The UNC Asheville Bulldogs take on the USC Upstate Spartans in Spartanburg, SC. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
UNC Asheville is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -110. The total is set at 142.5 points.
Here’s my UNC Asheville vs. USC Upstate predictions and college basketball picks for January 21, 2026.
UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate Prediction
My Pick: Over 142.5 (Play to 145)
My UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate best bet is on the over. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
UNC Asheville vs. USC Upstate Odds
| UNC Asheville Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +105 | 142.5 -112o / -108u | -110 |
| USC Upstate Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -125 | 142.5 -112o / -108u | -110 |
- UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate spread: UNC Asheville -1.5
- UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate over/under: 142.5 points
- UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate moneyline: UNC Asheville -110, USC Upstate -110
UNC Asheville vs USC Upstate College Basketball Betting Preview
UNC Asheville Basketball
UNC Asheville has struggled through an 8-12 season and finds itself buried at the bottom of the Big South standings as we approach the halfway mark of league play.
The Bulldogs have struggled with turnovers and consistent frontcourt play. Also, they're not overly deep.
The offense is led by Kameron Taylor and Justin Wright, who both average 17 points per game, while Toyaz Solomon averages 16. These three account for 67% of the UNC Asheville's scoring output, and we should see a ton of production from them in this matchup.
For UNC Asheville to get back in the Big South race and become a threat to the major players in the conference, it needs to develop another scoring option, likely in the form of DJ Patrick, who's its most reliable 3-point shooter.
Defensively, UNC Asheville has been consistently mediocre or worse. The Bulldogs don't guard well and struggle to keep their opponents off the glass or the foul line.
Their last three games have seen 51 or more combined free-throw attempts, so UNC Asheville needs to stay out of foul trouble in this game.
USC Upstate Basketball
The Spartans are 9-11 this season, and while that doesn't look like much, Marty Richter has done a good job with his group. This team was one of the worst nationally in 2024-25, and what once was a non-competitive Big South bottom-feeder has become a formidable opponent every night.
Upstate has four players who average double figures in scoring, led by Mason Bendinger at 15.2 points per game. Karmani Gregory averages 13.5 and splits the point duties with Tyler Smith, who leads the team with 62 assists on the season.
The bigs rebound well, but don’t score a ton, and the guards can create off the dribble and penetrate the lane often resulting in good outside looks (which aren't being converted) or fouls. We should see USC Upstate get to the line in this one quite often.
The Spartans are undersized and often get out-toughed in the post. Coen Collier is the only player taller than 6-foot-9, and he played just eight minutes against Charleston Southern and missed the last contest against High Point, where USC Upstate gave up 44 points in the paint.
I would expect this group to struggle in the post in this one.
UNC Asheville vs. USC Upstate Betting Analysis
This line opened with the game as a pick'em and the total set at 142.5. I like the over in the latest installment of what's morphed into a really spirited rivalry.
I don't believe USC Upstate will be able to defend the big three of Taylor, Wright and Solomon. One of these three players — or all three — could end up exceeding 20 points in this one, and the Bulldogs will have a substantial advantage in the post.
USC Upstate can't defend without fouling and this defense sends its opponents to the line at a rate that ranks 276th nationally. Those numbers have gotten worse as we've entered Big South play, as have the conference-adjusted defensive efficiency metrics.
UNC Asheville should live at the foul line and could attempt 30 or more free throws in this game.
USC Upstate has offensive weaponry to counter, and the Spartans should have success with their guards in this game. Gregory and Bendinger should have decent scoring outputs, and the quicker and smaller lineup should create situations where USC Upstate shoots a ton of foul shots.
UNC Asheville doesn't defend well without fouling, ranking 287th nationally in free-throw rate, and the Bulldogs won't force a lot of turnovers either.
This is such a highly contested series and four of the last five contests have been very high scoring. With a current total up at DraftKings of 142.5, I like this matchup to go over.
My Pick: Over 142.5 (Play to 145)
