Montana Grizzlies vs Northern Colorado Bears Matchup

Read on to get betting odds and analysis in our Northern Colorado vs Montana NCAA Basketball prediction and preview and see who we think will win and cover the spread in Missoula.

Northern Colorado vs Montana Prediction

Planning on watching today's Bears and Grizzlies game? Catch the action at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, MT, as the Grizzlies hosts this showdown at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. The over/under for this game is set at 159 points, and Montana is favored by -1 vs. Northern Colorado in a Big Sky conference matchup.

Northern Colorado vs. Montana Matchup At A Glance

Sport: NCAAB
Teams: Northern Colorado Bears at Montana Grizzlies
Where: Missoula at Dahlberg Arena
Date: Saturday, January 11th
Betting Odds MONT -1, NCOL +100 | MONT -120 O/U 159

Bears Preview: Taking a Look at the Bears Chances in Missoula

Northern Colorado Bears Recent Game/Games

Northern Colorado improved to 8-5 on the season with a narrow 83-82 win over Montana State on Thursday. The Bears, who were +1.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread.

After trailing 39-34 at halftime, Northern Colorado surged in the second half, scoring 49 points while allowing 43. The combined points for the game reached 165, surpassing the over/under line of 151.5.

Bears Offense Breakdown

Northern Colorado's offense was firing on all cylinders in their latest game, putting up 83 points on 57.1% shooting from the field. Their effective field goal percentage was an impressive 63.5%, thanks in part to their 50% shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 9 of 18 attempts.

Marcell McCreary led the way with 21 points in just 22 minutes, connecting on 4 of 6 threes and shooting 72.7% overall. Brandon Walker and Isaiah Hawthorne each added 20 and 18 points, respectively, with Hawthorne also grabbing a team-high 9 rebounds.

Bears Team Defense

Despite Northern Colorado's defensive struggles, they allowed 82 points on 53% shooting from the field. The Bears gave up 21 two-point baskets on 35 attempts, a 60% success rate for their opponent.

From beyond the arc, Northern Colorado's defense allowed 9 threes on 21 attempts, with their opponent shooting 42%. They also sent the other team to the line 18 times, where they made 13 free throws, shooting 72%. The Bears gave up 7 offensive rebounds.

Grizzlies Preview: Do the Grizzlies Have What it Takes to Win as Home Favorites?

Montana improved to 7-6 on the season with an 81-76 win over Northern Arizona on Thursday. The Grizzlies, who were favored by 7.5 points, won at home but didn’t cover the spread.

Montana led 46-41 at halftime and both teams scored 35 points in the second half. The game’s total points of 157 went over the 152.5-point line.

Grizzlies Offense Breakdown

Montana's offense was firing on all cylinders in their last game, putting up 81 points on 51.7% shooting from the field. They connected on 45% of their threes, going 9-for-20, and finished with an effective field goal percentage of 60%.

Jayden Jackson led the way with 22 points and 7 assists, while Malik Moore added 20 points and 5 assists. Brandon Whitney was efficient, hitting 5 of 7 shots, including 2-for-2 from deep.

Grizzlies Team Defense

Montana's defense struggled, giving up 76 points while allowing the opposition to shoot 51% from the field. They were particularly vulnerable inside, where they gave up 22 two-pointers on 40 attempts, a 55% shooting rate.

From beyond the arc, Montana's opponents hit 9 of 20 threes, shooting 45%. They also sent them to the free-throw line 13 times, where they made 10, shooting 76%. Montana did limit second chances, giving up just 4 offensive rebounds.

Bears vs Grizzlies Betting Odds, Trends & Analysis

When looking at their past three road matchups, Northern Colorado has an ATS record of 2-1 while averaging 78 per game. The team went 2-1 overall in these games.
Across the Grizzlies last five home games, the team averaged 77 points per game while allowing 83. Their record vs the spread in these contests was 2-2-1, while going 2-3 straight-up.
Looking back on the team's last three games as the underdog, the Bears have a straight up record of 1-2. Their record vs the spread in these games was 1-2.
Through their last five matchups as the betting favorite, the Grizzlies have a good straight up record, but their ATS mark is just 2-2-1.