Lamar Cardinals vs Abilene Christian Wildcats Prediction, Odds, Best Bets - Week 1

Lamar scored in bunches in its opener and travels to Abilene Christian, where the Wildcats are still looking for offense after a rough first night on the road.

The Matchup

Lamar arrives in Abilene at 1-0 off a 124-62 home win over Schreiner at the Montagne Center. Five Cardinals reached double figures, and the scoring was spread in a way that is hard to game plan against. Quante Berry led with 22 points on 9 of 17 shooting in just 21 minutes. Filip Radakovic added 18 points and 13 rebounds, M.J.

Wardlow had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Mike Collins scored 18 with 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Two double doubles in one night tells the story of a frontcourt that owned its area. The honest read on that number needs the opponent named: Schreiner is a lower division visitor, so the 124 says more about Lamar's depth and balance than about how the Cardinals will score against Southland Conference competition.

Last season, across the full season of all games, Lamar finished 12-19 scoring 69.9 points per game and allowing 69.1, a tight, low scoring profile. Abilene Christian comes home at 0-1 after the opposite kind of opener, a 94-59 loss at Colorado where nobody scored more than Timeo Pons and his 13 points. Willan Marie-Anais added 11 points and 8 rebounds, but the Wildcats never found a second gear against a power conference defense.

Across the full season last year, Abilene Christian went 14-19 in the United Athletic Conference, scoring 70.3 points per game and allowing 72.4. This season's first games point the same direction as those full season numbers, only wider: Lamar defended and rebounded at a high level, and Abilene Christian struggled to score at all. Moody Coliseum gives the Wildcats their home opener, and that is the main thing standing between Lamar and a comfortable afternoon.

Key Factors

The glass is where this game tilts. Radakovic pulled 13 rebounds and Wardlow 11 in the opener, and Lamar's size produced second chances all night. Abilene Christian allowed 94 points at Colorado and leans on Marie-Anais, its only real presence inside with 8 rebounds in that loss. If Lamar's frontcourt controls the boards again, the Wildcats spend the afternoon defending extra possessions, and a home team that scored 59 points in its opener cannot afford to give away any.

The second factor is depth. Lamar's starters played between 21 and 24 minutes in a rout and stayed fresh, with scoring coming from everywhere. Abilene Christian rode Yaniel Rivera for 32 minutes at Colorado because the bench gave so little. Over 40 minutes in a game lined at a total of 163.5, the deeper rotation usually wins the last ten minutes.

The total itself is worth a look. These teams scored 69.9 and 70.3 points per game across the full season last year, a combined profile near 140, yet the posted total sits far above that because of Lamar's opener. If the pace settles anywhere near last season's habits, points get scarcer, and scarcer points help the side catching a possession. The counterpoint is real.

Lamar has proven nothing away from home, its opener came against a lower division team, and Abilene Christian faced a far stronger test at Colorado. Pons shot 5 of 14 in that loss and Rivera played heavy minutes without much help. If the Wildcats' guards shoot the way a home opener usually allows, the home team can cover a short number. But a team that needs a shooting leap just to reach its number, against a deeper opponent that defends and rebounds, is a hard side to lay points with.

Every pick is published with its line before the game. Odds via consensus sportsbooks at time of writing and move constantly. Must be 21+. If gambling is a problem, call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.