents. It outrebounds opponents by 3.2 boards per game.
• UT Rio Grande Valley connects on 11.8 three-pointers per game (fourth-most in college basketball) while shooting 33.3% from deep (212th in college basketball). It is making 5.3 more threes per outing than its opponents, who drain 6.5 per game while shooting 30.1%.
• The Vaqueros put up 99.2 points per 100 possessions (122nd in college basketball), while giving up 85.3 points per 100 possessions (70th in college basketball).
• 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 put up 65.6 points per game (341st in college basketball) while allowing 86.1 per outing (361st in college basketball). They have a -266 scoring differential and have been outscored by 20.5 points per game.
• New Orleans ranks 236th in the nation at 32.1 rebounds per game. That’s 6.8 fewer than the 38.9 its opponents average.
• New Orleans connects on 3.9 fewer threes per contest than the opposition, 6.2 (319th in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 10.1.
• New Orleans has come up short in the turnover battle by 2.2 per game, committing 13.1 (309th in college basketball) while forcing 10.9 (264th in college basketball).

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