Many eyes in the college basketball world will be on Thomas Center Saturday as host Louisiana Tech looks to handle the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in NCAA hoops action.

The Bulldogs are 7-2 so far on the season, and 5-2 ATS vs. the number. The Golden Eagles, meanwhile, are 6-2 and 6-2 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Louisiana Tech go 1-2 and the Golden Eagles go 0-4 on the totals.



View Southern Miss vs Louisiana Tech Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to back visiting Southern Miss before tip-off in this one found them as 4-point underdogs over at Sportsbook earlier.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 55-ranked Bulldogs and the No. 241-rated Golden Eagles in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 77-69 win for the Bulldogs on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
Rating these schools in several key categories is important for handicappers and Louisiana Tech has the nation's No. 69-rated offensive output, at 74.8 PPG. The visiting Golden Eagles defense ranks No. 59 allowing on average 59.4 PPG. The Bulldogs FG% has averaged 42% so far, less than the Golden Eagles marksmen have achieved on the year, 45% per game.

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Southern Miss owns the country's No. 38-rated mark, allowing 59.2 points per game on the highway. Louisiana Tech, on the other hand, rates No. 115 in scoring at home.

Southern Miss was a 63-55 loser in its last match on the road against Arizona. They covered the 16-point spread as underdogs. Neil Watson scored 17 points in a futile effort to lead the Golden Eagles to a win (they lost 63-55 to Arizona at McKale Center on Tuesday).

In their last action, Louisiana Tech was an 89-83 loser on the road against Northwestern State. The Bulldogs got 17 points from Kenneth Smith, but it was Northwestern State that prevailed in an 89-83 final on Tuesday at Prather Coliseum.


Southern Miss Golden Eagles Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Grambling State are 0-1
After a loss are 7-3

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing McNeese State are 4-6
After playing Northwestern State are 1-6
After a loss are 4-6

A few Golden Eagles at Bulldogs trends to consider:
Southern Miss is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games on the road
Louisiana Tech is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
Louisiana Tech is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games


Next up:
Southern Miss home to Grambling State, Saturday, December 15
Louisiana Tech at McNeese State, Wednesday, December 12