Nicholls State vs Valparaiso Prediction 11/12/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Nicholls State Colonels and the Valparaiso Beacons meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Athletics-Recreation Center. Here’s a Nicholls State vs Valparaiso prediction. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Nicholls State vs Valparaiso pick. We will examine the recent form and player performances for both teams, as well as the recent betting trends and streaks pertaining to this matchup. As we conclude, we will tie it all together with a summary that produces a sensible pick for a favorable betting outcome in this game.

Nicholls State Colonels Betting Preview

The Colonels had a very tricky game on the road versus Kentucky in their opener this year. That one went just about how anyone might expect: Nicholls was down 28-15 by the break and didn’t end up getting closer in a 77-51 blowout loss. Jalin Rice led the team with 13 points and two boards in 14 minutes, and Jalik Dunkley also reached double-digits with 10 points and four rebounds.

Last Friday the Colonels took on Eastern Illinois in a road matchup. Nicholls State was trailing 25-16 going into halftime and scored 41 more points from there in a 65-57 loss. Jaylen Searles topped the team in the losing effort with 20 points, six rebounds and three assists. Trae English was the only other player in double-figures with 17 points and two boards, but Sincere Malone chipped in 10 rebounds with six points in 32 minutes of action during the road defeat.

Valparaiso Beacons Betting Preview

On Tuesday in their 2025-26 opener versus Eastern Illinois, the Beacons went into the locker room with a 31-25 advantage. Valparaiso got outscored by three points the rest of the way but held on for the 66-63 win in the end. Isaiah Barnes doubled up as the top scorer on 15 points and 10 boards, while JT Pettigrew had 13 points and four rebounds. Rakim Chaney finished in double-figures as well with 12 points in 24 minutes of work on the floor during the win.

Valparaiso has also played Kentucky in an early matchup this season. The Beacons took on the Wildcats last Friday and trailed 58-26 by halftime. Valparaiso didn’t get any closer on a 49-33 run the rest of the way and lost 107-59. Topping the scorers during the losing effort was Rakim Chaney with 15 points, five assists and three rebounds in 25 minutes of work. He was the only team player to reach double-digits, but Carter Hopoi got close on nine points in 21 minutes. Three other Beacons players managed seven points apiece in the loss.

Nicholls State Colonels @ Valparaiso Beacons Betting Trends: November 12, 2025

Why the Valparaiso Beacons will win

• Valparaiso has won each of its last five games against non-Conference opponents at Athletics-Recreation Center.
• Nicholls State has lost each of its last seven Wednesday night games against non-Conference opponents.
• Nicholls State has lost the first half in 11 of its last 13 night games against non-Conference opponents.

Why the Nicholls State Colonels will win

• Nicholls State has won the first half in three of its last four night games against non-AP-ranked opponents.

Nicholls State vs Valparaiso Prediction

I’ll stick with Valparaiso. This is an interesting matchup, as these teams share common opponents through their first two games and the Beacons are the only ones with a victory. That wasn’t so in the matchup with a good Kentucky team, as Valparaiso shot just 28.4 percent from the field with a 45-33 rebounding deficit and a 48-18 disadvantage on points in the paint. Valparaiso hasn’t really scored well over their first two games though; they’ve notched a combined 125 points in that pair.

As for Nicholls State, they didn’t play well at all in the road loss to Eastern Illinois. The Colonels shot just 29.5 percent from the field in that one with 4-of-26 (15.4 percent) from 3-point range and 17-of-27 (63 percent) from the free throw line. Nicholls was out-rebounded 38-33 and had just seven team assists in the eight-point loss. Granted, this should be a much more manageable matchup for both teams as opposed to say, Kentucky. Considering Nicholls has just 108 combined points in their two games so far however, I don’t see them putting up enough of a fight on offense to end up covering this one.

Andrew Jett's Pick: Valparaiso Beacons TBA