Montana vs. Northern Colorado Picks Tonight: Big Sky Final Best Bets, Prediction & Odds
Two familiar foes square off in tonight's Big Sky Tournament Final when Montana and Northern Colorado meet for a third time in as many months. Tipoff from Idaho Central Arena in Boise, Idaho, is set for 11:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2).
Our Montana vs. Northern Colorado prediction, odds, and expert picks expect the Bears to exact revenge for their latest loss to the Grizzlies. Northern Colorado is a 2.5-point favorite at our best sports betting sites, with a total of 147.5.
The metrics suggest that the Bears are the better team, despite the Grizzlies shooting them out the gym in the last matchup. The minuscule point spread is within range for bettors to take advantage and back Northern Colorado tonight at our suggestion.
💰 Montana vs. Norther Colorado predictions, expert picks & best bets: Big Sky Final
Here are my best Montana vs. Northern Colorado predictions, expert picks, and best bets today for the Big Sky Final with my pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale. Be sure to check out the rest of our college basketball picks along with our guide on how to bet on college basketball.
- Against the spread pick: Northern Colorado -2.5 (-110 via BetMGM) vs. Montana ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- My best bet: Over 146.5 (-110 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Exact score prediction: Northern Colorado 81, Montana 76 (+32000 via FanDuel)
👉 Check out our latest March Madness projections with our SBR Bracketology ahead of the NCAA Tournament!
🏀 Montana vs. Northern Colorado ATS prediction & best prop bet pick
Here's why I'm betting on Northern Colorado to cover the spread (-2.5) while targeting Over 146.5 as my best prop bet pick for today:
✅ Northern Colorado to cover the spread (-2.5) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northern Colorado is the third-best defensive rebounding team in the nation, cleaning up opposing misses at a rate of 79.4%. On the offensive glass, Montana ranks 349th in the country - the Grizzlies are a one-and-done team on offensive possessions.
Montana has covered for its inability to produce second chances on the offensive glass by being extremely efficient with their shot-making (23rd in effective field goal percentage), but that may not be enough against a Northern Colorado side that ranks even better - seventh in the nation - in effective field goal percentage.
Outside the top 200 in adjusted defensive efficiency, Montana’s defense could struggle to slow down Northern Colorado’s offense. Barring another outlandish 62% shooting effort (from both two and 3-point range) like Montana had to beat Northern Colorado last month, I don’t see them keeping up in this matchup with a trip to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
📊 Best odds: -110 via BetMGM (bet $10 to win $9.09)
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🔥 Over 146.5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
While we’ve projected a slight regression for Montana’s shooting pace relative to what the Grizzlies did against Northern Colorado on Feb. 6, we’ll note that both sides reside among the top 25 teams in the nation in effective field goal percentage - this could be a game that features plenty of scoring.
Northern Colorado averages 79.6 PPG (38th in Division I) while Montana puts up 74.9 PPG, a combined scoring average of 154.6. Both squads have seen the Over go 18-12 in their respective games this season.
The regular season affairs between these teams landed on 138 - when Montana shot only 19% from 3-point land - and 164 total points when that percentage rose to 62%. Even a moderate shooting night for Montana combined with Northern Colorado’s 87th-ranked adjusted tempo should push this matchup Over.
📊 Best odds: -110 via FanDuel (bet $10 to win $9.09)
🎯 Expert Montana vs. Northern Colorado score prediction
🔮 Expert score prediction: Northern Colorado 81, Montana 75
After these sides reached 164 points in their last matchup, it doesn’t seem like a stretch that the scoring could push into the mid-150s based on the season-long efficiency of both offenses.
While Montana’s adjusted tempo falls around the middle of the pack in college basketball, Northern Colorado’s pushes a top-100 pace. Both sides have scored in the 70s or beyond in all of their Big Sky Tournament games to this point.
We’re looking for another comparable output with Northern Colorado’s 76.5% from the line over its past three games to be adequate in pushing this game out of reach in the waning moments.
📊 Best odds: +32000 via FanDuel (bet $10 to win $3,200)
📊 Live Montana vs. Northern Colorado odds & latest betting splits
Here are the latest odds for Montana vs. Northern Colorado, which update live in real time. You can also check out our NEW college basketball player prop odds tool for the latest college basketball odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your region.
The most drastic changes in tonight's game lines came in the form of the total. After opening at O/U 148.5, the total dropped to 146.5 before finally settling in the middle at 147.5 with our best live betting sites. The Bears are still 2.5-point favorites as of 9 p.m. ET.
🔢 Montana vs. Northern Colorado opening odds
Here's a look at the opening odds for Montana vs. Northern Colorado according to bet365.
- Spread: Montana +2.5 (-110) | Northern Colorado -2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Montana +125 | Northern Colorado -155
- Over/Under: Over 148.5 (-105) | Under 148.5 (-115)
🏆 Who will win Montana vs. Northern Colorado?
As of 9 p.m. ET, Northern Colorado is favored by 2.5 points to beat Montana with moneyline odds of -150 at BetMGM, which suggests a 60% win probability for the Bears. We're predicting an 81-75 win for Northern Colorado as our final score projection.
So far, 63% of bettors have wagered against the spread on Northern Colorado -2.5, while 59% of bettors expect the game to finish Over the projected total of 147.5 points.
📺 How to watch Montana vs. Northern Colorado tonight
📅 Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
🕗 Time: 11:30 p.m. ET
📍 Location: Idaho Central Arena (Boise, Idaho)
📺 TV: ESPN2
💻 Streaming: ESPN App
❓ Montana vs. Northern Colorado FAQs
Who's favored to win the Big Sky tournament?
Northern Colorado is favored at -2.5 to win the Big Sky Tournament tonight.
Who is favored to win Montana vs. Northern Colorado?
Northern Colorado is favored with -150 odds (60% implied probability) on the moneyline from BetMGM to beat Montana.
What are the betting odds for Montana vs. Northern Colorado?
The latest spread is Northern Colorado -2.5 (-110) | Montana +2.5 (-110), with a total of 147.5 points (-110).
What will be the final score of Montana vs. Northern Colorado?
We're predicting a final score of Northern Colorado 81, Montana 75 entering tonight's matchup at Idaho Central Arena.
What time is Montana vs. Northern Colorado tonight?
Tipoff is scheduled for tonight at 11:30 p.m. ET.
⛹️ Best college basketball betting sites
Looking to bet on college basketball tonight? Here are our best March Madness betting sites as determined by our expert team at Sportsbook Review, along with our best March Madness betting promos ahead of the NCAA Tournament.
- Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUSDYW | Read our Caesars Review
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