Lamar vs New Mexico State 1/6/22 College Basketball Picks, Predictions, Odds

The New Mexico State Aggies and the Lamar Cardinals meet Thursday in college basketball action from Montagne Center. New Mexico State is 12-2 so far this year. The Aggies are coming off a win over Chicago State. As for Lamar, they’re 2-12 and lost to Sam Houston in their last game. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

New Mexico State posted a 5-2 run over their first seven games with losses to Utah State and New Mexico. Since then it’s been wins over UTEP, New Mexico, LMU, Washington State, Northern NM, UTPB and Chicago State. 

In the Chicago State game, New Mexico State posted 48 points in the second half on the way to a 78-61 win. Jabari Rice led the team on 15 points with nine boards, and both Teddy Allen and Marchelus Avery added 11 points apiece. 

Over on the Lamar side, they went just 2-7 over their first nine with wins versus Wiley and Our Lady of the Lake. Lamar would then lose to TX-Arlington, Texas State, Texas A&M-CC and LA-Monroe and Sam Houston in succession. 

In the Sam Houston matchup, Lamar had a slim 34-33 lead at halftime but couldn’t hang on in a 75-64 loss. Lincoln Smith led the team on 20 points with six rebounds, and CJ Roberts posted 12 points with four boards. 

The Cardinals are 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven at home and 4-1 ATS in their last five Thursday games. The over is 10-4 in Lamar’s last 14 overall.
Meanwhile, the Aggies are 4-1 ATS in their last five road games and 4-0 ATS in their last four Thursday games. The over is 8-2 in New Mexico State’s last 10 overall. 

PICK: I’m going to stick with New Mexico State. The Aggies are on a nice run over this seven-game win streak. They’ve hit 72 or more points in five of those outings, and 78 or more in each of their last three. Considering Lamar has been at 64 points or below in four of their last five games, it’s going to be hard for the Cardinals to keep up. I like New Mexico State to be in control of this one pretty much from start to finish.