Idaho State Bengals vs Northern Colorado Bears NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/4/25
Betting on today’s Bengals and Bears game? Catch the action at Bank of Colorado Arena in Greeley, CO, as the Bears hosts this showdown at 4:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 146.5 points, and Northern Colorado is favored by -7.5 vs. Idaho State in a Big Sky conference matchup.
IDAHO STATE BENGALS VS NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Idaho State Bengals +7.5
This game will be played at Bank of Colorado Arena at 4:00 ET on Saturday, January 4th.
WHY BET THE IDAHO STATE BENGALS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-70 in favor of the Bears.
- Even though we have Northern Colorado winning straight-up, we like Idaho State at +7.5.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 146.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Taking a Look at the Bengals Chances on the Road
Idaho State improved to 3-6 on the season with a 72-67 road win over Northern Arizona on Thursday. The Bengals entered the game as +4.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the victory.
After trailing 36-26 at halftime, Idaho State turned things around in the 2nd half, outscoring the Lumberjacks 46-31. The game’s total points of 139 fell just under the O/U line of 142.5.
Idaho State put up 72 points in their last game, shooting 46.4% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 50%. They connected on 5 of 13 three-pointers, hitting 38.5% from deep, while shooting 48.8% on two-point attempts. At the free-throw line, the Bengals made 15 of 25 attempts, finishing at 60%.
Dylan Darling led the way with 20 points and 7 assists, hitting 2 of 2 from three-point range. Carson Towt added 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Jayden Jackson contributed 15 points, shooting 62.5% overall and 50% from beyond the arc. Jake O’Neil also grabbed 15 boards, despite shooting just 36.4% from the field.
Idaho State’s defense held their opponent to 67 points, allowing them to shoot 39% from the field on 23 of 58 attempts. Inside the arc, the Bengals limited their opponent to 41% shooting, with 13 made two-point shots on 31 attempts.
From three-point range, Idaho State’s defense gave up 10 threes on 27 attempts, a 37% shooting performance. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 19 times, where they converted 11 for 57%. The Bengals allowed 13 offensive rebounds.
Can Northern Colorado Deliver Being Favored at Home?
Northern Colorado Bears Recent Game/Games
The Bears improved to 6-5 on the season with an 89-72 home win over Weber State on Thursday, January 2nd. Northern Colorado entered the game as 6-point favorites and covered the spread with the win.
After jumping out to a 48-29 lead in the first half, the Bears scored 41 points in the second half while allowing 43. The game’s total points of 161 went over the pre-game O/U line of 150.5.
Northern Colorado’s offense was firing on all cylinders, putting up 89 points on 58.8% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 70.6%, thanks in part to hitting 50% of their threes (12/24) and 66.7% of their twos (18/27).
The Bears also connected on 81% of their free throws (17/21) and dished out 23 assists. Isaiah Hawthorne and Trevor Hennig each scored 17 points, with Hennig shooting 71.4% from the field and 75% from deep.
Despite Northern Colorado’s defensive efforts, they allowed 72 points on 58% shooting from the field. The opposing team hit 30 of their 51 shot attempts.
From beyond the arc, they shot 50%, knocking down 12 of 24 threes. They also went 17/21 from the free-throw line, an 81% clip.