| MATCHUP | McNeese State Cowboys | UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 14-3 | 6-11 |
| Where | UTRGV Fieldhouse, Edinburg, TX | |
| When | Saturday, January 17, 2026 | |
| Time | 05:30 PM EST | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Preview
UT Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros have a 6-11 record this season and are tied in the 10th place of the Southland. They have a 4-4 home record and are coming off a 64-63 away loss against Northwestern State. Their previous three games were a 77-69 away loss against East Texas A&M, a 80-67 home win against Incarnate Word and a 63-59 home loss against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Offensively, UT Rio Grande Valley averages 74.4 points per game, while allowing 70.5 points per game defensively. The Vaqueros shoot with 46% from the field and grab 35.6 rebounds per game, while dishing out 16.4 assists per game. They average 2.7 blocks per game and 6.6 steals per game defensively.
Filip Brankovic leads UT Rio Grande Valley in scoring, with an average of 12.6 points per game, while shooting with 51.9% from the field and 81.5% from the free throw line. Koree Cotton is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.3 per game. Jaylen Washington leads the team in assists with 3.4 per game.
McNeese Cowboys Preview
McNeese Cowboys have a 14-3 record this season and are tied in the 1st place of the Southland. They have a 2-3 road record and are coming off a 94-68 home win against Nicholls. Their previous three games were a 73-61 home win against Southeastern Louisiana, a 66-64 home win against Stephen F. Austin and an 82-70 home win against Lamar.
Offensively, McNeese averages 84.8 points per game, while allowing 68.4 points per game defensively. The Cowboys shoot with 49% from the field and grab 36.3 rebounds per game, while dishing out 15.4 assists per game. They average 4.5 blocks per game and 10.5 steals per game defensively.
Larry Johnson leads McNeese in scoring, with an average of 16.5 points per game, while shooting with 52.3% from the field and 83.3% from the free throw line, and is the team’s leading rebounder with 5.3 per game. Garwey Dual leads the team in assists with 4.4 per game.
McNeese State Cowboys @ Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros Betting Trends: January 17, 2026
Why the Texas-Rio Grande Valley Vaqueros will win
- Texas–Rio Grande Valley has won each of its last seven home games following a road loss.
- Texas–Rio Grande Valley has won the first half in 12 of its last 14 home games.
Why the McNeese State Cowboys will win
- McNeese State has won 39 of its last 41 games against Conference opponents.
- Texas–Rio Grande Valley has lost five of its last six games.
- McNeese State has won the first half in 16 of its last 17 day games against Conference opponents.
McNeese vs UT Rio Grande Valley Prediction
In this McNeese vs UT Rio Grande Valley Prediction, McNeese is coming as -9 road favorites. McNeese has been the far better team this season, as they have a superior overall record but they have been below average on the road, while Rio Grande Valley has been mediocre at home. Both teams are coming into this matchup in opposite trajectories, as McNeese is 8-1 in its last 9 games, while Rio Grande Valley is 1-5 both straight up and against the spread in its last 6, so the value here lies with the road team. Take McNeese and lay the points in this one.