Western Carolina vs Georgia Prediction 12/18/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Georgia Bulldogs and the Western Carolina Catamounts will meet on Thursday evening in a non‑conference matchup at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia.

Georgia Bulldogs Betting Preview

The Georgia Bulldogs enter Thursday night’s contest with a 9–1 overall win‑loss record, including a perfect 6–0 mark at home. The Bulldogs have compiled wins over Bellarmine, Maryland Eastern Shore, Morehead State, Georgia Tech, Florida A&M, Xavier, Tennessee Tech, Florida State, and Cincinnati while losing to the Clemson Tigers. In the Georgia Bulldogs dominant 107–73 victory over Florida State earlier this month, Bulldogs guard Jeremiah Wilkinson tallied 22 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field and 4 of 8 shooting from three-point range illustrating his ability to lead the Bulldogs backcourt.

The Georgia Bulldogs are averaging 98.3 points (1st in the nation) on 49.1 percent shooting from the field and 30 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. Defensively, the Bulldogs are allowing opponents 71.2 points per game.

Sophomore guard Jeremiah Wilkinson leads the Georgia Bulldogs averaging 17.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 45 percent shooting from the field per game. Freshman guard Blue Cain contributes 16.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2.7 assists per contest. Center Somto Cyril provides the Bulldogs with a strong interior presence averaging 8.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game.

Western Carolina Catamounts Betting Preview

The Western Carolina Catamounts enter Thursday’s contest with a 4–6 record, including a 1–4 mark away from home. the Catamounts have amassed wins over UNC Asheville and the Stetson Hatters, while dropping games to Cincinnati, Duke and the Virginia Tech Hokies. In the Western Carolina Catamounts 80-73 win over the UNC Asheville Bulldogs, guard Cord Stansberry accumulated 29 points (8 of 18 shooting from the field) and 5 rebounds.  

The Western Carolina Catamounts average 68.6 points on 40.3 percent shooting from the field and 28.9 percent shooting from behind the arc per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Catamounts are allowing opponents 84.6 points per game which ranks a dreadful 332nd in the country.

Junior forward Marcus Kell leads the Western Carolina Catamounts averaging 13.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. Senior guard Julien Soumaoro contributes 13 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest, while center Abdulai Fanta Kabba adds 7.2 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game providing the Catamounts with a presence in the paint.

Why the Georgia Bulldogs will win

•            Home dominance. The Georgia Bulldogs have been outstanding at Stegeman Coliseum, posting a 6–0 record this season.

•            Quality guard play. Jeremiah Wilkinson and Blue Cain combine for over 32 points per game.

•            Defensive presence. Somto Cyril anchors the paint with 2.5 blocks per game.

Why the Western Carolina Catamounts will win

•            Kabba’s rebounding. Abdulai Fanta Kabba leads the team with 7.6 boards per game.

•            Balanced guard play. Brandon Morgan and Tyler Harris provide secondary scoring.

•            Underdog motivation. Western Carolina will look to shock a quality opponent.

Georgia vs. Western Carolina Prediction

This matchup features the Georgia Bulldogs explosive offense against the Western Carolina Catamounts struggling defense. Look for the Bulldogs to lean on guard Jeremiah Wilkinson’s perimeter shooting and Blue Cain’s strong rebounding. The Catamounts counter with Abdulai Fanta Kabba’s interior presence to keep this game competitive in the first half.

Additionally, turnovers and transition play could decide this one. The Western Carolina Catamounts have been inconsistent protecting the basketball at time this season. Conversely, the Georgia Bulldogs backcourt thrives in fast break situations. If Wilkinson and Cain convert those offensive opportunities, the Bulldogs should create separation late. With that said, I am backing the Georgia Bulldogs to pull away in the second half and win this game easily.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Georgia Bulldogs -34.5