Clemson vs. McNeese State: 2025 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks

by BettingPros Staff |
Mar 16, 2025

The 2025 NCAA Tournament is officially here! The March Madness Bracket is set, and first-round NCAA Tournament matchups are in place. It’s time to make your picks and predictions for the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament! We’re here to help as we’ll have picks and predictions for each of the first-round 2025 NCAA Tournament games. Here are our top picks and predictions for Clemson vs. McNeese State.

2025 NCAA Tournament Odds & Picks: Clemson vs. McNeese State

Let’s dive into our top picks and predictions for this opening-round NCAA Tournament matchup.

2025 NCAA Tournament Preview: Clemson vs. McNeese State

Clemson 2025 NCAA Tournament Preview

Clemson has quietly been excellent, posting a 27-6 record and being one of the few teams that can say it beat Duke. Ranking as a top-25 offensive and defensive unit, Clemson’s all-around play will make the Tigers a tough out. Clemson has the 14th-highest field goal rate among DI teams.

The Tigers can score at all levels, but this team doesn’t have any true scoring standouts. Chase Hunter might qualify with his 41% clip from deep. Hunter averages a team-high 16.4 points per game and three other players average double-digits. Ian Schieffelin is one of the best rebounders in the tournament, averaging 9.4 boards per game.

Defensively, Clemson will slow teams down, forcing them deeper into the shot clock more than anyone not named Duke. The Tigers are experienced and disciplined. They force turnovers with few fouls, ranking top 50 in turnover rate and opponent free throw rate. Opponents will need a good shooting game to beat the Tigers.

The strength of schedule is certainly concerning for Clemson, especially considering they have three semi-tough non-conference losses to Boise State, Memphis, and South Carolina. They rank above average in most metrics, but it's tough to tell where this team is elite and what it will lean on for the tournament. Still, the ACC almost always surprises in the tournament, it seems, and Clemson is capable of making a deep run this year.

McNeese State 2025 NCAA Tournament Preview

McNeese State enters the NCAA Tournament as not just the best team in the Southland Conference but as a legitimate mid-major force with a roster that resembles a high-major squad. Under second-year head coach Will Wade, the Cowboys have surged to a 27-6 and 19-1 conference record. McNeese has a top-70 offense and defense making them one of the most balanced mid-majors in the field.

The Cowboys' offensive philosophy is simple but brutally effective: attack the rim relentlessly. They rank 16th in the country in near-proximity shot attempts, converting at a strong 57.5% clip. Their ability to limit turnovers while also forcing takeaways fuels an offense that scores over 1.14 points per possession. McNeese's defensive scheme is equally imposing, ranking 18th in the nation in points off breakaway steals and the high turnover rate helps. They pressure full-court at one of the highest rates in the country and feature a versatile, switch-heavy defensive system designed to cause chaos.

The Cowboys’ formula is clear: pressure, disrupt, and attack. They play fast, force mistakes, and convert in transition. With four players scoring in double-digits each night, any given player can go off a night, beyond just Javohn Garcia. If their defensive intensity holds up and their deep roster of scorers clicks, McNeese has the potential to make serious noise in March. It's tough to forget what they did last year against Gonzaga, barely even competing but new year, new team. This isn't just a strong mid-major-this is a dangerous team built to win.

2025 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Clemson vs. McNeese State

The McNeese Cowboys, coached by Will Wade, are back in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. They have won 11 straight games and finished the regular season 27-6. However, the Cowboys play in the Southland Conference, the 21st-best conference in the nation. That said, the Cowboys splashed 37.2% from deep and 52.3% from inside the arc. They're not getting to the foul line at a high rate, but they have still added nearly 34% of offensive rebounds. That should continue against Clemson. After all, Clemson has allowed opponents to earn 31.3% of offensive rebounds. Ultimately, McNeese will need a bunch of second chances since Clemson has limited teams to 32.2% from deep and 46.9% from inside the arc. Beyond that, the Tigers have earned 34.7% of offensive rebounds and should match McNeese on the glass in this game. I still like Clemson to survive, but McNeese should at least cover the 7.5-point spread.

2025 NCAA Tournament Picks: Clemson vs. McNeese State

McNeese +7.5 (-110)

Check out all of our 2025 NCAA Tournament Bracket & Betting Coverage >>

2025 NCAA Tournament Sports Betting Picks

For those looking to place bets on the matchups, let's take a look at the early odds and picks for the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

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