Clemson vs. McNeese odds, March Madness predictions: 2025 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model

The No. 5 seed Clemson Tigers and the No. 12 seed McNeese Cowboys link up in the 2025 NCAA Tournament for a first-round contest on Thursday. The Tigers have won nine of their last 10 games. They finished the regular season with a 27-6 record. Meanwhile, the Cowboys are on an 11-game win streak of their own, including a 63-54 victory over Lamar in the Southland Conference Championship. McNeese also posted a 27-6 record on the year.

Tipoff from the Amica Mutual Pavilion is at 3:15 p.m. ET. The latest McNeese vs. Clemson odds via SportsLine consensus list the Tigers as 7.5-point favorites, while the over/under for total points scored is 135.5. Clemson’s over/under for total team points is 72.5. Before making any Clemson vs. McNeese picks, you need to see the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Division 1 college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters the 2025 NCAA Tournament on a 228-166 roll (+2025) on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to 2023. This model has also produced brackets that have beaten over 91% of CBS Sports entries in four of the last six tournaments and nailed 24 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds. Anyone following could have seen huge returns.

Now, the model has dialed in on McNeese vs. Clemson and just revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the college basketball odds and lines for McNeese vs. Clemson: 

• McNeese vs. Clemson spread: Tigers -7.5
• McNeese vs. Clemson over/under: 135.5 points 
• McNeese vs. Clemson money line: Tigers -348, Cowboys +276
• McNeese vs. Clemson picks: See picks at SportsLine
• McNeese vs. Clemson streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)

Why Clemson can cover

The Tigers have gone 5-1 when the spread was -9.5 to -5.5. They were also 14-7 against the spread with more than four days of rest. That should bode well for senior guard Chase Hunter, who is the go-to option on the offensive end of the floor. Hunter averages a team-best 16.4 points per game to go along with 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He’s finished with 20-plus points in consecutive games, including 23 points in the loss to Louisville on March 14. 

Senior forward Ian Schieffelin uses his frame to rack up boards and be a force in the lane. Schieffelin averages 12.8 points and 9.4 rebounds, while shooting 50% from the field. The Georgia native has racked up 12 double-doubles this season. In his last outing, he had 14 points and 12 boards. See which side to pick at SportsLine.

Why McNeese can cover

The Cowboys have gone 2-0 against the spread as an underdog, which is a small sample size but they are red-hot. They’ve won 11 straight games heading into the NCAA Tournament. Senior guard Javohn Garcia is an active player on both ends of the floor. He logs 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. On March 11 against Northwestern State, Garcia had 24 points, four assists, and two blocks.

Junior guard D.J. Richards Jr. is another shot-creator and floor spacer for the Cowboys. He averages 10.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game. The Texas native has scored double-digit points in nine of his last 10 games. Richards Jr. finished with 10 points and five boards in the win over Lamar on March 12.  See which side to pick at SportsLine.

How to make McNeese vs. Clemson picks

SportsLine’s model is leaning over the total, predicting that the teams will combine for 146 points. It also says one side of the spread hits in well over 70% of simulations. See which side to back at SportsLine.

So who wins Clemson vs. McNeese, and which side of the spread hits in well over 70% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up more than $2,000 on top-rated spread picks since 2023, and find out.