Northern Colorado Bears vs Montana Grizzlies NCAA Basketball Betting Pick & Prediction 1/11/25
Looking to win big? The Bears and Grizzlies face off at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The Grizzlies are hosting the game at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, MT. The odds for this Big Sky conference game currently have Montana as the -1 point favorite with the over/under line sitting at 159 points.
NORTHERN COLORADO BEARS VS MONTANA GRIZZLIES BETTING PICK
The Pick: Montana Grizzlies -1
This game will be played at Dahlberg Arena at 6:00 ET on Saturday, January 11th.
WHY BET THE MONTANA GRIZZLIES:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 77-69 in favor of the Grizzlies.
- Not only will Montana pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.
- The over/under is currently sitting at 159 points, and we like the under with a projected 146 points.
Will the Bears Defense Show Up in Missoula?
Northern Colorado Bears Recent Game/Games
Northern Colorado improved to 8-5 on the season with a narrow 83-82 road win over Montana State on Thursday. The Bears entered the game as +1.5 point underdogs and covered the spread with the victory.
After trailing 39-34 at halftime, Northern Colorado rallied in the second half, scoring 49 points while allowing 43. The game’s total points of 165 exceeded the over/under line of 151.5.
Northern Colorado’s offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 83 points with a field goal percentage of 57.1% and an effective field goal percentage of 63.5%. They shot 60% from two-point range and 50% from beyond the arc, connecting on 9 of 18 three-point attempts. However, their free-throw shooting left much to be desired, as they hit just 2 of 6 from the line.
Marcell McCreary led the way with 21 points in just 22 minutes, shooting 72.7% from the field and 66.7% from three-point range. Brandon Walker and Isaiah Hawthorne each added 20 and 18 points, respectively, with both shooting 57.1% overall. Jaron Rillie contributed 15 points and a team-high 7 assists, while Langston Reynolds chipped in 12 points and 4 assists.
Northern Colorado’s defense struggled, giving up 82 points on 53% shooting. They allowed 21 two-pointers on 35 attempts, a 60% success rate for the opposing team.
From beyond the arc, Northern Colorado’s opponents hit 9 of 21 threes, shooting 42%. They also sent them to the line 18 times, where they made 13 free throws, a 72% clip.
Can the Grizzlies Live Up to the Hype at Home?
Montana improved to 7-6 on the season with an 81-76 home win over Northern Arizona on Thursday. The Grizzlies were favored by 7.5 points but didn’t cover the spread.
Montana led 46-41 at halftime and both teams scored 35 points in the 2nd half. The game’s total points of 157 exceeded the O/U line of 152.5.
Montana’s offense put up 81 points in their last game, shooting 51.7% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 60%. They hit 9 of 20 from beyond the arc, shooting 45% from three, and connected on 76.9% of their free throws (10/13).
Jayden Jackson led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, while Malik Moore added 20 points and 5 assists. Brandon Whitney was efficient, shooting 71.4% from the field and hitting both of his three-point attempts.
Montana’s defense struggled in their last game, giving up 76 points while allowing the opposition to shoot 51% from the field. The Grizzlies couldn’t contain the inside game, as their opponents hit 55% of their two-point attempts, going 22/40.
From beyond the arc, Montana’s defense allowed 9 threes on 20 attempts, a 45% shooting performance. They also sent the other team to the line 13 times, where they converted 10 free throws, shooting 76%. The Grizzlies did limit second-chance opportunities, giving up just 4 offensive rebounds.