The Charleston Cougars take on the UNC Wilmington Seahawks in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Sunday, March 1. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
UNC Wilmington is favored by 5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -220. Charleston, meanwhile, enters as a +5 underdog and is +180 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 145.5 total points.
Here’s my Charleston vs. UNC Wilmington prediction and college basketball picks for Sunday, March 1.
Charleston vs UNC Wilmington Prediction
My Pick: UNC Wilmington 1H -2.5
My Charleston vs UNC Wilmington best bet is on the Seahawks to cover the first-half spread. For all of your college basketball bets, be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page.
Charleston vs. UNC Wilmington Odds
| Charleston Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | +180 |
| UNC Wilmington Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5 -110 | 145.5 -110o / -110u | -220 |
Charleston vs UNC Wilmington Betting Preview
Charleston Basketball
Charleston heads into Sunday afternoon’s conference matchup posting a 20-10 overall record on the season. The Cougars look to conclude their regular season on a positive note with a big opportunity for revenge over the CAA’s top dog, UNC Wilmington.
In Charleston head coach Chris Mack’s second season at the helm, he looks to lead his Cougars to the “Big Dance” after failing to do so last season.
For a program with a ton of recent success, having made it to the NCAA Tournament twice under Pat Kelsey prior to his departure to Louisville, the Cougars have had a very-up-and-down 2026 campaign.
Upon winning just four of the team’s first 10 contests this season, Mack’s bunch went on a heater, winning 12 of their next 14 games.
Charleston looks to bounce back on the road after losing the first meeting between these CAA foes by double-digits.
Leading the charge for this Charleston offense is senior guard Jlynn Counter, who's recording nearly 16 points per game in his final collegiate season.
After posting three consecutive seasons with double-figure scoring efforts for IUPUI and Middle Tennessee State, Counter was a massive transfer portal offseason acquisition for Mack and Co.
Counter is unbelievably versatile with the ball in his hands, also posting over five rebounds and five assists on average. The former Blue Raider has undoubtedly been one of the best players in the CAA this season, leading a Cougars offense that has scored over 75 points per contest in 2026.
Alongside Counter, 6-foot-6 freshman guard Martin Kalu rounds out an impressive Charleston backcourt.
The German is averaging just shy of 10 points per contest in his first collegiate season and makes an even bigger impact on the other end of the floor.
Mack’s offense barely ranks inside the top 200 in offensive efficiency, per KenPom, which seems rather problematic as the Cougars go on the road against an extremely well-rounded UNCW team posting an unbelievable 25-4 record in 2026.
Charleston’s defense is allowing its opponents just over 73 points of offense this season, maintaining a positive scoring margin for most of the year.
The Cougars are slightly more efficient on the defensive end of the floor, ranking inside the top-125 in defensive efficiency rating.
Charleston center Christian Reeves, hailing from hoops powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, has been very effective for the Cougars this year on both ends of the floor.
Reeves is scoring over 11 points per game this season and has been a spectacular presence as a rim protector on the defensive end.
Charleston looks to build some momentum prior to the start of the CAA Tournament, as its Sunday opponent is the clear-favorite to make it to go dancing in 2026.
UNC Wilmington Basketball
In one of the most impressive seasons in program history, UNC Wilmington heads into Sunday afternoon’s conference duel posting a 25-4 record on the season.
The Seahawks have lost just two CAA matchups this season, both to William & Mary. UNCW has won six consecutive games heading into this contest.
After finally reaching the NCAA Tournament in 2025, Takayo Siddle's fifth season at the helm, UNC Wilmington appears well on its way to receiving its second consecutive tournament bid.
UNC Wilmington’s roster boasts a ton of experience from top to bottom, with four of its five starters posting double-figure scoring efforts in 2026, and its next two scorers just shy of 10 points on average.
Siddle plays an eight-man rotation solely consisting of juniors and seniors, without a single underclassman receiving large minutes. Not only does UNCW’s lineup this season feature a ton of experience, but it also has a ton of length and size.
Siddle’s guard play is led by three seniors — all of whom stand over 6-foot-4 inches.
Senior Nolan Hodge leads the team in scoring this season with just shy of 15 points per contest, also tallying nearly five rebounds on average.
Alongside Hodge, Madison Durr, and Christian May have been very impressive in their final collegiate season.
UNCW’s offense has recorded over 77 points per game this season, while the Seahawks allow just 67 on the other end of the floor, maintaining a stellar double-digit scoring margin this season.
Junior center Patrick Wessler is having a phenomenal year on both ends of the floor, scoring 13.6 points per game. The former Virginia Tech Hokie is in his first season playing for Siddle and was a massive transfer portal acquisition this past offseason.
The Seahawks rank inside the top 110 in the country in both offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
Charleston vs UNC Wilmington Pick, Betting Analysis
In what surely could be a preview of the CAA Championship game that will take place soon, both teams have a great chance to end the regular season with some confidence and momentum.
During the first meeting in Charleston, the Seahawks dominated for all 40 minutes, building a double-digit lead in the first half and never relinquishing it for the remainder of the contest.
Siddle’s bunch has really looked like the best team in the conference by a substantial margin for the majority of the season, though Charleston is likely one of just a couple of teams in the conference with any chance of defeating the CAA’s top team in the upcoming conference tournament.
While I often love buying into the revenge angle of a matchup, I'm having a tough time fading UNCW in this spot.
I think Charleston could surely contend in the conference tournament on a neutral floor, but the Cougars have a tall order playing on the road against a team that has dropped just one home game in 2026.
I think UNCW should get off to a great start in the first 20 minutes of this contest, and I'll be looking to back the Seahawks to cover the first-half spread in Sunday’s CAA clash.
My Pick: UNC Wilmington 1H -2.5
