Indiana State Sycamores at Charlotte 49ers Picks and Prediction, Monday, November 3, 2025
Use Code WWWC The Charlotte 49ers will host the Indiana State Sycamores on Monday in the season opener. According to Sports Illustrated, Charlotte comes in rated No. 158th and Indiana State is 172nd rated.
College basketball involves a lot of research, but our experts have you covered. Check out our NCAAB picks for opening day and beyond.
Indiana State looking for bounce back year
Last season, Matthew Graves took over as head coach at Indiana State, and the team had a down year, finishing 14-18. It was a disappointment after going 32-7 and finishing as the NIT runner-up under former head coach Josh Schertz, who is now at Saint Louis.
Indiana State finished last season ranked 197th in the KenPom ratings, 126th in offense, and 280th in defense. Coming into this season, the Sycamores were picked to finish eighth out of 12 teams in the MVC preseason poll.
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Indiana State was soundly beaten by Butler 105-80 in its exhibition game. Sterling Young led the team with 15 points, six assists, and six rebounds, while Ian Scott scored 12 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Young, a 6'1 guard, will be facing his former team in Monday’s contest, as he began his career at Charlotte before transferring to Florida A&M, where he averaged 17 points per game last season. Scott is a 6'7 forward who spent his last four seasons at Grace College, where he was an NAIA First Team All-American.
Could be a long season for Charlotte
After going 19-12 in the first season under head coach Aaron Fearne, the Charlotte 49ers went 11-22 last season. Fearne now enters his third season leading the program, and the team’s top returning player is 6'4 senior Kylan Blackmon, who averaged 7.4 points per game last season. The 49ers finished the 2024-25 season ranked No. 257 by KenPom, 217th in offense, and 288th in defense.
Charlotte is expected to struggle this season, as the 49ers were picked to finish last (13th) in the American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll. Their top newcomer is expected to be 6'4 guard Dezayne Mingo, who averaged 12.6 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game with Marshall last season.
Indiana State vs Charlotte Predictions
ATS Pick for Indiana State vs. Charlotte:
- Indiana State +3.5 (4 units)
Charlotte has the home court advantage in this one, but I don't think that is enough for them to justify being favored. The 49ers went 5-10 ATS at home last season and are entering their fourth straight season without their leading scorer from the previous season. Indiana State is not without flaws and questions themselves, but I see them as the better team from what we know so far, and will happily take them as the dog.
Total Pick for Indiana State vs. Charlotte:
- Under 152.5 (4 units)
Both of these coaches prefer to play very different styles. Indiana State loves to get up and down the floor, as they were ninth in adjusted tempo last season, and Charlotte was only 308th. The contrast in styles will likely lead to both teams being placed in some uncomfortable situations early. Both teams should struggle offensively early. I like the under.
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