Montana State vs. Northern Arizona Big Sky Tournament Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Wednesday, March 8, 2023

The Big Sky conference champion will be crowned and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament bracket will be awarded on Wednesday when the No. 2 seed Montana State Bobcats (24-9, 15-3 Big Sky) and the No. 9 Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (12-22, 5-13 Big Sky) meet at 11:30 PM, live on ESPN2. Montana State is listed as a 7.5-point favorite to claim the title. The matchup has an over/under of 135.

Montana State vs. Northern Arizona Odds

• Montana State odds to win: -340
• Northern Arizona odds to win: +270
• Spread: Montana State (-7.5)
• Total: 135

Montana State vs. Northern Arizona Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Wednesday, March 8, 2023
• Time: 11:30 PM ET
• TV: ESPN2
• Where: Boise, Idaho
• Venue: Idaho Central Arena

Who Will Win Montana State vs. Northern Arizona?

Montana State and Northern Arizona Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Montana State has an 8-3-1 record against the spread when favored by 7.5 points or more this season.

Northern Arizona has a 10-3 record against the spread in games it was an underdog by 7.5 points or more this season.

These two teams average 147.5 points per game combined, 12.5 more than the over/under of 135.

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 5.7 more points per game (140.7) than this matchup’s total of 135 points.

The average total for Montana State’s games this year is 5.2 more points than the over/under of 135 in this game.

The average total for Lumberjacks games this season is 13 more points than the point total of 135 in this outing.

So far this season, the Bobcats have put together an 18-10-3 record against the spread.

So far this year, the Lumberjacks have put together a 20-12-0 record against the spread.

Montana State Stats & Insights

Montana State has a +251 scoring differential, topping opponents by 7.6 points per game. It is putting up 73.9 points per game to rank 125th in college basketball and is allowing 66.3 per contest to rank 70th in college basketball.

The 30 rebounds per game Montana State averages rank 282nd in college basketball, and are 2.3 more than the 27.7 its opponents collect per outing.

The Bobcats make 6.2 three-pointers per game (300th in college basketball) at a 33.4% rate (222nd in college basketball), compared to the 6.4 their opponents make while shooting 34.1% from beyond the arc.

Montana State averages 99.3 points per 100 possessions on offense (49th in college basketball), and gives up 89.1 points per 100 possessions (112th in college basketball).

The Bobcats are putting up 82.2 points per game this year at home, which is 13.1 more points than they’re averaging away from home (69.1).

Northern Arizona Stats & Insights

Northern Arizona scores 73.6 points per game (132nd in college basketball) and allows 74.4 (299th in college basketball) for a -27 scoring differential overall.

Northern Arizona pulls down 30.1 rebounds per game (271st in college basketball), compared to the 30.8 of its opponents.

Northern Arizona makes 8.5 three-pointers per game (63rd in college basketball) compared to its opponents’ 7.5. It shoots 36.2% from deep, and its opponents shoot 35%.

Northern Arizona averages 96.7 points per 100 possessions on offense (106th in college basketball), and gives up 97.8 points per 100 possessions (332nd in college basketball).

At home the Lumberjacks are putting up 78.6 points per game, 9.7 more than they are averaging on the road (68.9).

Montana State Key Players to Watch

The scoring leader for the Bobcats this season is Raequan Battle, who averages 17.2 points, three rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game.

Jubrile Belo is Montana State’s leading rebounder, grabbing 6.2 per game, while Darius Brown II is its best passer, distributing 4.8 assists in each contest.

The Bobcats get the most three-point shooting production out of Tyler Patterson, who knocks down 1.5 threes per game.

The Montana State steals leader is Brown, who averages 1.9 takeaways per game, while its blocks leader is Belo, who compiles one block per contest.

Northern Arizona Key Players to Watch

Carson Towt puts up 7.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, placing him at the top of the Lumberjacks’ rebound and assists leaderboards.

Jalen Cole scores 17.7 points per game, putting him at the top of the Northern Arizona scoring leaderboard. He also grabs 2.9 rebounds and averages 2.6 assists per game.

Cone makes three three-pointers per game, the most on the Lumberjacks.

Northern Arizona’s leader in steals is Xavier Fuller (0.9 per game), and its leader in blocks is Towt (0.3 per game).

Montana State vs. Northern Arizona Prediction

• Pick ATS:

  Northern Arizona (+7.5)
  

• Pick OU:

  Over (135)
  

• Prediction:
  Montana State 74, Northern Arizona 68

How to Bet on Montana State vs. Northern Arizona

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