New Orleans vs Northwestern State Prediction 1/3/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Northwestern State Demons and the New Orleans Privateers will meet on Saturday afternoon in a Southland Conference matchup at Prather Coliseum in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

Northwestern State Demons Betting Preview

The Northwestern State Demons enter Saturday’s matchup with Stephen F. Austin with a 3–10 record, including a 2–3 mark at home and a 1–7 record on the road. The Demons have compiled wins over Southern–New Orleans, Southeastern Louisiana and Ecclesia College, while dropping games to California, McNeese, Southern and the Texas A&M Aggies. More recently, in the Northwestern State Demons convincing 108–55 victory over Southern–New Orleans last month, Northwestern State guard Micah Thomas amassed 20 points (6 of 11 shooting from the field), 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals illustrating his ability to play at a high-level.

The Northwestern State Demons are averaging 67.1 points on 42.8 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent shooting from behind the arc per game. Defensively, the Demons are allowing opponents 81.6 points per game which ranks a dreadful 307th in the country.

Senior guard Micah Thomas leads the Northwestern State Demons averaging 16.1 points, 1.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1 steal per game. Sophomore guard Justin Redmond provides the Demons with further backcourt versatility averaging 9.8 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1 steal per contest, while junior guard Izzy Miles is averaging 10 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.5 steals per game. 

New Orleans Privateers Betting Preview

The New Orleans Privateers enter Saturday’s matchup with a 4–9 overall record, including a 2–2 conference. The Privateers have compiled wins over Tulane, TCU, and UT Rio Grande Valley, while dropping games to LSU, Fresno State, Mississippi State and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In the New Orleans Privateers dominant 85-69 win over UT Rio Grande Valley, New Orleans guard Jakevion Buckley tallied 32 points (12 of 20 shooting from the field), 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals showcasing his ability to lead the Privateers offense.

The New Orleans Privateers are averaging 72.7 points on 43 percent shooting from the field and 34.5 percent shooting from behind the arc. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Privateers are allowing opponents 82.5 points per game which ranks an abysmal 316th in the nation.

Senior guard Jakevion Buckley leads the New Orleans Privateers with 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds 5 assists and 1.8 steals per game. Senior guard Coleton Benson contributes 13.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.6 steals per contest, giving the Privateers a second scoring option in the backcourt. Junior center Churchill Abass provides New Orleans with a presence in the paint averaging 5.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

Why the Northwestern State Demons Will Win

•             Quality guard play. Senior guard Micah Thomas leads the Demons with 16.1 points on 43.9 percent shooting from the field per game.

•             Balanced scoring. Micah Thomas, Justin Redmond and Izzy Miles combine for 36 points per contest.

Why the New Orleans Privateers Will Win

•             Backcourt play. Senior guard Jakevion Buckley leads the New Orleans Privateers with 14.8 points, 5.4 rebounds 5 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

•             Enhanced motivation. The Privateers have lost seven of the team’s last ten games played in 2025.

Northwestern State vs. New Orleans

This matchup features the Northwestern State Demons rebounding strength and second‑half execution against a New Orleans team that relies heavily on perimeter scoring to stay competitive.

Additionally, the Demons have been significantly stronger at home, while New Orleans has struggled on the road and continues to battle inconsistency on both ends of the floor. In my view, the clear side to be on in this game is with the Demons.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Northwestern State TBA