It’s opening night in Fort Collins, and the Colorado State Rams are eager to kick off their 2025–26 season in front of a loud Moby Arena crowd against the visiting Incarnate Word Cardinals.
Colorado State, coming off a stellar 26–10 campaign and a dominant 14–2 home record, looks to keep its high-efficiency offense and suffocating defense intact. Meanwhile, the Cardinals enter fresh off a 19-win season — their best in nearly a decade — and will aim to test themselves early against a top-tier Mountain West opponent.
It’s a clash of contrasts: the Rams thrive in transition and structured motion, while the Cardinals favor patience, spacing, and opportunistic shot creation. On paper, Colorado State holds the edge — but early-season openers have a way of tightening up, especially when one side has nothing to lose.
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📺 Where to Watch Colorado State vs. Incarnate Word? (Nov 3, 2025)
| Detail | Information |
| Date | Monday, November 3, 2025 |
| Tip-Off (Local) | 7:00 PM MT |
| Venue | Moby Arena – Fort Collins, CO |
| Broadcast | ESPN+ |
| Capacity | 8,745 |
💸 Betting Odds
| Market | Line | Odds |
| Spread | Colorado State -18.5 | -110 |
| Moneyline | Colorado State -2400 / Incarnate Word +950 | — |
| Total (O/U) | 145.5 | O -110 / U -110 |
Implied Score: Colorado State 82, Incarnate Word 63
📊 Team Breakdown
🐏 Colorado State Rams
2024–25 Record: 26–10 (14–2 Home)
Head Coach: Niko Medved (7th Season)
Few programs in mid-major basketball execute as cleanly as Colorado State. Medved’s system emphasizes spacing, movement, and high-percentage looks, with last year’s squad ranking among the top-30 nationally in offensive efficiency and turnover control.
The Rams averaged 13.4 points off turnovers, 8.9 second-chance points, and nearly 20 bench points per game, showing balance and depth across rotations.
🔍 Key Returners
| Player | Pos | 2024–25 Stats | Notes |
| Isaiah Stevens (G) | Sr | 17.5 PPG, 6.4 APG, 41% 3PT | Preseason All-Mountain West; elite facilitator and closer |
| Patrick Cartier (F) | Sr | 11.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 58% FG | Reliable interior scorer and pick-and-roll partner |
| Nique Clifford (G/F) | Sr | 9.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG | Versatile defender and transition weapon |
Colorado State’s home-court advantage is one of the most underrated in the Mountain West — they went 14–2 at Moby Arena last year and averaged 81.1 PPG in Fort Collins.
Expect the Rams to start fast, using pace and spacing to stretch Incarnate Word’s smaller lineup and exploit mismatches inside.
🧮 Efficiency Snapshot (2024–25)
| Category | Stat | National Rank |
| PPG | 77.6 | 42nd |
| Opp. PPG | 67.3 | 84th |
| FG% | 47.9% | 28th |
| 3PT% | 36.1% | 61st |
| FT% | 76.5% | 54th |
| Assists | 16.5 per game | 31st |
The Rams’ biggest strength remains their ball security (10.1 turnovers/game) and shot efficiency. Against a defense like Incarnate Word’s that can get overextended in rotations, that spells trouble.
🕊 Incarnate Word Cardinals
2024–25 Record: 19–17 (8–10 Southland)
Head Coach: Shane Heirman (2nd Season)
The Cardinals made big strides last season, finishing above .500 for the first time since 2017. Heirman’s team plays with pace — averaging 73.9 PPG, including 31.6 points in the paint and 9.1 on fast breaks — but their defense still lags behind.
They gave up over 72 points per game on 45% opponent FG, and their road struggles (4–10) were largely due to fatigue and rebounding deficits.
🔍 Key Players
| Player | Pos | 2024–25 Stats | Notes |
| Charles “CJ” Huntley (F) | Sr | 14.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG | Undersized forward with explosive leaping ability |
| Malik Lott (G) | Jr | 12.0 PPG, 3.8 APG | Team’s offensive engine; capable of breaking down defenses |
| Zion Clay (G) | So | 9.4 PPG, 2.0 3PM | Spot-up specialist who spaces the floor effectively |
Heirman’s squad will need to lean on composure — long possessions, forced turnovers, and perimeter shooting — to keep pace.
🧮 Efficiency Snapshot (2024–25)
| Category | Stat | National Rank |
| PPG | 73.9 | 162nd |
| Opp. PPG | 72.7 | 201st |
| FG% | 44.1% | 182nd |
| 3PT% | 34.7% | 164th |
| FT% | 73.8% | 122nd |
| Rebounding | -3.8 Margin | 277th |
The Cardinals have offensive depth — four players averaged double figures — but limited size, which could become a glaring issue against the Rams’ frontcourt.
📈 Betting Insights & Trends
| Trend |
| Colorado State is 8–2 ATS in its last 10 home openers. |
| The Rams are 12–3 ATS as double-digit home favorites since 2023. |
| Incarnate Word is 2–8 ATS in its last 10 road games. |
| The Over is 6–1 in Colorado State’s last seven non-conference home games. |
| The Rams have covered 5 straight openers by an average margin of 17.8 PPG. |
🎯 Prop Bets & Analytical Picks
| Prop | Pick | Odds |
| First Half Spread | Colorado State -10.5 | -110 |
| Total Team Points (Colorado State) | Over 81.5 | -115 |
| Total Team Points (Incarnate Word) | Under 65.5 | -110 |
| First to 10 Points | Colorado State | -180 |
| Winning Margin | Colorado State by 21+ | +250 |
Advanced Edge:
Colorado State ranked top 25 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio, while Incarnate Word ranked bottom 100 in turnover defense. Expect the Rams to dissect the Cardinals’ press and generate open looks early.
🧩 Same Game Parlay (SGP)
| Leg | Selection | Odds |
| Colorado State -18.5 | ✅ | -110 |
| Over 145.5 Total Points | ✅ | -110 |
| Colorado State First Half -10.5 | ✅ | -115 |
| Isaiah Stevens Over 17.5 Points | ✅ | +100 |
| Combined Odds: | +550 |
🧠 Game Analysis
Colorado State enters as one of the most stable, efficient programs in mid-major hoops — and their home opener against an undersized Incarnate Word team is the perfect tune-up. Expect Isaiah Stevens to orchestrate with surgical precision, Patrick Cartier to control the paint, and Nique Clifford to push pace in transition.
For the Cardinals, Malik Lott and CJ Huntley will need to create instant offense, but sustaining rhythm against CSU’s rotating defense will be difficult. The Rams’ ability to force turnovers and immediately convert in transition (13.4 PPG off TOs last year) should blow this open by halftime.
The only question isn’t who wins — but whether the Rams’ bench can extend the margin past 20.
🔮 Final ClutchBuzz Colorado State vs. Incarnate Word Prediction
Prediction: Colorado State 86 – Incarnate Word 63
Best Bet: Colorado State -18.5
Lean: Over 145.5
Bonus Prop: Isaiah Stevens Over 17.5 Points (+100)
