The 2026 Bulldog Bash Kickoff hosted by Alabama A&M will continue its schedule on Friday, November 13, with a college basketball contest between the Cleveland State Vikings and the West Florida Argonauts. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET at the Alabama A&M Events Center in Huntsville, Alabama. This matchup marks a significant moment for West Florida, as it is the program's first season competing in Division I college basketball.
Both teams have mixed records to start the season. West Florida currently stands at 2-2. The Argonauts recently played in this specific event on Thursday, where they suffered an overtime loss to the host Alabama A&M team. In contrast, Cleveland State enters this game with a 1-2 record. The Vikings have not yet played a game in the Bulldog Bash tournament, making this their first appearance in the event.
Betting markets have placed the Cleveland State Vikings as slight favorites. The latest odds show Cleveland State as 4.5-point favorites against West Florida. The total points line for the game is set at 152.5, offering bettors options on the over and under. These figures reflect the expected competitive nature of the game between two teams with similar but distinct recent performances.
SportsLine, a service that uses a projection model to simulate college basketball games, has analyzed this specific matchup. The model simulates every game 10,000 times to generate predictions. Currently, the model is on a strong run, having gone 11-1 on its top-rated over/under picks dating back to 2025. It also holds a record of 28-22 on its top-rated side picks for college basketball.
Regarding the total points line, the SportsLine model predicts that the game will go over the 152.5 point total. The projection suggests that 163 points will be scored in the game, with the over hitting in 76% of the simulations. This prediction is supported by recent team trends, as both of Cleveland State's games against Division I competition this season have cleared the total points line.
West Florida also contributed to this trend in their most recent outing. The Argonauts went over the total in their Thursday game against Alabama A&M. Given that both teams have recently played high-scoring games, the model sees a strong probability that the combined score will exceed the established line. This data point is a key factor in the model's recommendation for the total points market.
In addition to the total points prediction, the model has also evaluated the point spread. According to the simulations, one side of the spread hits in over 70% of the scenarios. While the specific side is detailed in the full SportsLine report, the model indicates a clear statistical advantage for one team to cover the 4.5-point spread.
For those following college basketball betting, the current form of the projection model suggests a favorable time to consider its recommendations. The consistency in its recent over/under picks has drawn attention from bettors. The combination of West Florida's historic first Division I season and Cleveland State's role as the favorite creates an interesting dynamic for this Friday afternoon contest.
The game will be a crucial test for West Florida as they adjust to the new division. Their previous overtime loss shows they can compete at a high level, but Cleveland State's status as a favorite suggests they may have the edge in this particular matchup. Fans and analysts will be watching to see how the Argonauts handle the pressure of their debut in this bracket.
As the Bulldog Bash continues, this Friday night game serves as a pivotal moment for both programs. The outcome will influence their standings in the early stages of the season. With the odds and projections now available, the stage is set for what is expected to be an engaging contest in Huntsville.
