Predictions & Picks for McNeese vs Clemson, Plus Odds & Betting Lines (Mar. 20)

• McNeese State battles Clemson in the first round of the NCAAB Tournament on Thursday, March 20
• McNeese has won 11 straight games, while Clemson is 12-5 ATS in its last 17 games
• See my McNeese vs Clemson predictions and picks, plus the full slate of odds

The #12 McNeese State Cowboys (27-6, 15-17 ATS), the champions of the Southland Conference, meet the #5 Clemson Tigers (27-6, 20-13 ATS) of the ACC in March Madness round of 64 action this Thursday, March 20. Impressively, McNeese State is 22-1 SU in its last 23 games. In that same vein, the Clemson Tigers also enter the NCAA Tournament on a roll, having won 10 of their last 11 contests.

McNeese vs Clemson tips off from Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence, Rhode Island, at 3:15 pm ET. Find all the McNeese vs Clemson odds and my best bets below.

McNeese vs Clemson Odds

McNeese is an intriguing +275 underdog as they meet the No.5 seed Tigers in round of 64. The Tigers are 7.5-point favorites in Thursday’s college basketball odds.

Odds as of March 20th, at DraftKings Sportsbook. Check out SBD’s list of the best March Madness betting apps to wager on the 2025 tournament.

McNeese State Is a Live Underdog

The McNeese State Cowboys are a worthwhile Cinderella pick in the 2025 March Madness tournament. The Cowboys are a popular underdog pick in this classic No.12 versus No.5 matchup. Former LSU head coach Will Wade has turned McNeese into a mid-major powerhouse.

The Cowboys rank 63rd in KenPom’s offensive efficiency and 66th defensively. McNeese’s true power lies in its ability to force turnovers, where they rank 18th in opponent turnover percentage (21.6). Wade’s team also crashes the glass ruthlessly. Despite their lack of size, the Cowboys sit 42nd in the nation in offensive rebounding percentage.

On top of that, McNeese shoot the ball well for a mid-major team, ranking 75th in effective field goal percentage. Moreover, the Cowboys are 11th in the country in steal percentage (13.3) and are particularly effective in running opponents off the three-point line, with just 38.3% of total points surrendered coming from deep – good for 12th in the nation.

In short, McNeese checks all the boxes of a classic March Madness Cinderella squad. Wade’s team creates additional possessions by forcing turnovers and crashing the glass, while playing at a deliberate pace, and knocking down over 35% of threes. The Cowboys are a tough out for anybody in the do-or-die nature of the March Madness tournament.

Clemson Aim to Go on a March Madness Run

Clemson is on a run and will aim to carry over its momentum into the NCAA tournament. With wins over stalwart blue bloods in Duke and Kentucky, the Tigers will be confident in their ability to dispatch McNeese and advance. Senior guard Chase Hunter leads Clemson, averaging 16.4 points per game.

The Tigers are a fantastic shooting team ranking 64th with a 53.6% effective field goal percentage. Additionally, Brad Brownell’s squad shoots over 37% from, good for 31st in the country. However, the Tigers struggle to crash the glass, ranking 191st in opponent offensive rebounding percentage (29.9) and rank 139th in the nation in total rebounds per game (35.3). McNeese will abuse that weakness and make Clemson pay should the Tigers take them lightly inside the paint.

McNeese vs Clemson Prediction

Ultimately, I like McNeese’s pressure-based defense to keep it in this contest. While the Cowboys will be outmatched height wise, they should be able to nullify that by forcing turnovers.

Clemson turns the ball over on an alarming 15.7 percent of possessions. Additionally, the Tigers reliance on the three ball could be their undoing. McNeese defends the three-point line well, allowing opponents to shoot just 32% from deep.

Look for McNeese to stay in this contest late and grind out a victory. Back the Cowboys to upset the Tigers in this McNeese vs Clemson round of 64 matchup.

Pick: McNeese Moneyline (+275) at DraftKings