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Read Article Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon predictions and scores
First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Reviewed by Dave Garofolo
The Field of 68 marathon tips off just after midnight ET on Nov. 2. Dimers’ score projections and matchup notes for each game.
High Point and Liberty tip off the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon just after midnight ET on Monday, Nov. 2, and Dimers’ predicted score favors the Panthers 81-73. It is the first midnight tip in college basketball since ESPN’s on Nov. 15, 2016.
Villanova and Notre Dame opened the 2026-27 season a day earlier at the Eternal City Tip-Off in Rome, Italy. The marathon runs eight games across 16 mid-major programs, six in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and two at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with every game streaming on the Field of 68’s YouTube channel and on X.
Dimers’ college basketball predictions show several tight finishes, including one-point margins in Queens vs. Winthrop and UTEP vs. Northern Kentucky.
Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon schedule and predicted scores
All times are Eastern. Dimers’ score projections come from models that refresh daily with the latest injuries and news.
| Time | Matchup | Dimers’ predicted score | Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:01 am | High Point vs. Liberty | High Point 81, Liberty 73 | Rock Hill, S.C. |
| 3 am | Grambling State vs. Northern Illinois | Northern Illinois 75, Grambling State 70 | Rock Hill, S.C. |
| 6 am | Merrimack vs. Appalachian State | Merrimack 71, Appalachian State 69 | Rock Hill, S.C. |
| 9 am | Queens vs. Winthrop | Queens 82, Winthrop 81 | Rock Hill, S.C. |
| 11:30 am | Tennessee State vs. Murray State | Murray State 85, Tennessee State 76 | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 2 pm | Northern Kentucky vs. UTEP | UTEP 74, Northern Kentucky 73 | Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| 5:30 pm | McNeese vs. UAB | McNeese 77, UAB 75 | Rock Hill, S.C. |
| 8 pm | Furman vs. Bethune-Cookman | Furman 77, Bethune-Cookman 73 | Rock Hill, S.C. |
Rock Hill games from midnight to 9.00am (ET)
High Point vs. Liberty prediction
High Point 81 - Liberty 73
The Panthers upset No. 5 seed Wisconsin in the first round of last season’s NCAA Tournament and open their second season under coach Flynn Clayman. Liberty, coached by Ritchie McKay, won the Conference USA regular-season title last season.
Grambling State vs. Northern Illinois prediction
Northern Illinois 75 - Grambling State 70
Northern Illinois now plays in the Horizon League after leaving the MAC and opens the era of coach Matt Majkrzak, hired in March from Division II Northern Michigan. Grambling State is one of three HBCU programs in the marathon, along with Tennessee State and Bethune-Cookman.
Merrimack vs. Appalachian State prediction
Merrimack 71 - Appalachian State 69
Appalachian State went 19-13 last season and finished second in the Sun Belt under coach Dustin Kerns. Joe Gallo coaches Merrimack.
Queens vs. Winthrop prediction
Queens 82 - Winthrop 81
Queens, coached by Grant Leonard, reached the NCAA Tournament last season after winning the ASUN tournament. Winthrop, coached by Mark Prosser, is Rock Hill’s hometown team, and Queens plays across the state line in Charlotte.
Sioux Falls games at the Sanford Pentagon
Tennessee State vs. Murray State prediction
Murray State 85 - Tennessee State 76
Tennessee State opens the second season of the Nolan Smith era against former Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State. Murray State now plays in the Missouri Valley Conference and is coached by Ryan Miller.
Northern Kentucky vs. UTEP prediction
UTEP 74 - Northern Kentucky 73
UTEP officially joined the Mountain West on July 1 after 21 years in Conference USA, and Joe Golding coaches the Miners. Northern Kentucky, a Horizon League program, is coached by Darrin Horn.
Evening games in Rock Hill
McNeese vs. UAB prediction
McNeese 77 - UAB 75
McNeese went 28-6 last season in Bill Armstrong’s first year as head coach. UAB, which plays in the American Conference, is coached by Andy Kennedy.
Furman vs. Bethune-Cookman prediction
Furman 77 - Bethune-Cookman 73
Furman and Bethune-Cookman close the marathon at 8pm ET in Rock Hill. Furman, coached by Bob Richey, won the Southern Conference tournament and reached the NCAA Tournament last season, and it is back for a second straight marathon. Bethune-Cookman, coached by Reggie Theus, won the SWAC regular-season title last season.
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To give you the most accurate and helpful information, this article has been reviewed and edited by Dave Garofolo through our fact-checking process.
Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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