South Dakota vs North Dakota State Prediction 12/31/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The North Dakota State Bison and the South Dakota Coyotes will meet on Wednesday afternoon in a Summit League matchup at the Scheels Center in Fargo, North Dakota.

North Dakota State Bison Betting Preview

The North Dakota State Bison enter Wednesday afternoon’s contest with a 10–5 win‑loss record, including a 6–0 record at home. The Bison have compiled wins over Northern Arizona, Cal State Bakersfield, Drake, Montana and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, while losing games to UTEP, Arkansas State and the Oregon State Beavers. More recently, in the North Dakota State Bison’s 76–66 loss to UTEP eight days ago, North Dakota State guard Trevian Carson tallied 23 points (9 of 15 shooting from the field), 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals showcasing his ability to anchor the Bison offense.

The North Dakota State Bison average 76.6 points on 42.5 percent shooting from the field and 32 percent from three‑point range per game. Through 15 games played in 2025, the Bison are allowing opponents 73.4 points per game.

Junior guard Trevian Carson leads the North Dakota State Bison backcourt averaging 12.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Junior forward Damari Wheeler-Thomas provides the Bison with additional quality guard play contributing 14.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.6 steals per contest.

South Dakota Coyotes Betting Preview

The South Dakota Coyotes enter Wednesday’s matchup with an 8–7 record, including an 0–5 record on the road. The Coyotes have earned wins over Dakota State, Champion Christian, South Carolina State and the Air Force Falcons, while dropping games to Kansas State, Wyoming and the Missouri Tigers. In South Dakota’s recent 106–76 loss to Kansas State, South Dakota guard Isaac Bruns accumulated 19 points (3 of 5 shooting from three-point range), 5 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.

The South Dakota Coyotes average 80.6 points on 43.5 percent shooting from the field and 33.7 percent from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the South Dakota Coyotes have allowed 86.2 points per contest which ranks an abysmal 341st in the nation.

Junior guard Isaac Bruns leads the South Dakota Coyotes averaging 20.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Senior center Cameron Fens provides the Coyotes with a strong interior presence contributing 11.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per contest.

Why the North Dakota State Bison will win

• Home court dominance. The Bison are a perfect 6–0 at home this season.

• Defensive edge. North Dakota State Bison has allowed opponents just 73.4 points per game. Conversely, the South Dakota Coyotes have allowed 83.5 points per contest this season.

• Balanced scoring. Trevian Carson and Damari Wheeler-Thomas combine for over 27 points scored per game.

Why the South Dakota Coyotes will win

• Explosive scoring. South Dakota averages 80.5 points per game, one of the highest marks in the team’s conference.

• Guard play. Isaac Bruns is averaging 20.7 points per game.

• Motivation. The Coyotes will look to secure the team’s first road win of 2025.

North Dakota vs. South Dakota Prediction

This matchup features North Dakota State’s home‑court advantage and defensive discipline against a South Dakota team that scores at a high level but has struggled significantly both defensively and on the road (0-6). Look for the Bison to lean on Trevian Carson’s efficient scoring, while the Coyotes will counter with Isaac Bruns’ shot‑making and pace.

The South Dakota Coyotes have the offensive firepower to keep this game competitive, but their defensive inconsistency and 0–5 road record are frankly difficult to overlook. With that said, I am backing the North Dakota State Bison to cover the 10.5 points in this contest.

Hans Geevers's Pick: North Dakota State -10.5