NCAA Hoops Predictions for Nov. 17: LSU-Tulane, Iowa State, Oregon Rivalry Picks

’Tis the season for far-too-early holiday programming and gigantic college basketball point spreads.

We deal in some of the latter here, and by having a vested interest in these or other games, you, too, can do your part to ward off the former.

Seriously, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (Freeform, 6:45 p.m.) shouldn’t air opposite anything on Nov. 17, let alone tonight’s early tips.

So bet, humbugs and otherwise.

WOMEN: NO. 5 LSU AT TULANE, 7 p.m.

Tulane’s Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse holds just 3,600 fans, and you’d best believe it will exceed capacity as in-state rival LSU visits in a marquee matchup.

While even the sunniest of Green Wave backers shouldn’t expect to put the “L” in “Kim Mulkey” with a colossal upset, this one also shouldn’t be the rout oddsmakers think.

There’s just something about ranked teams playing at non-cavernous road venues lately. Did you see seventh-ranked Baylor scramble to win at UNLV on Friday? How about the volleyball lines and signage on the Rebels’ home floor?

Tulane already has tested another SEC program nicknamed the Tigers at Fogelman Arena, falling 77-69 to Missouri on Nov. 6. LSU projects as a powerhouse, of course, with MiLaysia Fulwiley and Flu’Jae Johnson leading the way, but expect Tulane to offer resistance – and not just from Jayda Brown and her 1.33 blocks per game.

LSU geauxs home with a victory, albeit by a margin under the mid-thirties.

Tulane +35.5 (-105 with FanDuel)

MEN: STONEHILL AT NO. 16 IOWA STATE, 8 P.M.

The last time the Skyhawks ventured into the Central Time Zone, they nearly emerged with the biggest victory in the program’s debut season in NCAA Division I.

Stonehill hardly bought the concept of a “buy game” on Nov. 7, surging to a late lead behind Hermann Koffi’s hot long-range shooting before losing 72-64 at DePaul.

A lopsided loss at Rhode Island followed before narrow defeats to Fairfield and Loyola Maryland over the weekend. Now comes a test against the No. 16 Cyclones, who are rested after topping Mississippi State on Nov. 10 and eager to tune up again with games against fellow ranked foes St. John’s and Creighton looming in Las Vegas next week.

Look for Tamin Lipsey, who leads Iowa State with 17.7 points, 5.7 assists and 4.3 steals per game, to spark a complete effort before he and the Cyclones leave their shared hometown of Ames, Iowa.

Iowa State -39.5 (-115 with BetMGM)

MEN: OREGON STATE AT OREGON, 10 P.M.

Oregon boasts an eight-game series winning streak against its in-state rival, dating to the time the schools all-too-rationally shared the Pac-12 conference.

Both teams are 3-0 and coming off different kinds of victories.

The Ducks shot 45.2% -- including 15-of-40 from deep – to down South Dakota State by 14 on Wednesday, a welcome gulf after Oregon edged Hawaii and Rice by a combined five points in its first two games.

The Beavers have a point differential of merely plus-seven against North Dakota State, Illinois-Chicago and North Texas. They figure to clamp down on the Ducks’ Nate Bittle, forcing Oregon to gamble on another big night from the outside.

That never is a guarantee, and with these rivals, neither is a high-paced runaway.

Oregon State +13.5 and under 140.5 points (+250 with BetMGM)