Saint Joseph’s vs New Mexico: Predictions, Picks & Odds for NIT Quarterfinal
The Saint Joseph’s Hawks travel to Albuquerque to face the New Mexico Lobos in an NIT quarterfinal matchup. The game is set for 9:00 p.m. ET at The Pit and will air on ESPN2.
Game outlook
New Mexico brings a stronger offensive profile into this game. The Lobos rank 70th nationally in effective field goal percentage at roughly 54%.
Saint Joseph’s counters with a sturdy defense. The Hawks sit 56th in adjusted defensive efficiency and allow an opponent eFG% near 47.5%.
Prediction and best bet
Analyst Ponnaiya at Filmogaz.com expects New Mexico to win the contest thanks to offensive edge and home-court advantage. Still, the Hawks are favored as a cover candidate.
The best bet listed is Saint Joseph’s +10.5 at -110. Saint Joseph’s has ridden a strong closing run, going 9-1 straight-up and against the spread in its last 10 games.
Why the spread matters
New Mexico has endured six losses since early February. Two of their recent wins were decided late. That inconsistency factors into taking a double-digit number.
Saint Joseph’s recorded road wins at Cal and Colorado State this season. Those victories show they can compete away from sea level.
Key player matchups
Justice Ajogbor anchors Saint Joseph’s inside game. He is listed at 6-foot-10 and 255 pounds and averages about 2.1 blocks per game.
Ajogbor blocked two or more shots in 23 of 35 games this season. He has also reached double figures in four of his last five starts.
On the other side, freshman Tomislav Buljan will test the Hawks on the glass. He scored 20-plus points in three of his past seven games and averaged roughly 12.2 rebounds during that span.
Same-game parlays and player props
- Saint Joseph’s +10.5
- Justice Ajogbor Over 10.5 points
- Justice Ajogbor Over 1.5 blocks
An alternate parlay adds Tomislav Buljan for points and rebounds. That creates a “battle of the bigs” theme for bettors.
Odds and betting trends
Odds at publication listed Saint Joseph’s +10.5 (-110) and New Mexico -10.5 (-110). The moneyline showed Saint Joseph’s +475 versus New Mexico -650.
The total was posted at 155. The Hawks have covered 17 of their last 20 games, returning +13.70 units and a 62% ROI during that run.
Broadcast and logistics
Location: The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Date: Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Tip-off: 9:00 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2.
Odds were accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Keywords integrated: Saint Joseph’s vs New Mexico, Predictions, Picks, Odds, NIT Quarterfinal.
