The ninth-seeded Georgia Southern Eagles battle the eighth-seeded South Alabama Jaguars in a Sun Belt Conference first-round matchup on Thursday afternoon. The Eagles (8-23, 8-10 Sun Belt), who have won two in a row, are coming off a 92-75 win over Old Dominion on Friday. The Jaguars (16-15, 8-10 Sun Belt), who are winners of six of their last eight games, defeated Louisiana-Monroe 80-69 on Friday.

Tip-off at Pensacola Bay Center in Pensacola, Fla., is set for 12:30 p.m. ET. The Jaguars are 3-point favorites in the latest Georgia Southern vs. South Alabama odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 151 (see up-to-date odds for every game this week on our college basketball odds page). 

Before making any Georgia Southern vs. South Alabama picks, you need to check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered Week 18 of the 2023-24 season on a 141-100 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $1,700 for $100 players. It also is off to a sizzling 26-17 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen HUGE returns!

The model knows senior guard Isiah Gaiter helps power the Jaguars, and is connecting on 46.3% of his field goals, including 38% from 3-point range, and 80.6% at the free-throw line. In 31 games, including 24 starts, Gaiter is averaging 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and one steal in 30.5 minutes. He has reached double-digit scoring in 20 games, including an 11-point effort in the regular-season meeting with Georgia Southern.

The model also is aware that Georgia Southern senior guard Tyren Moore has been on fire the past four games, and is coming off a 32-point and five-assist effort in the win over Old Dominion on Friday. He had 23 points, five rebounds and three assists in last week's 87-73 win over Marshall. He poured in 27 points in an 80-74 loss to James Madison on Feb. 24.

Now, the model has set its sights on Georgia Southern vs. South Alabama. We can tell you the model is leaning Over on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread cashes in well over 50% of simulations! You ABSOLUTELY need to see it before locking in any college basketball picks.

Who wins Georgia Southern vs. South Alabama, and which side of the spread cashes in well over 50% of simulations? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the Georgia Southern vs. South Alabama spread you should be all over Thursday, all from the model that's on a 26-17 roll on top-rated college basketball spread picks!