Clemson vs McNeese Prediction, Preview & Odds: NCAA Tournament First Round

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Mar 19, 2025 1:45 AM ET

You know all those who love the 5-12 NCAA Tournament games because there’s almost alway one that goes the underdog’s way? This is the one they’ve fallen in deep like with.

McNeese has been fantastic. Ever since losing to Mississippi State in mid-December, it’s been on a tear going 22-1 including a breezy run to the Southland Tournament title.

Meanwhile, Clemson has been one of those underground hit teams that would’ve had a bigger audience if the ACC wasn’t so meh. It dropped the ACC Tournament game to Louisville in a thriller, but it went 18-2 to close - both losses to the Cardinals.

The one that gets out of this plays the Purdue vs High Point winner on Saturday.

Clemson vs McNeese Game Preview

Clemson vs McNeese How To Watch

Date: Thursday, March 20
Venue: Amica Mutual Pavilion, Providence, RI
Time: 3:15 pm ET
TV: truTV
Teams: (12) McNeese (27-6), (5) Clemson (27-6)
Region: Midwest
NCAA Tournament Schedule, Predictions, Previews

Why McNeese Will Win

So why are the Cowboys so good?

There’s no size, but they’re deep, they’re great on the boards, and they attack and clamp down on every play defensively. They allow a ridiculous 64 points per game with a way of turning takeaways from into points in a hurry.

Clemson isn’t all that deep, it doesn’t do enough to get to the free throw line, and …

Why Clemson Will Win

McNeese doesn’t hit its free throws.

Unlike Clemson it gets to the line, and it’s more of a bulk play, but it’s 225th in the nation at making them. That’s going to matter late in what should be a defensive battle.

And yes, McNeese is ultra-aggressive on the boards, but it really, really doesn’t have the size to deal with a Tiger bunch that can get really big really fast with Chauncey Wiggins and Viktor Lakhin to go along with rebounding machine Ian Schieffelin.

Clemson vs McNeese: Who Will Win?

Yes, McNeese has the toughness and makeup to handle a moment like this without being fazed, but it won’t hit quite enough threes to overcome the size disparity and issues on the free throw line.

McNeese will seem like it’s controlling the game, but Clemson won’t go anywhere. Late in the game, Clemson will come up with the key stops the Cowboys won’t - but it’ll be fun down to the last five minutes.

Clemson vs McNeese Prediction, Betting Lines

Prediction: Clemson 73, McNeese 64
Clemson vs McNeese Betting Lines
BetMGM Line: Clemson -7.5, o/u: 134.5
DraftKings Line: Clemson -7.5, o/u: 134.5
FanDuel Line: Clemson -7.5, o/u: 134.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

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