The Howard Bison (20-10, 10-3 MEAC) are 5.5-point favorites as they look to build on a five-game win streak when they visit the Norfolk State Spartans (15-15, 8-5 MEAC) on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall. The contest airs at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The matchup’s point total is set at 148.5.

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Howard vs. Norfolk State betting lines

• Howard moneyline odds to win: -242
• Norfolk State moneyline odds to win: +188
• Spread: Howard (-5.5)
• Total: 148.5

Howard statistics, trends and more

As the away team

• Against the spread, Howard has performed better when playing at home, covering nine times in 12 home games, and eight times in 12 road games.
• The Bison have eclipsed the total more often at home, hitting the over in seven of 12 home matchups (58.3%). In road games, they have hit the over in four of 12 games (33.3%).
• Howard has won a higher percentage of its games as a moneyline favorite when playing at home, going 7-2 (.778). When playing away from home as a moneyline favorite, it owns a record of 4-3 (.571).

Recent trends

• The Bison have seen an increase in scoring recently, racking up 84.7 points per game in their last 10 outings, 7.2 points more than the 77.5 they’ve scored this season.
• The last 10 games have seen Howard give up 3.6 fewer points per game (64.3) than its season-long average (67.9).
• The Bison’s last 10 contests have seen them make 7.4 three-pointers per game while shooting 37.4% from deep. Both numbers are up from their 2025-26 averages of 6.6 makes and 34.3%.

Howard betting records this season

• ATS Record: 20-7-0 (Home: 9-3-0; Away: 8-4-0)
• ATS Record When Favored by 5.5+: 11-2-0 (As Favorite: 12-5-0; As Underdog: 8-2-0)
• O-U-P: 12-15-0 (Home: 7-5-0; Away: 4-8-0)
• Record When Moneyline Favorite: 11-5 (Home: 7-2; Away: 4-3)
• Record When Moneyline Underdog: 5-4 (Home: 0-2; Away: 2-2)

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Norfolk State statistics, trends and more

As the home team

• This year, Norfolk State is 4-4-0 at home against the spread (.500 winning percentage). On the road, it is 7-8-0 ATS (.467).
• In 2025-26, a higher percentage of the Spartans’ games have finished above the over/under at home (62.5%, five of eight) than on the road (53.3%, eight of 15).
• The Spartans, as moneyline underdogs, have won a lower percentage of games at home (0-1) than on the road (1-7) this year.

Recent trends

• While the Spartans are posting 76.2 points per game in 2025-26, they have bettered that mark over their last 10 games, amassing 79.6 a contest.
• Norfolk State is allowing 72.6 points per contest over its past 10 games, which is 0.4 fewer points than it is allowing for the season (73.0).
• In their last 10 games, the Spartans are draining 6.9 three-pointers per contest, 0.9 more than their season average (6.0). They also have a better three-point percentage over their past 10 games (37.5%) compared to their season average (34.3%).

Norfolk State betting records this season

• ATS Record: 12-14-0 (Home: 4-4-0; Away: 7-8-0)
• ATS Record When Underdog by 5.5+: 5-4-0 (As Favorite: 7-8-0; As Underdog: 5-6-0)
• O-U-P: 16-10-0 (Home: 5-3-0; Away: 8-7-0)
• Record When Moneyline Favorite: 10-5 (Home: 5-2; Away: 4-2)
• Record When Moneyline Underdog: 1-9 (Home: 0-1; Away: 1-7)