Northern Colorado Bears vs Denver Pioneers NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 12/21/24
Making on a bet on this NCAA game featuring the Bears versus the Pioneers? Tip off is at at 5:00 ET, and you can watch it all unfold on Summ. The game will be played at Hamilton Gymnasium in Denver, CO. Northern Colorado comes into this non-conference matchup as the -7 point favorite. The over/under line currently sits at 155.5 points.
NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS VS DENVER PIONEERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Denver Pioneers +7
This game will be played at Hamilton Gymnasium at 5:00 ET on Saturday, December 21st.
WHY BET THE DENVER PIONEERS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 74-72 in favor of the Pioneers.
- Not only will Denver pick up the win, but look for them to cover at +7.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 155.5 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Will Northern Colorado Be The Talk of Hamilton Gymnasium?
Northern Colorado Bears Recent Game
Northern Colorado improved to 4-5 on the season with an 81-76 home win over Air Force on Monday. The Bears, who were -9.5 favorites, didn’t cover the spread.
After leading 41-26 at halftime, Northern Colorado allowed 50 points in the 2nd half while scoring 40. The game’s total points of 157 exceeded the O/U line of 140.5.
Northern Colorado’s offense shone in their last game, scoring 81 points with a 52.8% field goal percentage. Their effective field goal percentage stood at 56.6%, thanks to 57.5% shooting on two-pointers and 38.5% from beyond the arc. They also hit 87% of their free throws, going 20-for-23 from the line.
Langston Reynolds and Kyle Marshall each contributed 23 points, with Reynolds adding 11 rebounds. Both players shot over 70% from the field. Zach Bloch was also efficient, hitting 83.3% of his shots, including 75% from three-point range.
Despite Northern Colorado’s defensive efforts, they couldn’t hold their opponent under 76 points, allowing them to shoot 52% from the field. The Bears gave up 23 two-point baskets on 40 attempts, a 57% success rate.
From beyond the arc, Northern Colorado’s defense allowed 5 threes on 13 attempts, with the opponent shooting 38%. They also sent the other team to the free-throw line 23 times, where they converted 20 for 87%.
Can the Pioneers Pull Out the Win as Home Underdogs?
Denver Pioneers Recent Game/Games
Denver dropped to 3-8 on the season after a 95-94 loss to Cal Poly on Tuesday. Despite being +10.5 point underdogs, the Pioneers kept it close and covered the spread.
Denver led 39-28 at halftime but allowed 48 points in the 2nd half while scoring 37. The game’s total points of 189 went over the pre-game O/U line of 161.5.
Denver’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 94 points while shooting 52.9% from the field. They connected on 45.5% of their threes, going 10-for-22, and hit 80% from the free-throw line. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 60.3%.
Jarred Hyder led the way with 29 points, hitting 8 of 13 from deep for a 61.5% three-point shooting performance. Nicholas Shogbonyo and DeAndre Craig each added 22 points, while Owen Koonce and Sebastian Akins chipped in 21 points apiece.
Despite Denver’s defensive struggles, they still managed to put up 95 points in their previous game. The Pioneers shot 47% from the field, connecting on 29 of their 61 attempts. They were particularly effective inside, hitting 63% of their two-point shots, going 14 for 22.
From beyond the arc, Denver attempted 39 threes, making 15 for a 38% success rate. They also got to the free-throw line 31 times, converting 22 of those for 71%. On the offensive glass, they secured 17 rebounds.