The Norfolk State Spartans take on the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
Baylor is favored by -26.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -20000. The total is set at 145.5 points.
Here’s my Norfolk State vs. Baylor prediction and college basketball picks for December 10, 2025.
Norfolk State vs Baylor Prediction
My Pick: Norfolk State +26.5 (Play to +22.5)
My Norfolk State vs Baylor best bet is on the Spartans to cover the spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Norfolk State vs. Baylor Odds
| Norfolk State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+26.5 -110 | 145.5 -110 / -110 | +3500 |
| Baylor Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-26.5 -110 | 145.5 -110 / -110 | -20000 |
- Norfolk State vs Baylor spread: Baylor -26.5
- Norfolk State vs Baylor over/under: 145.5 points
- Norfolk State vs Baylor moneyline: Norfolk State +3500, Baylor -20000
Norfolk State vs Baylor College Basketball Betting Preview
Norfolk State Basketball
The Spartans have gotten off to a poor start to this season, as they're just 4-6 with a single win over a Division I opponent.
However, out of their six losses, three have been within a possession and two more have come by single digits. Their only blowout was against Arizona on the road, losing by 17 points.
Norfolk’s record may not be a pretty sight, but it's played the 57th-ranked strength of schedule thus far and as mentioned before, most of its games have been within margin.
The Spartans' biggest struggle — especially in close games — has been their free-throw shooting. They hit free throws at just 55% — a disaster when looking at teams covering the number.
In a matchup where you’re looking for a team to cover 25 points, a slow, steady pace might be precisely what you need. The Spartans check that box, as they rank 355th in adjusted tempo. If this game gets out of hand, we can also expect Baylor to slow it down.
The Spartans do deploy three double-digit scores, but they might struggle with depth. They’ll be outmatched in most aspects of this game, so pace and flow will be a significant indicator of the final result.
Baylor Basketball
The Bears come in off a loss against a brutal Memphis team. They’ve been a little bit of a thorn in my side this season, as I’ve been unable to really gauge this team.
What I do know is that even though they come in off a loss — just their second this season — they come in with an impressive strength of schedule (38th nationally).
The good news is their schedule will be considerably more manageable over the next four games. They face off against three teams outside the top 200, via KenPom, and then they finish off that stretch with a game against a non-Division I opponent.
Their loss to Memphis could be attributed to Cameron Carr's struggles. He shot just 3-of-15 from the field, including 2-of-9 from 3-point range, but it wasn’t because of a lack of opportunities. He did get plenty of good looks; they just weren’t falling.
Now, back on their home court, I expect a lot more of those shots to fall.
Baylor will also see a ton more opportunities than its opponent, as it ranks seventh in offensive rebounding percentage.
The Bears have struggled to limit opponents' second-chance opportunities. Still, Norfolk State's size difference won't allow it to take advantage of the Bears' deficiencies on that end.
Norfolk State vs. Baylor Betting Analysis
This spread currently sits at 26.5 (as of writing), and as tough a bet as it might be, it’s going to be one of those hold your nose and suck-it-up-type of bets on Norfolk State.
Baylor hasn't won any game by more than 22 points, and all but two of its games have been within 20 points.
Norfolk State will likely not compete in this game, but I do expect pace and flow to be slowed down a bit. When the second half starts, these possessions become a little more meaningful, and I expect it to be within 26.5 points.
I won’t feel confident with a ton of margin, but I'm willing to bet this all the way down to +22.5.
My Pick: Norfolk State +26.5 (Play to +22.5)
