Koalas @ Seahawks

2025-12-27T17:00Z | Trask Coliseum | FloSports
UNCW: 10-2

Want to know what happens when a Division II team walks into a hot home environment against a squad that's been winning at an 83% clip on their own floor?

Columbia College is getting fed to the wolves here. The Fighting Koalas are 0-for-everything on the road this season - that's not a typo, that's a pattern. Meanwhile, UNCW has turned Trask Coliseum into a house of horrors for visitors, and they're riding momentum from a strong 10-2 start.

Here's the thing about these guarantee games - they're designed to be blowouts. The home team gets an easy W, the visitor gets a check. Columbia College doesn't have the athletes or the depth to hang with a program like Wilmington that's been recruiting at a higher level for years.

The Seahawks will press, force turnovers, and turn this into a track meet early. By halftime, the starters will be getting rest.

**Take: UNCW covers whatever spread they're laying. This one gets ugly fast.**

Cougars @ Dukes

2025-12-27T19:00Z | UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse | ESPN+
DUQ: 7-5

You know what screams "scheduled loss" louder than a slot machine jackpot? A nobody program traveling to face a decent home team in December.

Cleary University - and I had to Google these clowns - rolling into Pittsburgh with a big fat zero road win percentage. Meanwhile, Duquesne's sitting pretty at 58% at home in the cozy confines of UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse. That's not coincidence, that's mathematics.

Here's the thing about these cupcake games: the favorite usually covers because the underdog is just happy to cash the appearance check. Cleary's probably thrilled to be playing in a real arena instead of some high school gym. No fight, no motivation beyond the paycheck.

Duquesne's had time to prepare, they're comfortable in their own building, and they're facing competition that makes Division II look competitive. The home team should boat race these pretenders by halftime and cruise to an easy cover.

**Take: Duquesne big, whatever the spread is.**

Matadors @ Cardinal

2025-12-28T01:00Z | Maples Pavilion | ACC Extra
Line: STAN -16.5 | O/U: 165.5 | CSUN: 8-5 | STAN: 10-2

Everyone's salivating over this 16.5-point spread like it's Christmas morning, but they're missing the real action. Stanford's home cooking at Maples looks tasty until you realize Northridge isn't your typical mid-major doormat - these kids can actually put points on the board.

Here's what the squares don't see: Stanford's been grinding through cupcakes to build that pretty 10-2 record, but their defensive intensity drops off a cliff when they get comfortable leads. And they will get comfortable against Northridge early. Meanwhile, the Matadors' 62% road win rate tells you they're not folding like a cheap suit when the crowd gets loud.

Stanford runs up 45 in the first half, then coasts while Northridge finds their rhythm in garbage time. Cardinal bench gets extended minutes, fouling increases, possessions pile up. The total becomes a backdoor carnival.

**Take the OVER 165.5** - this number's built for suckers who think blowouts mean boring.