West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers prediction: West Georgia's broken shooting tests Charleston Southern's rim defense
The Wolves own one of the country's best defensive glass units and one of its worst offenses, and a Bucs team that guards the paint well is waiting at home.
Charleston Southern Buccaneers covered the closing spread (West Georgia Wolves +3.5). The game went over the closing total of 148.5.
| Spread | Charleston Southern -3.5 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 148.5 |
- Expect a grinding, low-efficiency game where West Georgia defends and rebounds well but struggles to score against a sturdy Charleston Southern interior.
- Kenneth Chime against Lase Olalere in the paint decides who controls the glass and the two-point battle.
- Charleston Southern is -3.5 with a 148.5 total, both unchanged; West Georgia has gone under in all three of its games.
The Wolves can't find the rim
Charleston Southern and West Georgia both finished 15-17 last season, and both tore it down and started over. Three games into the rebuild, one problem stands out above everything else: West Georgia cannot make shots.
The Wolves' effective field goal percentage, which counts threes as 1.5 shots, is 37.2%. That ranks 359th of 364 Division I teams. Inside the arc they make 35.4% of their twos, 361st nationally. Their adjusted offense, points per 100 possessions adjusted for opponents, is 97.7, which ranks 355th.
Charleston Southern is built to make that worse. The Bucs hold opponents to 45.3% on twos, 100th in the country, and Olalere blocks 2.0 shots a game. They also keep teams off the line. Opponents' free throw rate, free throws per field goal attempt, is 20.7% against Charleston Southern, ninth-best in Division I. A West Georgia team that already struggles to draw fouls has few easy points to fall back on.
Some context helps the Wolves. Two of their losses came on the road at DePaul and Loyola Chicago, and they led DePaul by 11 in the first half before fading. The sample is three games. The problem showed up again at home, though, in a 73-70 loss to UNC Asheville as the favorite.
Where West Georgia fights back
The Wolves' defense is real, and it starts on the glass. They rebound 80.9% of opponents' misses, fourth in the nation. That collides with Charleston Southern's best offensive habit: the Bucs grab 39.5% of their own misses, 60th nationally.
That is the swing matchup. Chime averages 9.3 rebounds and posted 13 points and 13 boards against UNC Asheville. If he and David Simon wall off second chances, the Bucs must win with half-court shooting. That is shaky ground for a team making 28.9% of its threes, 282nd in the country.
The other door is ball security. Charleston Southern turns it over on 21.3% of its possessions, 310th, but West Georgia forces turnovers on only 16.2%, 276th. Neither team is likely to turn this into a track meet off steals.
Two rosters starting from scratch
Last season tells you little here. West Georgia returns 18.9% of last season's minutes and Charleston Southern 19.3%. The Wolves lost Shelton Williams-Dryden, who averaged 20.7 points last season. The Bucs lost A'lahn Sumler, last season's 19.0-point scorer, to Pittsburgh.
Charleston Southern's new offense runs through Anthony Ruffolo, who uses 31.3% of possessions and averages 15.3 points. Jefferson McLamb added 19 in a home-state return at Wake Forest. Freshman DJ Hubbard was named Big South Freshman of the Week on Nov. 9.
West Georgia leans on returners Chas Lewless and Chime plus a transfer class. Lewless has shot 30.8% from the floor while taking a quarter of the team's possessions. No injury or availability news has surfaced for either team. The Wolves aren't eligible for the NCAA tournament or the NIT until 2028-29.
What the market is pricing
Charleston Southern opened at -3.5 in our feed and hasn't moved, with nine books quoting. The total has held at 148.5. That modest home number reflects the profile above: the Bucs' adjusted net efficiency ranks 258th, West Georgia's 306th, so neither side has separated.
The total is where West Georgia's numbers bite. The Wolves are 0-3 to the under, including a game against UNC Asheville that closed at the same 148.5. Both teams start slowly. Charleston Southern scores 29.0 first-half points a game, 325th nationally, and West Georgia 30.7, 303rd.
- Chime and Simon on the defensive glass against the Bucs' second-chance attempts.
- Whether Lewless and Juaquin Dixon find any rhythm against a defense that protects the paint.
- Ruffolo's shot volume and Charleston Southern's free throw shooting late.
