Updated December 29, 2025
The Penn State Nittany Lions will play host to the North Carolina Central Eagles in a non-conference college basketball matchup on Monday afternoon. This contest at the Bryce Jordan Center is a test of how Penn State responds after a rough stretch, with the Nittany Lions entering as heavy favorites against an Eagles team that has yet to win on the road this year. Before tip-off from Happy Valley, continue reading to get my North Carolina Central vs Penn State prediction for Monday's game.
Pick: | Penn State -24.5 |
Confidence: | 4/5 |
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Penn State enters this clash at 8-4 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten play, coming off a tough holiday stretch where losses to Indiana and Pittsburgh have raised questions about their ability to compete with quality opponents. The Nittany Lions have a reliable offense that averages over 78 points per game and thrives on efficient shooting, but three straight losses to power four opponents has created the need for a bounce-back performance at home.
On the other side, North Carolina Central is 4-10 and is seeking its first win over Division I opponents this season. They come into this game hoping to end an eight-game road losing streak to start the season. Gage Lattimore leads the Eagles with 19.2 points per game and Khouri Carvey dominates the glass, though the team’s efficiency struggles and defensive gaps have been exposed against stronger competition.
Score Projection: North Carolina Central 67 – Penn State 92
Win Probability: North Carolina Central 12%, Penn State 88%
This game is a perfect opportunity for Penn State to bounce back after some recent struggles against higher-quality competition. NC Central is not nearly as good as its record would lead you to believe, as they are in the bottom 15 in KenPom's overall power rankings. I'll lay the points with the Nittany Lions in this game, as they should rebound emphatically from some struggles over their last few games with a blowout win on their home floor.
Jay Sanin is the GM and Head of Sports at ATS.io. He has been writing about sports gambling since 2013, handicapping tens of thousands of sporting events. He plays sides and totals aggressively across most sports and is more selective in player prop markets. He does his own modeling across most sports, and his family is jealous of how much time he spends on his precious spreadsheets.
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