Central Michigan vs. South Alabama odds, prediction: 2025 Showdown in St. Pete picks from proven model

The inaugural Showdown in St. Pete Tournament gets underway Thursday morning when the South Alabama Jaguars face the Central Michigan Chippewas. Central Michigan is coming off an 85-54 loss at Bradley on Saturday, while South Alabama downed Spring Hill 99-50 that same day. The Chippewas (1-1), who finished tied for ninth in the Mid-American Conference at 7-11 and 14-17 overall last year, were 0-1 at neutral sites. The Jaguars (3-0), who tied for first in the Sun Belt Conference at 13-5 and were 21-11 overall in 2024-25, were 0-1 on neutral courts.

Tipoff from the MacArthur Center in St. Petersburg, Fla., is set for 11 a.m. ET. The all-time series is tied 1-1, with Central Michigan posting a 74-70 win in last year's season opener. South Alabama is a 3.5-point favorite in the latest Central Michigan vs. South Alabama odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 144.5. Before making any Central Michigan vs. South Alabama picks, check out the men's college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times and has returned over $2,200 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks over the past three seasons. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.    

Now, the model has simulated Central Michigan vs. South Alabama 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men's college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model's picks. Here are several men's college basketball odds and men's college basketball betting lines for South Alabama vs. Central Michigan:

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How to make Central Michigan vs. South Alabama picks

SportsLine's model is going Over on the total (144.5 points). The Chippewas have hit the game total over in 15 of their last 26 games, and the over is 6-4 in their past 10 games. The over is 5-4 in the Jaguars last nine games. The SportsLine Projection Model also says three South Alabama players will score nine or more points with nine players scoring four or more. 

Maxwell Land is expected to lead the Jaguars with an average of 10.3 points in 10,000 simulations. Central Michigan will counter with 10 players scoring, including eight hitting for five or more points. Rodney Johnson Jr. is projected to score 10.4 points. The Over clears in well over 50% of simulations. 

The model also says one side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time. You can only get the pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins South Alabama vs. Central Michigan, and which side of the spread hits more than 50% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Central Michigan vs. South Alabama spread to back, all from the advanced model was profitable on top-ranked college basketball picks last season, and find out.