Wichita State vs. Charlotte Pick and Prediction for Saturday, January 3, 2026

The Wichita State Shockers look to sweep their season-opening conference road trip as they visit the Charlotte 49ers at Halton Arena. This AAC clash features a Wichita State team (9-5, 1-0) riding the momentum of a 16-point comeback win against UAB, while Charlotte (6-8, 0-1) is desperate to get back to .500 after a narrow loss to Temple.

Wichita State enters as a 5.5-point favorite, with the total set at 138.5. Getting the best college basketball picks is easy with our free college basketball picks.

Shockers leaning on Giles and dominant glass play

Wichita State’s "new look" roster has jelled quickly under Paul Mills. After losing 99% of their scoring from last season, the Shockers have found a star in Kenyon Giles. Giles is fresh off a career-high 26 points against UAB, a game in which he knocked down eight 3-pointers—the second-most in a single game in Shocker history. He currently ranks 11th nationally in total triples made.

The Shockers' greatest advantage, however, is on the boards. They rank 9th nationally in offensive rebounding (14.5 per game) and have outrebounded 12 of their 14 opponents this season. 7-footer Will Berg has been instrumental since returning from a sprained ankle, averaging nearly a double-double (12.7 PPG, 9.7 RPG) over his last three games. If Wichita State can dominate the second-chance point battle, it will be a long night for the 49ers.

Charlotte's "Big Bonke" vs. the Wichita interior

Charlotte has been a tough out at home, led by Providence transfer Anton Bonke. The center set a career-high with 20 points in the conference opener and is one of the AAC’s most efficient big men, ranking 3rd in field goal percentage (57.9%) and 2nd in blocks.

The 49ers' offense revolves around the perimeter scoring of Ben Bradford (14.0 PPG), who has led the team in scoring in seven different games this year. Charlotte's path to victory lies in their defensive discipline; they will need to limit Giles' open looks and find a way to keep Berg and Karon Boyd off the offensive glass. Coach Aaron Fearne’s squad is statistically sound but has struggled to close out tight games, as seen in their recent three-point loss to Temple.

Spread pick for Wichita State vs. Charlotte

• Wichita State -5.5 (-118)

Wichita State has shown much more resilience lately, evidenced by their massive second-half turnaround against UAB. They swept Charlotte last season and match up well physically. While Charlotte is improved with Bonke in the middle, they lack the scoring depth to keep up with the Shockers if Giles and TJ Williams are hitting shots. Expect Wichita State to use their rebounding advantage to wear down Charlotte and cover the 5.5-point spread.

Total pick for Wichita State vs. Charlotte

• Under 138.5 (-108)

Charlotte plays at one of the slower tempos in the AAC, and coach Fearne prioritizes half-court execution. Wichita State’s defense has been reliable, holding opponents to 66.7 PPG. In their two meetings last season, both games failed to reach 130 total points. Given the stakes of an early conference matchup and Charlotte's tendency to grind out possessions at home, the Under is the most likely outcome.