Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Denver vs Portland State NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Portland.
Denver vs Portland State Prediction
The Pioneers and Vikings are set to face off at 5:00 ET on ESPN+. The Vikings will host the game at Viking Pavilion in Portland, OR. The over/under for this game is set at 151.5 points, and Portland State is favored by -8 against Denver in a non-conference matchup.
Denver vs. Portland State Matchup At A Glance
- Sport: NCAAB
- Teams: Denver Pioneers at Portland State Vikings
- Where: Portland at Viking Pavilion
- Date: Saturday, December 7th
- Betting Odds PORTST -8, DEN +307 | PORTST -442 O/U 151.5
Pioneers Preview: Will the Pioneers Find a Way to Win on the Road?
Denver improved to 2-6 on the season with an 80-59 win over Sacramento State on Wednesday. The Pioneers, who were favored by 3.5 points, covered the spread in the victory.
Denver led 47-31 at halftime and held Sacramento State to 28 points in the second half while scoring 33. The total points for the game were 139, just under the O/U line of 141.
Pioneers Offense Breakdown
Denver's offense put up 80 points in their last game, shooting 50.9% from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 63.6%, thanks in part to hitting 41.2% from three-point range, making 14 of 34 attempts. They also connected on 66.7% of their two-point shots, going 14 for 21.
The Pioneers dished out 18 assists, with Sebastian Akins contributing 6 of those while also scoring 22 points and hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. Jacob Holt led the team with 24 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 64.3% overall. DeAndre Craig was efficient as well, hitting 3 of 4 threes and finishing with 18 points in just 22 minutes.
Pioneers Team Defense
Even with Denver allowing 59 points, their defense struggled, giving up a 50% shooting performance. The Pioneers allowed 28 field goals on 55 attempts.
Denver’s defense gave up 14 threes on 34 attempts, a 41% clip, and sent the opposing team to the line 13 times, where they hit 10 free throws.
Vikings Preview: Can the Vikings Pull Off a Home Win?
Portland State Vikings Recent Game/Games
Portland State dropped to 3-4 on the season after a 91-74 road loss to Seattle on Wednesday. Entering the game as +8 point underdogs, the Vikings not only lost but also failed to cover the spread.
After trailing 40-32 at halftime, Portland State allowed 51 points in the 2nd half while scoring 42 of their own. The game’s total points reached 165, surpassing the over/under line of 145.
Vikings Offense Breakdown
Portland State put up 74 points in their last game, shooting 46.9% from the field with an effective field goal percentage of 53.1%. They hit 56.1% of their two-point attempts, but struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 30.4% of their threes. At the free-throw line, they managed only 50%, going 7 for 14.
John Christofilis and Paris Dawson led the way from deep, with Christofilis hitting 4 of 6 threes and Dawson knocking down 4 of 5, finishing with 22 and 19 points, respectively. Matthew-Alexander Moncrieffe contributed 10 rebounds and 4 assists, while Qiant Myers added 6 assists to go along with his 15 points.
Vikings Team Defense
Portland State's defense struggled, giving up 91 points while allowing their opponent to shoot 52% from the field. They conceded 18 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, a 51% shooting rate.
From beyond the arc, Portland State allowed 11 threes on 20 attempts, a 55% success rate. They also sent their opponent to the free-throw line 24 times, where they converted 22 free throws, shooting 91%. Portland State gave up 10 offensive rebounds.
Pioneers vs Vikings Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis
- Although Denver has a straight up record of 0-3 in their last three road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 1-2. The team averaged 74 points per game in these games.
- When looking at their past five home matchups, Portland State has an ATS record of 3-2 while averaging 81 per game. The team went 1-4 overall in these games.
- The last ten games that Denver was the underdog, they have an ATS mark of 5-5 while going 2-8 straight up.
- As the betting favorite, the Vikings have an ATS record of 2-1 in their last three games. In these matchups, their straight up record was 3-0.
Denver vs Portland State Prediction & Free Pick
- KnupSports.com Free Betting Prediction: Portland State -8 Be sure to check out our other NCAA Basketball betting previews for this week. KnupSports.com also updates their sports betting picks page daily with plays across all sports.