Montana State Bobcats vs Northwestern Wildcats NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 11/19/24

The Bobcats and Wildcats are set to face off at 9:00 ET on BTN. The Wildcats will host the game at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, IL. The over/under for this non-conference contest is set at 137.5 points, with Northwestern being favored by -15 over Montana State.

MONTANA STATE BOBCATS VS NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS BETTING PICK

The Pick: Montana State Bobcats +15

This game will be played at Welsh-Ryan Arena at 9:00 ET on Tuesday, November 19th.

WHY BET THE MONTANA STATE BOBCATS:

• We have this one finishing with a projected score of 76-71 in favor of the Wildcats.
• Even though we have Northwestern winning straight-up, we like Montana State at +15.
• The over/under is currently sitting at 137.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 147 points.

Are the Bobcats Ready for a Win at Evanston?

Montana State’s season hit a bump on Sunday as they fell 79-78 to Denver. The Bobcats were -5 favorites going into the game, but not only did they lose, they also failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game reached 157, surpassing the O/U line of 147.5.

Montana State found themselves in a deep hole early, trailing 47-33 at halftime. They turned things around in the second half, outscoring Denver 45-32, but their comeback fell just short.

Montana State scored 78 points in their last game, shooting 45.5% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was 47.3%, with a dismal 10% from three-point range, hitting just 1 of 10 attempts. They were more successful inside, connecting on 53.3% of their two-point shots.

At the free-throw line, the Bobcats made 27 of 37 attempts, shooting 73%. They grabbed 11 offensive rebounds and recorded 10 assists. Brandon Walker led the team with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Nicholas Shogbonyo added 15 points and 7 boards.

Even with Montana State holding them to 42% shooting, the Bobcats gave up 79 points. They shot 40% from inside the arc, hitting 16 of their 40 two-point attempts.

From three-point range, they were efficient, making 6 of 12 shots for 50%. They also capitalized on free throws, going 29/31 for 93%. Montana State allowed 8 offensive rebounds.

Do the Wildcats Stand a Chance at Home?

Northwestern Wildcats Recent Game/Games

Northwestern picked up a 67-58 win over Eastern Illinois on Friday, November 15th. The Wildcats were heavy favorites at -23.5 but didn’t cover the spread. The game’s total points of 125 fell short of the O/U line of 138.

Northwestern led 37-27 at the half but struggled in the 2nd half, scoring only 21 points while allowing 31.

In their recent game, Northwestern put up 67 points, shooting 40.4% from the field and 26.3% from three-point range, hitting just 5 of 19 attempts. Their effective field goal percentage was 46.2%, and they connected on 74.1% of their free throws, going 20 for 27 from the line.

Offensive rebounding was a strength, as they grabbed 16 boards on the offensive glass. Jalen Leach led the way with 27 points, while Nakyel Shelton added 19, despite shooting just 1 for 9 from beyond the arc. Kooper Jacobi contributed 9 rebounds and 6 assists, finishing with 14 points on 50% shooting.

Northwestern’s defense held their opponent to 58 points, allowing them to shoot 40% from the field on 21 of 52 attempts. Inside the arc, they gave up 16 two-point baskets on 33 attempts, a 48% shooting rate.

From three-point range, Northwestern’s defense limited their opponent to 5 made threes on 19 attempts, a 26% shooting percentage. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 27 times, where they converted 20 free throws, a 74% success rate. Northwestern allowed 16 offensive rebounds in the game.