West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers line movement and odds
| Book | Wolves ML | Buccaneers ML | Wolves spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | +140 | -180 | +3.5 (-110) | o149.5 (-110) |
| BetRivers | +150 | -190 | +3.5 (-106) | o148.5 (-109) |
| DraftKings | +154 | -185 | +3.5 (-108) | o149.5 (-105) |
| ESPN BET | +150 | -175 | +3.5 (-115) | o148.5 (-115) |
| Fanatics | +145 | -175 | +3.5 (-110) | o149.5 (-105) |
| FanDuel | +146 | -178 | +3.5 (-102) | o149.5 (-110) |
| Hard Rock Bet | +150 | -190 | +3.5 (-105) | o148.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | +148 | -175 | +3.5 (-110) | o149 (-110) |
Where the money is on West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers
On the Kalshi moneyline: West Georgia Wolves: 62% of bets, 79% of the money; Charleston Southern Buccaneers: 38% of bets, 21% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Charleston Southern Buccaneers -3.5: 31% of bets, 9% of the money; West Georgia Wolves +3.5: 69% of bets, 91% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 149.5: 14% of bets, 2% of the money; Under 149.5: 86% of bets, 98% of the money.
West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers stats (this season)
| Stat | West Georgia Wolves | Charleston Southern Buccaneers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 0-3 | 1-2 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 97.7 (355th of 364) | 104.2 (256th of 364) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 104.6 (106th of 364) | 108.5 (241st of 364) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | -6.9 (306th of 364) | -4.3 (258th of 364) |
| Pace | 70.0 (201st of 364) | 70.5 (180th of 364) |
| Effective FG% | 37.2% (359th of 364) | 49.2% (252nd of 364) |
| Opponent effective FG% | 52.5% (277th of 364) | 47.4% (159th of 364) |
| Turnover rate | 20.0% (280th of 364) | 21.3% (310th of 364) |
| Offensive rebound % | 35.7% (143rd of 364) | 39.5% (61st of 364) |
| 3-point % | 27.1% (317th of 364) | 28.9% (282nd of 364) |
| Free throw rate | 25.0% (320th of 364) | 38.0% (146th of 364) |
Key players
- Anthony Ruffolo (Charleston Southern): Leads the Bucs with 15.3 points a game on a 31.3% usage rate and scored 31 against Columbia International.
- Lase Olalere (Charleston Southern): Shoots 66.7% from the floor and blocks 2.0 shots a game, the center of the Bucs' rim protection.
- Jefferson McLamb (Charleston Southern): Has made 8 of 23 threes and hit 5 of 8 in a 19-point night at Wake Forest.
- Kenneth Chime (West Georgia): Averages 10.3 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 53.8%, the Wolves' most efficient regular.
- Chas Lewless (West Georgia): Carries a 25.6% usage rate but is shooting 30.8% from the field and 23.5% from three.
- Lou Hutchinson III (West Georgia): The Alabama A&M transfer leads the regulars at 35.7% from three with a 107.7 offensive rating.
Numbers that matter
| West Georgia effective FG% | 37.2% | Ranks 359th of 364, the core reason the Wolves are 0-3. |
|---|---|---|
| West Georgia defensive rebound % | 80.9% | Fourth nationally, a direct check on Charleston Southern's 60th-ranked offensive rebounding. |
| Charleston Southern opponent FT rate | 20.7% | Ninth-best in Division I, which removes free points from an offense that badly needs them. |
| Spread | -3.5 | Charleston Southern's number has not moved since our feed first recorded it. |
West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers: quick answers
What was the final score of West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers?
West Georgia Wolves 68, Charleston Southern Buccaneers 92 (final). Charleston Southern Buccaneers covered the closing spread (West Georgia Wolves +3.5). The game went over the closing total of 148.5.
Who is favored in West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers?
Charleston Southern is favored by 3.5 points (Charleston Southern -3.5).
What is the over/under for West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers?
The total is 148.5 points.
When is West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers?
Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM ET.
Where is West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers played?
Buccaneer Fieldhouse, Charleston, SC.
Has the line moved for West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers?
No: West Georgia Wolves has stayed at +3.5, and the total moved from 148.5 to 149.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on West Georgia Wolves vs Charleston Southern Buccaneers?
On the Kalshi moneyline: West Georgia Wolves: 62% of bets, 79% of the money; Charleston Southern Buccaneers: 38% of bets, 21% of the money. On the Kalshi spread: Charleston Southern Buccaneers -3.5: 31% of bets, 9% of the money; West Georgia Wolves +3.5: 69% of bets, 91% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 149.5: 14% of bets, 2% of the money; Under 149.5: 86% of bets, 98% of the money.