The New Mexico Lobos take on the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, NV. Tip-off is set for 11 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Nevada is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -125. The total is set at 152.5 points.
Here’s my New Mexico vs. Nevada prediction and college basketball picks for February 24, 2026.
New Mexico vs Nevada Prediction
My Pick: New Mexico ML +105
My New Mexico vs Nevada best bet is on the Lobos to win outright. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
New Mexico vs. Nevada Odds
| New Mexico Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -110 | 152.5 -110 / -110 | +105 |
| Nevada Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -110 | 152.5 -110 / -110 | -125 |
- New Mexico vs Nevada spread: Nevada -1.5
- New Mexico vs Nevada over/under: 152.5 points
- New Mexico vs Nevada moneyline: New Mexico +105, Nevada -125
New Mexico vs Nevada College Basketball Betting Preview
New Mexico Basketball
New Mexico has been playing much better recently, stringing together three straight wins, including an important victory against Grand Canyon on the road. Even before the win streak started, the Lobos played very well in a 91-90 loss to Boise State.
New Mexico also has to feel the urgency nearing the end of the season, as the Lobos are barely on the outside looking in when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament and likely need to win at least one of their remaining Quad 1 games to have a chance of sneaking into the field.
The Lobos have an opportunity to sweep the season series against the Wolf Pack on Tuesday, but more importantly, they could add another Quad 1 win to their resume, which gives them more leeway to handle a potential loss to Utah State.
New Mexico also matches up very well with Nevada, as the first matchup between these teams showcased.
Nevada shot just 6-for-23 (26.1%) from the 3-point line in the first game between these teams, an outlier compared to its season-long percentage of 37.6% (which is the 28th-best percentage in the nation).
However, it wasn't a bad shooting night for the Wolf Pack; it was another great defensive performance from New Mexico. The Lobos allow opponents to shoot 3s at the ninth-highest rate in the country, but they defend triples at the 11th-best rate in the country.
Nevada Basketball
Nevada has suffered random losses to UC Davis and, most recently, to San Jose State, but other than that, the Wolf Pack have competed well against better teams and have taken care of worse teams this season.
Without those two losses, they would be in the NCAA Tournament bubble conversation that New Mexico finds itself in.
Unfortunately, those two losses can't just be wiped clean off the Wolf Pack's resume, and as a result, Nevada has almost no chance to get in the NCAA Tournament without winning the Mountain West Conference Tournament.
The Wolf Pack still would love to win this game to avenge a loss to New Mexico from earlier in the season.
As I mentioned earlier, Nevada had a terrible night in terms of 3-point efficiency when it played New Mexico the first time around. Despite shooting 37.6% from deep as a team (28th-best in the nation), Nevada takes 3s at a bottom-60 rate.
The Wolf Pack will be forced out of their comfort zone again by New Mexico's defensive style, which forces opponents to shoot a ton of treys.
Nevada will have to fight through the awkward matchup and try to sustain any momentum it gained from beating Utah State over the weekend.
If the Wolf Pack can get anywhere close to what they did against the Aggies offensively — they shot 10-for-19 from 3 — they'll have a chance to get their revenge at home.
New Mexico vs. Nevada Betting Analysis
Tuesday will be a great clash of styles, as New Mexico — the best 3-point percentage defense in the Mountain West and 11th-best in the country — faces Nevada, the second-most efficient 3-point offense in the conference and 28th-best in the country.
In that clash, I think the biggest factor here might be momentum. While the Wolf Pack just beat Utah State at home, they had lost three of their previous four games. It's very possible that the game was more of a fluke against a team Nevada matches up well with than an indication that Nevada has gotten better.
On the other side, New Mexico needs this game badly, and the Lobos have been playing with an adequate amount of desperation recently.
New Mexico matches up well with Nevada from a scheme perspective, and despite the tough road environment, the Lobos should be able to win this game.
My Pick: New Mexico ML +105
