Central Connecticut vs New Haven Prediction 2/12/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Central Connecticut State Blue Devils and the New Haven Chargers will meet on Thursday night in an NEC matchup at the Jeffery P. Hazell Athletics Center in West Haven, Connecticut.

Central Connecticut Blue Devils Betting Preview

The Central Connecticut Blue Devils enter Thursday’s contest with a 13–10 overall win‑loss record, including a 7–5 mark in conference play and a 6–7 record on the road. The Blue Devils have amassed wins over Stonehill, St. Francis and Sacred Heart, while dropping recent games to Seton Hall, Fairfield and the Long Island Sharks.

It is noteworthy that these two teams met earlier this season. Who won? Who played well in the game? In the Central Connecticut Blue Devils 72-61 win over the New Haven Chargers last month, Blue Devils forward Darin Smith Jr. tallied 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals illustrating his ability to lead the Central Connecticut frontcourt.    

The Central Connecticut Blue Devils are averaging 71.1 points on 45.4 percent shooting from the field and 36.3 percent shooting from three‑point range (55th in nation) per game. Shifting our focus to the defensive side of the basketball, the Blue Devils are allowing opponents 72.8 points per contest.

Sophomore forward Darin Smith Jr. leads the Central Connecticut Blue Devils averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Junior forward Max Frazier contributes 12.4 points, 7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per contest, while senior guard Jay Rodgers averages 11.4 points and a robust 7.3 assists per game.

New Haven Chargers Betting Preview

The New Haven Chargers enter Thursday’s contest with a 10–14 record, including a 5–6 mark in conference play and a 6–4 record at home. The Chargers have compiled wins over Wagner, Chicago State, and the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, while losing games to Stonehill, Long Island, and the Boston College Eagles.

The New Haven Chargers average 59.4 points on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 29.9 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Chargers are allowing opponents 68.1 points per contest which ranks 34th in the country.

Junior guard Jabri Fitzpatrick leads the New Haven Chargers averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game. Forward Stefano Faloppa averages 7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2 assists per contest, while sophomore guard Najimi George provides additional scoring depth averaging 11.3 points per game.

Why the Central Connecticut Blue Devils Will Win

• Frontcourt play. Sophomore forward Darin Smith Jr. leads the Blue Devils frontcourt averaging 19.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest.

• Momentum. The Central Connecticut Blue Devils arrive at tomorrow night’s game on the heels of a two-game winning streak.

• Offensive edge. The Blue Devils are averaging 71.1 points per contest. Conversely, the New Haven Chargers are averaging a rather low 59.4 points per game which ranks an abysmal which ranks an abysmal 364th in the country.

Why the New Haven Chargers Will Win

• Home court edge. The New Haven Chargers have compiled a 6–4 record at home this season.

• Defensive edge. The Chargers are allowing opponents 68.1 points per contest which ranks 34th in the country.

• Quality guard play. Junior guard Jabri Fitzpatrick leads the New Haven Chargers averaging 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

Central Connecticut vs. New Haven Prediction

This matchup features the Central Connecticut Blue Devils superior offense and quality frontcourt production against a New Haven Chargers team that has an elite defense. Unfortunately, the Chargers have been an abysmal basketball team on offense. In my view, the Blue Devils are the clear side to be on in this matchup. With that said, I am backing the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils to win this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Central Connecticut TBA