Privateers
Preview
NEW ORLEANS — Bettors who backed the New Orleans Privateers (-23.5) had little to sweat about Saturday afternoon, as UNO exploded out of the gate and never looked back in a 109–78 rout of cross-town rival SUNO at Lakefront Arena. The Privateers, fresh off their upset win over TCU, followed up with a statement performance that rewarded both spread and Over bettors in emphatic fashion.
Fast Start Crushes the Line Early
The Privateers came out firing from deep, burying five three-pointers in the first six minutes of play. By the 14-minute mark, UNO had already built a 24–8 lead, and the live line ballooned to -35. Bettors holding early UNO tickets knew they were in for a good afternoon when the team hit 10-of-18 threes in the first half and went into the locker room with a 66–38 lead, already nearly covering the pregame total by halftime.
UNO’s blistering 60.1% shooting from the field and 55.6% from three-point range made this one a mismatch from the start. Head coach Mark Slessinger’s squad showed no hangover from their TCU upset, delivering a high-tempo offensive clinic that kept the scoreboard operators busy.
Player Props: Benson and Cope Cash for Backers
If you tailed Coleton Benson’s player props, you cashed early. The senior guard — who entered the game averaging 22 points — finished with 18 points, all coming in the first half, while hitting five triples on just seven attempts. Bettors who grabbed his Over 16.5 points prop got paid before the second half even began.
TJ Cope also came through for those who played him Over on points, dropping 17 on 7-of-9 shooting, while Churchill Abass provided value for anytime-block bettors, swatting three shots in only nine minutes.
For SUNO, Donte Briggs (15 points) and Erroll Smith (14) paced the Knights offensively, but their combined efforts weren’t enough to threaten the spread or the total.
Second-Half Sweat? Not Even Close
The Privateers’ bench unit kept the pressure on in the second half, stretching the lead past 30 midway through the frame and ensuring the game stayed out of reach. Bettors who took UNO -13.5 in the first half and UNO -23.5 full game both hit comfortably, as the Privateers controlled every statistical category.
UNO’s depth made the difference once again — all 15 players saw action, and 12 logged at least one made field goal. Even as the starters exited early, the Privateers continued to score efficiently, finishing with 109 points, the program’s highest output since 2020.
Total Ticket Pays Big
The pregame total closed around 145.5, but with UNO’s offense humming and SUNO finding some late scoring rhythm, the Over never seemed in doubt. The first half alone produced 104 combined points, sending Over bettors to the cashier window early.
UNO’s pace and efficiency made this one of the easiest Overs of the college basketball weekend, and bettors who’ve followed the Privateers so far are now 2-0 on totals to start the season.
Betting Breakdown
| Category | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | ✅ UNO -23.5 | Covered by +7.5 points |
| Moneyline | ✅ UNO (-5000) | Never in doubt |
| Total (O/U 145.5) | ✅ Over | Combined 187 points |
| First Half Line (-13.5) | ✅ Hit | UNO led by 28 at halftime |
| Team Total (UNO 84.5) | ✅ Over | Scored 109 points |
| Player Prop: Benson PTS (O16.5) | ✅ Over | Scored 18 in first half |
Key Betting Takeaways
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UNO improves to 2-0 ATS to start the season.
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Privateers Overs are 2-0 thanks to elite shooting and tempo.
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UNO bench depth is turning blowouts into easy spread covers.
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Benson props remain profitable, as he’s averaged 20 PPG through two games.
Up Next
The Privateers hit the road next for a tougher test against LSU at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Monday night. Early lines have UNO +14.5, with the total set around 147.5. Bettors looking for another value spot should keep an eye on the first half total, as UNO has averaged 54.5 points before halftime through two games.
Final Score Prediction Recap:
New Orleans 109, SUNO 78
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✅ UNO -23.5
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✅ Over 145.5
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✅ UNO 1H -13.5
